Pneumatic Suspension Valve Unit for Vehicle Height Control
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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 manual operating mechanisms and high actuation forces required.
Innovation Solution
The air suspension device features a valve unit with a stationary and sliding element, guided by a guide element, allowing for pneumatically controlled check, ventilation, and venting valves to initiate four operating states through a single manual control element, preferably a joystick, with ceramic construction for reduced wear and improved sliding, and includes 2/2-way valves for efficient air management, along with a compact housing for reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If direct mechanical control of blocking, ventilation and venting valves is used, then rapid raising and lowering of the vehicle body is achieved, but large dimensions and high weight of the device result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical control of valves with a pneumatic control system. A control valve device receives pneumatic control signals and automatically actuates blocking, ventilation and venting valves without requiring large mechanical actuators. This substitution of mechanical control with pneumatic control reduces the size and weight of the control valve device while maintaining rapid response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic actuation for valve control. Control valves are actuated by pneumatic signals that regulate air flow to the air spring bellows. This pneumatic system enables rapid raising and lowering of the vehicle body through controlled air supply and exhaust, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical actuators and reducing overall device weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manual operating means are provided for manual height adjustment, then height control flexibility is improved, but the pneumatic circuit becomes more complex and user-friendliness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal manual operating element (hand lever) that can assume multiple positions (lowering, holding, raising, driving) to control different valve functions. This single multi-functional control element replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate manual actuators, simplifying the pneumatic circuit while maintaining full height control flexibility across all operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple manual operating means into a single integrated control valve device with a hand lever that controls blocking, ventilation and venting functions through different positions. This consolidation combines multiple control functions into one unified interface, reducing the number of pneumatic lines and valve elements required while preserving all necessary height adjustment capabilities.
3Speed
If large-section poppet valves are used for rapid raising and lowering, then valve actuation speed is improved, but large dimensions and high weight of the entire device result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces large mechanical poppet valves with pneumatic control valves that are actuated by control signals. This substitution allows for smaller valve dimensions while achieving rapid actuation through pneumatic pressure changes, eliminating the need for large-section mechanical valves and reducing overall device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from mechanical force to pneumatic pressure for valve actuation. By using pneumatic pressure to actuate valves instead of mechanical force, the system achieves rapid valve response with smaller valve sections, reducing the physical dimensions of the control valve device while maintaining high actuation speed.
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 simplifies the pneumatic circuit, reduces the force required for actuation, and enhances user-friendliness by allowing precise height adjustments with fewer manual operating means, while maintaining efficient air management and automatic transition to driving mode without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
pneumatically controlled check, ventilation, and venting valves to initiate four operating states
Implementation Method 2
ceramic construction for reduced wear and improved sliding
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4
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 (2a, 2b) assigned to one vehicle axle, which can be supplied by an air reservoir (11) pneumatically connected thereto, 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 springs (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 springs (2a, 2b) bypassing the level control valve unit (1).According to the invention, the valve unit (15) comprises a stationary element (18), a sliding element (19) that slides back and forth on the stationary element (18), and a guide element (20) arranged on the sliding element (19) for guidance, wherein, via four positions of the manual actuating element (9), the at least one shut-off valve (5a, 5b), the at least one venting valve (6a, 6b), and the at least one exhaust valve (7a, 7b) are pneumatically actuated via a pneumatic line (10a, 10b, 10c) connected thereto to initiate one of four operating states of the air suspension device.