Vehicle Suspension Air Management System Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air management systems for automotive vehicles are bulky, costly, and complex due to the need for additional valves to achieve high exhaust flow rates, which increases weight and complexity, and valves under high pressure require large coils for magnetic force, leading to increased size and mass.
Innovation Solution
An air management system with a pressurized air source, a manifold block, and electronic control unit that includes suspension valves with larger orifices for air flow control, a manifold pressurization valve for equalizing pressure differentials, and a reservoir valve for efficient air distribution, allowing for compact and cost-effective operation while maintaining high exhaust flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional valves are connected in parallel to provide high exhaust flow rates, then exhaust flow rate is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-charges the manifold block to high pressure (e.g., 150 psi) before exhaust operation. This preliminary pressurization equalizes the pressure differential across suspension valves during exhaust, allowing them to open fully and provide high flow rates without requiring additional parallel valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter in the manifold block from atmospheric or low pressure to high pressure (e.g., 150 psi) before exhaust. This parameter change equalizes the pressure differential across suspension valves, enabling them to operate at full capacity with larger orifices and provide high exhaust flow rates.
2Stress or pressure
If valves are designed to operate under high pressure, then pressure differential equalization is improved, but valve size and mass increase due to larger coils
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold block is pre-charged to high pressure before suspension valves need to open. This preliminary action creates a pressure reservoir that equalizes the pressure differential across suspension valves during exhaust, allowing them to use smaller coils and lighter construction while still operating effectively under high pressure conditions.
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
The system provides a compact, cost-effective air management solution with optimized exhaust flow rates, reducing the need for large magnetic forces and minimizing valve size requirements, resulting in significant cost savings and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a manifold pressurization valve for opening under high pressure to allow the pressurized air from the pressurized air source into the manifold block to equalize a high pressure differential across said plurality of suspension valves
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of suspension valves in fluid communication with the pressurized air source and each of the plurality of suspension valves defines a suspension orifice for controlling air flow to and from a plurality of air springs
Implementation Method 3
valves designed to operate under high pressure typically have an increased cost, size, and mass due to large coils that are needed to provide a magnetic force to open and close the valve under pressure
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An air management system includes a pressurized air source (44). A manifold block (28) is coupled to the pressurized air source and includes a plurality of suspension valves (34) in fluid communication with the pressurized air source and each defines a suspension orifice of a first diameter for controlling air flow to and from a plurality of air springs. A manifold pressurization valve (36) is in fluid communication with the plurality of suspension valves and the pressurized air source and defines a manifold pressurization orifice of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter of the suspension orifice for opening under high pressure to allow pressurized air into the manifold block. An electronic control unit (52) controls the manifold pressurization valve and the plurality of suspension valves to equalize a high pressure differential across the plurality of suspension valves from the plurality of air springs.