The patent application discloses a compressed air control device. The compressed air control device for a source of compressed air on motor vehicles may comprise a housing. The housing may include an air inlet opening located at an outside surface of the housing. The housing comprises an electric motor and an air dryer. The air dryer together with the electric motor forms a first functional unit.

The patent application discloses a method of compressing air. The method for designing a more efficient reciprocating piston compressor comprising the steps of: providing an air compressor having a first compression stage adapted for compressing gas from a low pressure to an intermediate pressure and including a first piston connected to reciprocate in a first cylinder, a second compression stage adapted for compressing gas from the intermediate pressure to a higher pressure and including a second piston connected to reciprocate in a second cylinder, and a motor connected to reciprocate said first piston in said first cylinder over a stroke and said second piston in said second cylinder over a stroke; and establishing a sufficiently fewer number of strokes over which the gas to be pressured starting from the atmosphere pressure.

A pneumatic control system includes a manifold that defines: a channel for conveying a fluid, a discharge port, a drain port, and an expansion chamber defining a chamber axis. The discharge port defines a flow axis extending between a first end and second end and a receiving region at the second end. The pneumatic control system also includes a filter assembly with a filter member disposed in the expansion chamber, and an actuator configured to selectively control fluid communication between the channel and the discharge port. The chamber axis is substantially coplanar with the flow axis. A filter cap assembly includes a filter cap body enclosing an end of the expansion chamber and selectively removable from the manifold to provide access to the filter assembly. A purge valve body is configured to selectively control fluid flow between the expansion chamber and the drain port.

Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass (load springs) and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle (lift springs). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature. In operation, the air damping feature dampens the flow of air between the load springs and the lift springs to provide damping of the vehicle suspension without the additional costs or disadvantages often associated with conventional hydraulic shock absorbers.

An air management system and method are provided. The system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block is coupled to the pressurized air source and includes a plurality of suspension valves in fluid communication with the pressurized air source and each defines a suspension orifice of a first diameter for controlling air flow to and from a plurality of air springs. A manifold pressurization valve is in fluid communication with the plurality of suspension valves and the pressurized air source and defines a manifold pressurization orifice of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter of the suspension orifice for opening under high pressure to allow pressurized air into the manifold block. An electronic control unit controls the manifold pressurization valve and the plurality of suspension valves to equalize a high pressure differential across the plurality of suspension valves from the plurality of air springs.

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.

There is provided a suspension device capable of improving roll stiffness without deteriorating the durability of a seal and the riding comfort of a vehicle, the suspension device including: a pair of liquid pressure dampers; a first passage which communicates the extension side chamber with the compression side chamber; a second passage which communicates the compression side chamber with the extension side chamber; and two accumulators, in which each of the accumulators includes a casing, a first free piston which defines a gas chamber inside the casing, and a second free piston which defines a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber inside the gas chamber, and a pressure receiving area near the first gas chamber in the second free piston is set to be smaller than a pressure receiving area near the second gas chamber.

A system for level regulation of a driver's cab of a commercial vehicle relative to a chassis of the vehicle includes a spring-loaded bearing in order to support the driver's cab in a sprung manner on the chassis of the vehicle; a distance sensor device arranged to record relative movements and/or a distance between the driver's cab and the chassis of the vehicle; and a control device that is arranged for variable control of the spring-loaded bearing, wherein signals of the distance sensor device are used to control the spring-loaded bearing. The spring-loaded bearing can be adjusted to a first height position (h1), so that the distance between the driver's cab and the chassis of the vehicle is controlled by the control device to a first target distance. The spring-loaded bearing can be adjusted to at least one second height position (h2), so that the distance between the driver's cab and the chassis of the vehicle is controlled by the control means to a second target distance. The control means device adjusts the spring-loaded bearing to the first height position (h1) or to the at least one second height position (h2) depending at least on a parameter relating to a driving route and/or a vehicle state.

A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle, in which the pneumatic suspension system includes a supply tank, a first set of air springs positioned on a first side of the vehicle; a second set of air springs positioned on a second side of the vehicle, and a dual-action dynamic valve positioned between the first set of air springs and the second set of air springs. The dual-action dynamic valve is connected to the supply tank, the first set of air springs, and the second set of air springs by a series of air hoses. The dual-action dynamic valve is adapted to supply air to either one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs while simultaneously exhausting air from the other one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs.

An air management system and method are provided. The system includes a compressor and a reservoir tank coupled to the compressor. A manifold block has a plurality of valves and is coupled to the reservoir tank and the compressor for controlling air flow. At least one pressure sensor is coupled to the manifold block. The compressor includes a boost valve for selectively directly connecting the reservoir tank and an air inlet of the compressor. An electronic control unit is coupled to the valves, compressor, and the at least one pressure sensor and is configured to provide pressurized air from the reservoir tank to the air inlet, determine a pressure difference between the manifold block and the boost valve, and retain pressure in the manifold block in response to the pressure difference being less than a predetermined amount to reduce startup torque of the compressor without exhausting the manifold block.