Pneumatic Suspension Valve Bypass for Quick Axle Dumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic suspension systems in commercial vehicles face limitations in quick venting or exhausting air from air bellows, often requiring additional hardware that increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A suspension control valve arrangement with a service valve and a dump-control device allows switching between normal operation and quick-dump modes, utilizing a displaceable control piston to bypass the service valve, enabling higher exhaust volume rates without additional hardware, and is designed for compact reliability with ceramic plate-like valve elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a service valve with limited flow channels is used for normal operation, then the valve structure remains simple and compact, but the exhaust volume rate is insufficient for quick-dump applications
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into two functional parts: a service valve for normal operation with controlled flow, and a dump valve for quick-dump operations with high flow capacity. The control piston divides the valve into these two functional segments, allowing each to optimize its performance for its specific purpose without requiring the entire valve structure to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system dynamically switches between two operational states: normal service mode and quick-dump mode. The control piston moves between positions to dynamically redirect airflow, enabling the system to adapt its exhaust capacity based on operational requirements. This dynamic switching allows the valve to provide both limited flow for normal operation and high flow for quick-dump applications.
2Productivity
If additional pneumatic valves and hardware are added for quick release function, then the exhaust capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service valve and dump valve functions are merged into a single integrated valve body. The control piston serves dual purposes: it controls the service valve operation and simultaneously activates the dump valve function. This merging eliminates the need for separate additional pneumatic valves and hardware, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining quick exhaust capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control piston is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the actuating mechanism for the service valve and as the activation mechanism for the dump valve. This universal component performs multiple functions within the valve system, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for quick-dump operations and thereby reducing hardware quantity and cost.
3Productivity
If a larger exhaust passage is provided for quick-dump mode, then the exhaust volume rate increases, but the valve size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes the axial dimension along the control piston's movement path to accommodate both the service valve flow channels and the dump valve exhaust passage. By arranging the larger exhaust passage in a different spatial dimension (axial direction) rather than expanding the radial size, the valve achieves high exhaust capacity without significantly increasing its overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The control piston and its associated chambers are nested within the valve body, with the larger exhaust passage integrated into the existing valve structure. The piston chambers are positioned concentrically around the piston, allowing the large exhaust passage to be contained within the compact valve assembly without requiring additional external space.
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 solution provides a compact, reliable, and easily operable valve arrangement that allows for quick and efficient air release from air bellows, reducing effort and cost while maintaining high reliability, suitable for rapid axle lowering applications like trailer release.
Implementation Method 1
a first piston chamber around the control piston is, according to the invention, part of the internal valve passages of the service valve means, in particular part of an internal valve delivery channel, and a displacement of the control piston and its sealing means thus blocks a connection between the valve delivery port and either the valve supply port or the valve exhaust port
Implementation Method 2
a space between a circumferential piston surface and the housing or the sleeve is separated into two or more piston chambers. This separation can be realised by e. g. a sealing means provided in an axial direction between the piston chambers
Implementation Method 3
The ceramic plates are biased against each other by a spring and can be in contact without further sealing elements
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~7
AI summary
The inventions relates to a suspension control valve arrangement for a pneumatic suspension system of a commercial vehicle, said suspension control valve arrangement comprising: a supply port to be connected to a supply pressure, a delivery port to be connected to a suspension bellows of the commercial vehicle, an exhaust port for exhausting air, a housing (2), in which said ports are provided, a service valve means provided between said ports and switchable into different valve positions, an operation control means (5, 6) for switching said service valve means into one of the following normal operation modes of a normal operation status: a blocking position for a blocking mode for blocking an air supply from said supply port to said delivery port, a supply position for a supply mode for supplying air from said supply port to said delivery port or an exhaust position for a normal exhaust mode for connecting said delivery port to said exhaust port via said service valve means. In order to realise a suspension control valve arrangement which can be made with little effort and high reliability a dump-control device (7, 11) is provided in said housing (2) for switching between said normal operation status enabling said normal operation modes and a quick-dump mode (IV), wherein in said quick-dump mode (IV) said delivery port is connected to said exhaust port by bypassing said service valve means.