Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a suspension airbag, a pump fluidly coupled to the suspension airbag, the pump to control a fluid pressure in the suspension airbag to cause ride height adjustments for a vehicle, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and processor circuitry to calculate a weight of the vehicle based on an offset between (a) a first motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is unloaded and (b) a second motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is carrying a load.

A multi-purpose shock absorber for a vehicle suspension having an absorber body with an outer surface, and a movable piston having a first end disposed within the absorber body and a second end configured to couple with a part of the vehicle. There is a magnet assembly disposed around and external of the movable piston at the second end. The absorber has a sensor assembly having a sensor body coupled with the outer surface. An inner sensor body has a sensor disposed therein configured to detect a linear change in a position of the magnet assembly.

A sensory evaluation prediction system includes an input unit that reads an output from a behavior sensor that measures two or more types of pieces of time series information regarding a moving body, a selection unit that selects two or more types of physical quantities from the output from the behavior sensor read by the input unit, a correlation creation unit that creates information showing a correlation in time series between the two or more types of the physical quantities selected by the selection unit, and an evaluation circuit that calculates an evaluation value of a sensory index based on the information showing the correlation in time series.

A hydropneumatic suspension system for vehicles, at least consisting of an axle suspension (10) and a cabin suspension (12), which for supplying them with pressurized fluid, can be connected to a pressure supply source, is characterized in that both the axle suspension (10) and the cabin suspension (12) can be actuated jointly by means of an control device (14), and in that, by means of a priority detection system (16) involving a sensor device (18) for the respective suspension (10, 12), the supply with pressurized fluid of the one suspension (10, 12) takes precedence depending on demand over the other suspension (12, 10).

Systems and methods for load monitoring and/or braking control. The load monitoring may include calculating a weight on one or more axles of a vehicle or a trailer using cross-flow pressure information indicative of an air pressure within a cross-flow passage between first and second leveling valves of first and second pneumatic circuits configured to adjust independently heights on first and second sides, respectively, of the vehicle or the trailer. The braking control may include (i) using the cross-flow pressure and speed and/or acceleration information indicative of a speed and/or acceleration of the vehicle and/or the trailer to calculate first and second brake application levels and (ii) applying the calculated first and second brake application levels to first and second brakes on the first and second sides, respectively, of the vehicle or the trailer.

A method for controlling an air suspension system of a vehicle includes: a) determining a bellows pressure-time characteristic curve for air admission to and release from the bellows of one air spring or the bellows of a plurality of air springs, the characteristic curve being normalized with the value of a supply pressure in a reservoir for compressed air, b) sensor measurement of a current pressure in the spring bellows of the air springs as well as the current supply pressure immediately before air admission thereto or air release therefrom, c) determining, from the normalized characteristic curve, the opening duration for the associated shutoff valve using the ratio of the measured bellows pressure to the measured supply pressure and the ratio of the provided target pressure to the measured supply pressure, d) opening the associated shutoff valve for the determined opening duration in order to set the provided target pressure.

A dynamic weight shift suspension system for shifting the tandem axle loads on a vehicle. The system includes a first airbag connected between the drive axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame, and a second airbag connected between a tag axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame. The system also has a mechatronic control unit comprising at least one port and at least one solenoid. The mechatronic control unit is in direct fluid communication with the airbags and an air supply via fluid communication lines.

An electro-dynamically controlled leveling system having a plurality of air springs mounted on at least one axle of a vehicle for supporting the weight of the vehicle; one or more electro-pneumatic valves; and one or more sensors that monitor one or more characteristics of the vehicle and transmit the one or more characteristics as a sensory input. The electro-dynamically controlled leveling system includes a central control module in electrical communication with the one or more sensors and the one or more electro-pneumatic valves. The central control module receives the sensory input from the one or more sensors, calculates a dynamic condition of the vehicle based on the sensory input, determines a desired air pressure for each air spring based on the calculated dynamic conditions of the vehicle, and transmit a command to the electro-pneumatic valves to adjust the air pressure of the air springs.

A control system includes: a target volume module configured to determine a target volume of hydraulic fluid within a suspension system of a vehicle based on a target pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the suspension system; a volume command module configured to generate a volume command based on the target volume and a present volume of the hydraulic fluid within first and second circuits; a command module configured to, based on the volume command, generate: a pump command for an electric hydraulic fluid pump; and first and second valve commands for first and second seat valves that regulate hydraulic fluid flow to and from the first and second circuits, respectively; a valve control module that actuates the first and second seat valves based on the first and second valve commands, respectively; and a pump control module that controls operation of the pump based on the pump command.

A pneumatic automotive height adjuster assembly provides at least one bag removably connected to a vehicle having a frame. The at least one bag is configured to adjust a height of the frame. An air supply line has a supply end and a discharge end. The discharge end is in fluid communication with each of the at least one bag. The air supply is configured to provide air to inflate the at least one bag. A switch is in fluid communication with the supply end of the air supply line. The switch has a first discharge, a second discharge, and a switch input. A leveling valve is in fluid communication with the first discharge. The air supply line is in fluid communication with the second discharge. An air supply is in fluid communication with the leveling valve and the switch input.