Ultrasonic air spring system
US4798369A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F2230/08
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ultrasonic air spring system adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for absorbing road shocks exerted on the vehicle and for maintaining the vehicle body level with respect to the axles. An air spring includes an end plate and a piston sealingly connected to the open ends of the flexible elastomeric sleeve to form a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A transducer is mounted on the end plate within the fluid chamber and transmits ultrasonic signals through the fluid chamber toward the piston and picks up reflected signals therefrom. A signal is generated by the transducer in response to the reflected signals and fed to a microprocessor based control module. The control module determines whether the air requires fluid feed or exhaustion and will then implement control of inlet or exhaust valves to achieve a desired axial separation between the end plate and piston.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.