A method of maintaining a backpressure of a fluidic product is provided. The method includes pressurizing a first reservoir to a first predetermined pressure level using compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized first reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the first reservoir reaches a first predetermined level, pressurizing a second reservoir to a second predetermined pressure level using the compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized second reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the second reservoir reaches a second predetermined level, and controlling the backpressure of the fluidic product using the first reservoir and the second reservoir such that a discharge flow of the fluidic product is continuous.

An air spring assembly having pressure relief capability, where the air spring assembly includes a single air volume, or a multi-chamber air volume. When the air spring assembly is operating at a stiffer spring rate in combination with a setting to increase ground clearance, during certain road events, the air spring assembly is compressed, and the pressure in the air spring assembly increases. In order to not exceed the safe mechanical limits of the air spring assembly, the pressure is limited to a maximum value when full compression is achieved. The air spring assembly includes at least one valve, which is opened based on a cracking pressure, which is determined based on the mechanical limits of the air spring assembly. This facilitates the operation of the air spring assembly at settings to increase ground clearance of the vehicle, while allowing for pressure relief when the mechanical limit is reached.

A switching valve for an air spring arrangement of a motor vehicle, which switching valve has a valve housing arrangement which, in the installed state, is arranged between a first air volume and a second air volume. A valve closing member arrangement is actuatable by an actuator is provided such that the valve closing member arrangement, in a first position, fluidically connects the first air volume to the second air volume and, in a second position, fluidically separates the first air volume from the second air volume. The valve closing member arrangement is designed as a rotary slide arrangement. A rotary slide member with first openings is provided between two valve closing bodies, wherein, in the first position, the first openings correspond with second openings of the valve closing body such that a fluidic connection can be produced between the first and the second air volume.

An air suspension system includes air suspensions (1, 2) performing vehicle height adjustment in response to supply and discharge of air, a compressor (3) compressing air, a tank (4) storing compressed air, a first passage (6) connecting between the delivery side of the compressor and the tank, and a second passage (7) connecting between the delivery side of the compressor and the air suspensions. A first dryer (10) is provided in the middle of the first passage to dry air flowing through the first passage. A second dryer (11) is provided in the middle of the second passage to dry air flowing through the second passage. Thus, compressed air generated from ambient air sucked in by the compressor can be dried by the second dryer and supplied directly into the air chambers of the air suspensions.

A throttle assembly for a pressure control system in a vehicle includes at least one throttle valve. The at least one throttle valve defines an assembly cross-section of the throttle assembly, the assembly cross-section specifies a flow resistance acting on a pressure medium entering the throttle assembly, and the at least one throttle valve includes at least one controllable throttle valve configured to be controlled in accordance with an upstream pressure. The assembly cross-section of the throttle assembly is configured to be set, by control of the at least one controllable throttle valve, in such a way that an inlet volume flow of the pressure medium entering the throttle assembly can be limited to a limit volume flow in accordance with the upstream pressure, in order to set, in accordance with the upstream pressure, a power consumption of a pneumatic load in the pressure control system.

A shock absorber includes: a pressure tube defining a working chamber; a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube, the piston assembly dividing the working chamber into a first and second chambers; a piston rod including a first end that is attached to the piston assembly and that includes a second end that is configured to be attached to one of a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle; an electronic valve that is positioned within the piston rod, the electronic valve including a spool moveable between first and second positions, where: when the spool of the electronic valve is in the first position, the spool allows fluid flow between the first and second chambers through the electronic valve and the piston rod; and when the spool of the electronic valve is in the second position, the spool restricts fluid flow between the first and second chambers.

A mechanically actuated level control valve device for a commercial vehicle with an air suspension system is a level control valve and comprises a drive element that can be mechanically coupled to a vehicle wheel or axle. A valve element and a counter valve element have a first relative position, wherein the port for the air suspension bellow is closed, a second relative position, wherein the port for the air suspension bellow is connected to the port for the aeration device, and a third relative position, wherein the port for the air suspension bellow is connected to the port for the deaeration device. The valve element is coupled to a rotatable driveshaft of the level control valve by a drive mechanism. An integrated actuator changes the relative position of the valve element and the drive element or the relative position of the counter valve element and a valve housing.

An air suspension system includes a tank, a tank-side open/close valve, an air suspension-side open/close valve, a system portion, and the like. The system portion includes a compressor, an air drier, and a first passage and a second passage provided between the tank-side open/close valve and the air suspension-side open/close valve in parallel, a discharge valve, a tank-side control valve, an air suspension-side control valve, and the like. Due to this configuration, the air suspension system regenerates the air drier by opening the discharge valve to thus cause the air in the second passage to flow from an opposite side toward one side of the air drier when no power is supplied to the tank-side control valve and the air suspension-side control valve.

An air spring includes a sleeve, a jounce bumper, and a bump cap. The sleeve defines a chamber. The jounce bumper is fixed relative to the sleeve in the chamber. The bump cap is moveable relative to the jounce bumper from a first position to a second position in contact with the jounce bumper. The jounce bumper includes a valve moveable by the bump cap to a closed position when the bump cap moves to the second position.

A vehicle-height control system including a tank, a compressor, an actuator, and a valve between the tank and the compressor. The valve is closed to a state of a pressure medium supplier to the compressor-pressure supply state when a tank pressure has reached a threshold in a tank-pressure supply state in which the tank pressure is supplied to the actuator. In the compressor-pressure supply state, the tank pressure is kept at the threshold, and a pressure in the actuator is greater than the tank pressure. The threshold makes it difficult for a pressure differential in the valve to become greater than a valve-opening pressure differential, making it difficult for the valve to be opened in the compressor-pressure supply state. This system enables good supply of a pressure medium from the compressor to the actuator, avoiding a longer time for vehicle height control and achieving a shorter compressor operation time.