Pneumatic Suspension Manual Control Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air suspension devices for vehicles face challenges in simplifying the pneumatic circuit and enhancing user-friendliness, particularly in achieving precise and fine height adjustments, due to complex valve configurations and high actuation forces required for manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A simplified pneumatic circuit design where a single manual operating element pneumatically controls check valves, ventilation valves, and vent valves via connected pneumatic lines, allowing for direct influence on the valve unit to initiate the four operating states, with 2/2-way valves ensuring secure operation and reduced complexity, and an integrated air distribution unit for load-dependent braking control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If direct mechanical actuation of blocking, ventilation and venting valves is used, then the valves can be actuated manually, but the force required to actuate the hand lever is very high making precise adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical actuation of valves with a pneumatic actuation system. A manually operable control valve uses pneumatic pressure to actuate the blocking, ventilation and venting valves, eliminating the need for high mechanical forces. The operator controls the system through pneumatic signals rather than direct mechanical linkage, significantly reducing the actuation force required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles to transmit control forces through compressed air lines to actuate the valves. The manually operable control valve generates pneumatic control signals that are transmitted via air lines to the blocking, ventilation and venting valves, allowing precise control with minimal manual effort and enabling fine height adjustments.
2Speed
If large-section poppet valves are used for rapid raising and lowering, then the vehicle body can be raised and lowered quickly, but the dimensions and weight of the entire device become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces large mechanical poppet valves with a pneumatic control system consisting of smaller control valves and air lines. The manually operable control valve uses pneumatic pressure control to actuate the valves, allowing rapid air flow for quick height changes without requiring large mechanical valve sections, thereby reducing overall device weight and dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pneumatic control lines as intermediaries between the manual control valve and the blocking, ventilation and venting valves. This intermediary pneumatic system allows rapid actuation of the main valves without requiring the control mechanism itself to be large, separating the control function from the actuation function and enabling compact design with fast response.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manual operating means with multiple valve elements and pneumatic lines are provided, then lifting, lowering, parking and driving modes can be implemented, but the pneumatic circuit becomes more complex and user-friendliness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional manually operable control valve that can perform all four operating modes (lifting, lowering, parking, and driving) through a single integrated mechanism. The control valve has multiple positions that sequentially actuate different valve combinations, allowing one control unit to replace multiple separate operating means, thereby simplifying the pneumatic circuit while maintaining full operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of multiple separate control valves and operating means into a single manually operable control valve assembly. The blocking, ventilation and venting valves are coordinated through a unified pneumatic control system, merging multiple pneumatic circuits into one integrated system controlled by a single operator interface, reducing complexity while preserving all required functions.
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 design enhances user-friendliness and precision in height adjustments by reducing the complexity of the pneumatic circuit and actuation forces, while ensuring secure operation and efficient load-dependent braking control, resulting in a more compact and user-friendly air suspension system.
Implementation Method 1
The manual control unit pneumatically controls the at least one check valve, the at least one ventilation valve and the at least one vent valve via a respective connected pneumatic line
Implementation Method 2
at least one pressurizing valve and at least one vent valve for pressurizing and venting the air spring bellows
Implementation Method 3
an air spring bellows, in each case with at least one pneumatic connection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an air suspension device for raising and lowering the vehicle body of air-sprung vehicles with level control, comprising at least one level control valve unit (1), at least one air spring bellows (2a, 2b) assigned to at least one vehicle axle, which can be supplied by a pneumatically connected reservoir (11), and a control valve device (3) for manually adjusting the level of the vehicle body according to a hand control unit (8) bypassing the level control valve unit (1), comprising a hand actuating element (9) and a valve unit (15), wherein the control valve device (3) has at least one shut-off valve (5a) for inflating and deflating the air spring bellows (2a, 2b) via the level control valve unit (1), at least one venting valve (6a) and at least one venting valve (7a) for inflating and deflating the air spring bellows (2a, 2b) bypassing the level control valve unit (1).According to the invention, the hand control unit (8) pneumatically controls the at least one shut-off valve (5a), the at least one ventilation valve (6a) and the at least one venting valve (7a) via a pneumatic line (10a, 10b, 10c) connected to each of these valves to initiate one of four operating states of the air suspension device by means of a position of the hand actuating element (9).