A vehicle load-bearing member includes an electro-active material, a lead wire for delivering an electric current to the electro-active material, and a controller in communication with a power supply for supplying electric current to the electro-active material for changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material, wherein changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material changes at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle load-bearing member by changing the shape of the electro-active material.

An air suspension system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating thereof includes an air suspension device for adjusting a ride-height position of the motor vehicle by the feeding and removal of compressed air into a plurality of air springs. The system also includes a dryer supplied via a compressed-air supply unit which has a compressor driven by an electric motor. A control unit for performing a ride-height control function has instruction for: raising the ride-height position to a first ride-height position; subsequently lowering the ride-height position to a second ride-height position; checking a first condition whether a determined air quantity ratio is less than a first predetermined air quantity limit value; checking a second condition whether a saturation level of the dryer is greater than a saturation limit value, and activating the ride-height control function when either the first or the second condition is satisfied.

An air pressure adjusting device includes a compressor configured to compress air taken in from outside, a dryer connected to the compressor and filled with a reversible dehumidifying agent, a connection port through which air dehumidified by the dryer is supplied to another device, an exhaust valve provided between the compressor and the dryer and configured to discharge air in the dryer, and a switch valve provided between the dryer and the connection port and configured to switch between a first flow path having a large air flow rate and a second flow path having a small air flow rate.

A compressed air supply device for an air suspension system of a motor vehicle comprising a motor-driven compressor, a dryer, a discharge path from the dryer to the outside, and an adjustment device for changing a flow cross section of the discharge path is provided in the discharge path.

A vehicle suspension system includes a gas spring. The gas spring includes a cylinder and a rod movable relative to the cylinder. The rod and the cylinder at least partially define a chamber having a variable volume and containing a first pressurized gas therein. The gas spring further includes an accumulator in communication with the chamber and containing a second pressurized gas therein. The gas spring provides a first spring rate when the first pressurized gas is pressurized below a threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas is pressurized above the threshold pressure.

Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.

Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.

A method for the treatment of air of a compressed air system for a motor vehicle, the compressed air system comprising an air compressor, an air dryer and an ambient temperature sensor, wherein an exchange operation of a system air volume is performed by the air compressor, wherein during the exchange operation a part of the system air from the compressed air system is released into the surroundings and ambient air is filled into the compressed air system. The method includes determining a current ambient temperature value (T.sub.U) using the ambient temperature sensor, checking a first condition, whether or not the current ambient temperature value (T.sub.U) is lower than a temperature limit value (T.sub.G), and performing the exchange operation to lower the dew point of the system air by the air dryer if the first condition is satisfied.

A vehicle includes a body, a pair of front gas springs coupling a pair of front wheel end assemblies to the body, and a pair of rear gas springs coupling a pair of rear wheel end assemblies to the body. At least one of the rear gas springs includes a cylinder, a rod extending within the cylinder and movable relative to the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder together at least partially defining a chamber having a variable volume and receiving a first pressurized gas therein, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber and containing a second pressurized gas therein. The second pressurized gas within the accumulator is held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate when the first pressurized gas is below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas is above the threshold pressure.

Method for venting a pneumatic system of a vehicle, pneumatic system and vehicle Method for venting a pneumatic system (1) of a vehicle, the pneumatic system (1) comprising an air compressor (4), a pneumatic circuit (2), an air pressure management system (6) in communication with the air compressor (4) and the pneumatic circuit (2), and a control unit, the method comprising: —while pressure in the pneumatic circuit (1) is less than a cut-out pressure, supplying the pneumatic circuit (2) with compressed air from the air compressor (4) operated at an operating speed through the air pressure management system (6), —once pressure in the pneumatic circuit (2) reaches the cut-out pressure, lowering pressure in the pneumatic circuit (2) to a target pressure, the air compressor (4) being operated at at least one deflating speed lower than the operating speed, the deflating speed being non null, —after pressure in the pneumatic circuit (2) has reached the cut-out pressure, releasing compressed air in the air pressure management system (6) to the outside environment.