Air Suspension Level Control with Decoupled Manual and Electrical Pressure Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air suspension systems for commercial vehicles lack the ability to provide both manual and electrical control options for adjusting the vehicle's level, which is essential for loading and unloading operations, as well as maintaining optimal ride height during driving.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a raising/lowering valve assembly that generates a first control pressure through manual actuation and an electropneumatic pilot valve that generates a second control pressure, allowing for both manual and electrical control of the level control valve assembly, enabling independent adjustment and regulation of the vehicle's level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanically actuated level control valve assembly is used with manual raise/lower valve assembly, then manual level adjustment is enabled for loading and unloading operations, but electrical level control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into separate manual and electrical control paths. The manual raise/lower valve assembly (3) and electropneumatic pilot valve (38) are independent components that each can control the level control valve assembly (22) through separate control pressure lines, allowing both manual and electrical control modes to coexist without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The level control valve assembly (22) is designed to accept control pressure from multiple sources - both the manual raise/lower valve assembly (3) and the electropneumatic pilot valve (38). This multi-functional design allows the same valve assembly to respond to both manual operator input and automated electrical signals, providing versatility in control modes
2Device complexity
If control pressures are coupled in series connection, then system complexity is reduced, but throttling effect increases and operational reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control pressure system is segmented into parallel independent lines - a first control pressure line from the manual raise/lower valve assembly (3) and a second control pressure line from the electropneumatic pilot valve (38). This segmentation eliminates the throttling effect of series connections while maintaining manageable system complexity through organized parallel architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The control pressure lines act as intermediaries that transmit control signals independently from their respective sources to the level control valve assembly (22). This intermediary structure allows both manual and electrical control paths to operate independently without direct interaction, preventing throttling while ensuring reliable signal transmission
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances operational reliability and flexibility by allowing for both manual and electrical level adjustments, improving the vehicle's ride height management during loading/unloading and driving, while reducing the throttling effect and increasing safety by decoupling control pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a raising/lowering valve assembly (3), with which a first control pressure can be generated which is dependent on a manual actuation of the raising/lowering valve (7)
Implementation Method 2
an electropneumatic pilot valve (38), with which a second control pressure can be generated which is dependent on an electrical control signal
Implementation Method 3
The level control valve (25) is used to pressurize and/or vent at least one air spring bellows (5a, 5b)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The air-suspension system (1) has a lift-lower valve assembly (3) having lifting-lowering valves (7a,7b), and a level control valve assembly (4) comprising electro-pneumatic servo valves (38a,38b). The lifting-lowering valves and electro-pneumatic servo valves are arranged in parallel line branches and are operated based on primary control pressure value and secondary control pressure value respectively. The air-suspension bags (5a,5b) are operated based on the position of ventilation valve (23) and or shut-off valves (25a,25b) provided in level control valve assembly.