Level control system

US6234493A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• WABCO GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Berend Kleen · Hannover, DE
• Robert Sohn · Hannöver, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 1999
• Grant date: May 22, 2001
• Expiry date: May 11, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60G2800/915
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A level control system controls the distance between the vehicle axles and the vehicle frame of a vehicle. The suspension is a full or partial air suspension, wherein the vehicle frame over the vehicle axles is supported via air suspension bellows. A vehicle inclination, i.e. a non-parallel alignment between vehicle frame and one or more of vehicle axles may occur as a result of various situations which may be dramatically different from one another. Uneven support of the vehicle represents one cause of vehicle inclination, for example, when one wheel of a vehicle axle is standing on the sidewalk. In order to avoid air losses, a vehicle level is not compensated for while the vehicle is stopped. Instead, the existing inclination is maintained and is entered into the control system as a target level. All level changes which occur due to changes in the load of the vehicle are compensated for by means of this prescribed target value. When the vehicle later starts to travel, the pressures in the air suspension bellows need to be modified only slightly, if at all, further conserving air consumption.