Level control arrangement for vehicles having air springs

US4809957A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Karl-Heinrich Schonfeld · Seelze, DE
• Wolfgang Kaltenthaler · Wennigsen (Deister), DE
• Volker Meyer · Hamburg, DE
• Jorg Vanselow · Ronnenberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 26, 1986
• Grant date: Mar 7, 1989
• Expiry date: Nov 26, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60G2500/2012
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A level control system for motor vehicles having pneumatic springs which function in accordance with the vehicle load. A specified distance is normally maintained between the vehicle body the vehicle axle. This distance is maintained by charging or discharging the pneumatic springs. The level control system includes an air dryer and a pneumatic relay type of controllable discharge valve having a relatively large cross-sectional port by which the air dryer is connected to the atmosphere. The discharge valve operates against a spring return force. The magnitude of the spring return force corresponds to a preselected minimum pneumatic spring pressure. The system counteracts an icing action of the discharge valve and prevents an unintentional and complete discharging of the pneumatic springs.