A Modular and Expandable Air Suspension Control System utilizes three basic units, a suspension control module, one or more pneumatic control modules, and an end cap usable across a variety of applications with different quantities of air springs, including 1-Corner, 2-Corner, 3-Corner, 4-Corner and more than 4-Corner systems. The invention is field expandable, with multiple sensing options as each pneumatic control module has an integrated air spring pressure sensor plus an electrical plug to connect with an electronic height sensor. This capability allows the system to level based on air spring pressure or air spring height depending on the customer use case. The sleek and compact design is piconet-enabled which gives the system connectivity to smartphone apps and dedicated piconet devices for user interface, and allows for over-the-air updating of the firmware inside of the suspension control module and pneumatic control modules to enhance functionality.

An air management system for a vehicle. The air management system includes at least one air spring. A compressor is provided for filling the air spring. A central air line is fluidly connected to the air spring and the compressor. At least one spring air line extends between the central air line and the air spring. At least one suspension valve is disposed along the spring air line. At least one auxiliary air line extends between the spring air line and the central air line. At least one high flow exhaust valve is disposed along the auxiliary air line. At least one isolation check valve is disposed in series with the high flow exhaust along the spring air line. The isolation check valve allows air to pass through therethrough from the air spring to the central air line while preventing air from passing therethrough from the central air line to the air spring.

A compressed air supply installation for operating a pneumatic installation, especially an air suspension installation of a vehicle, includes: an air supply unit and an air compression unit for supplying a compressed air supply unit with compressed air, a pneumatic connection, especially a bleeding line, comprising a bleeding valve system in the form of a controllable solenoid valve system and a bleeding port for bleeding air, and a pneumatic connection, especially a compressed air supply line, comprising an air drier and a compressed air port for supplying compressed air. The solenoid valve system comprises a primary valve and a secondary valve, which are actuatable by a controller of the solenoid valve system that is common to both valves and acts upon both valves.

A compressed air supply installation for operating an air suspension installation of a vehicle includes an air supply unit configured to supply air, an air compression unit configured to compress air, a bleeding line, and a compressed air supply line. The bleeding line includes a bleeding valve arrangement in the form of a controllable solenoid valve arrangement comprising a magnetic part and a pneumatic part actuatable directly via the magnetic part, and a bleeding port for bleeding air. The compressed air supply line includes an air dryer, and a compressed air port for supplying the pneumatic installation with compressed air. The pneumatic part is open in an unactivated state of the magnetic part of the solenoid valve arrangement. The pneumatic part is open in a branch line of the compressed air supply line between a pressure-side valve port and a control-side valve port of the branch line.

A compressed air supply device for operating a pneumatic installation comprises an air supply unit configured to supply air, an air compression unit configured to compress air, a bleeding line comprising a controllable solenoid valve arrangement, the solenoid valve arrangement having a magnetic part and a pneumatic part, and a bleeding port configured to bleed air. The device also comprises a compressed air supply line having an air drier and a compressed air port, the compressed air supply line being configured to supply the pneumatic installation with compressed air, wherein the pneumatic part is open when the magnetic part is not activated.

A sensor arrangement for an air suspension system of a vehicle has a change-over valve for each air spring of a vehicle axle or of multiple, adjacent tandem axles, and has a shutoff valve for the air spring of each vehicle wheel of the axle or for each of the air springs on each side of the tandem axles. The respective changeover valve and the shutoff valves are structurally combined in a valve block arranged at a distance from the air springs. For measuring the pressure in each of the bellows of the air springs, pressure sensors are arranged in or on the valve block. Each of the pressure sensors is connected at the output of the shutoff valve associated with the sensor to the connection line of the bellows of the associated air spring or of the bellows of the associated air springs.

A valve arrangement of a vehicle's air suspension system has a pressure generator with a two-stage compressor drivable by an electric motor, an air dryer, and a switchover valve. A main line is connected to the pressure generator and branches into at least two first axle lines. Two bellows lines per vehicle axle each branch off from one of the first axle lines and lead via a shutoff valve to an air bellows. The pressure generator has a second connection connected to a delivery line of the pressure generator between two compressor stages of the compressor. A second main line is connected to the second connection. The second main line branches into at least two second axle lines downstream of a shutoff valve. These second axle lines are each connected to one of the branching points of the first axle lines at the axles, each via one shutoff valve.

A compressed air supply installation for operating a pneumatic installation, especially an air suspension installation of a vehicle, includes an air supply unit and an air compression unit for supplying a compressed air supply unit with compressed air, a pneumatic connection, especially a bleeding line, comprising a bleeding valve and a bleeding port for bleeding air, and a pneumatic connection, especially a compressed air supply line having an air drier and a compressed air port for supplying the pneumatic installation with compressed air The air drier has a drier container through which compressed air can flow and which contains a desiccant. The drier container has a wall forming a desiccant-free recess, and at least part of the bleeding valve system is arranged in the recess.

A combination gas spring and shock absorber apparatus includes a vented gas spring housing and a vented shock absorber housing slidably mounted within the gas spring housing. A shock absorber piston is concentrically mounted within a gas spring piston. A base housing is slidably mounted in the gas spring housing. A shaft extends through the base housing and into the shock absorber housing. The shock absorber piston is mounted in the shock absorber housing on the free end of the shaft. The gas spring piston is mounted in the gas spring housing on the distal end of the base housing. The shock absorber piston is fluidically sealed and slides within the shock absorber housing. The gas spring piston is fluidically sealed and slides along the gas spring housing and the shock absorber housing. The base housing telescopically translates relative to the gas spring housing.

A combination gas spring and shock absorber apparatus includes a vented gas spring housing and a vented shock absorber housing slidably mounted within the gas spring housing. A shock absorber piston is concentrically mounted within a gas spring piston. A base housing is slidably mounted in the gas spring housing. A shaft extends through the base housing and into the shock absorber housing. The shock absorber piston is mounted in the shock absorber housing on the free end of the shaft. The gas spring piston is mounted in the gas spring housing on the distal end of the base housing. The shock absorber piston is fluidically sealed and slides within the shock absorber housing. The gas spring piston is fluidically sealed and slides along the gas spring housing and the shock absorber housing. The base housing telescopically translates relative to the gas spring housing.