An emergency egress system for a multi-passenger vehicle such as a school bus (10) includes a housing (30) that operatively supports a ramp (34) in movable connection therewith. Opening an emergency exit door (18) of the bus causes a housing door (24) to open and the ramp to move outwardly from a retracted position toward an extended position. Opening the emergency exit door also causes the suspension of the bus to be automatically lowered to place the emergency exit opening (16) closer to the ground (166).

Improved passenger access and suspension systems for passenger buses, and controllers configured for use therewith; and passenger buses incorporating such systems and controllers. Integration of access ramp, door, suspension, charge interface, and other systems provides improvements in fully- or semi-automatic deployment of features such as passenger doors and ramps, and charge interface components, as well as navigation to passenger access points.

A towable vehicle including a chassis, at least two wheels and a suspension assembly supporting each wheel. The suspension assembly includes a swing arm pivotally mounted to the chassis, an axle mounted proximate an end of the swing arm, the wheel being mounted on the axle, at least one shock absorber extending from the chassis to the swing arm, an airbag swing arm mounting pivotally coupled to the swing arm, an airbag chassis mounting coupled to the chassis, an airbag coupled to the airbag swing arm and airbag chassis mountings so that inflation of the airbag allows a suspension height to be adjusted over an operating range and a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the chassis and the airbag swing arm mounting to maintain an orientation of the airbag swing arm mounting over the operating range.

A vehicle height adjustment apparatus includes: vehicle height adjustment units respectively provided to correspond to wheels of a vehicle body, and adjusting a vehicle height in response to the supply and discharge of a working fluid; a pressure tank storing the working fluid; a compressor pressure-feeding the working fluid; a valve body block formed by opening and closing valves, and interposed between the pressure tank and the compressor, and the vehicle height adjustment units; and a control unit adjusting a vehicle height by controlling the valve body block, wherein the valve body block is connected to the pressure tank, and working fluid outlet and inlet of the compressor, and upon the completion of the pressure feed of the working fluid, the control unit controls such that the working fluid outlet and inlet are communicated with each other.

An air suspension system of a commercial vehicle comprises an electronic control device with a level control valve device. A valve element is coupled to a drive element mechanically coupled to a vehicle wheel or axle. In a first relative position of the valve element and a counter valve element, a port for an air suspension bellow is blocked. In a second relative position, the port for the air suspension bellow is connected to a port for an aeration device. In a third relative position, the port for the air suspension bellow is connected to a port for a deaeration device. Control logic generates a control signal for an actuator which, when a level change is set by an operator, correspondingly changes the relative position of the valve element and the counter valve element or the relative position of the counter valve element and a valve housing.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for controlling an active suspension of a vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of wheels, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to: receive information indicative of a requirement for ingress/egress of passengers and/or cargo; receive information indicative that the ingress/egress is to occur with the vehicle on a sloped surface; and control the active suspension to reduce an angle of the vehicle body relative to horizontal, for the ingress/egress on the sloped surface.

A ramp-equipped vehicle includes: a vehicle-height adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a vehicle height of a vehicle; a ramp configured to be movable between a deployed state and a stored state, the deployed state being a state where the ramp protrudes outwardly from the vehicle, the stored state being a state where the ramp is stored inside the vehicle; and a camera configured to detect a person coming closer to the vehicle. When the camera detects a person coming closer to a doorway of the vehicle during vehicle height adjustment by the vehicle-height adjusting mechanism, the vehicle height adjustment by the vehicle-height adjusting mechanism is interrupted.

A suspension system for a wheel assembly of a vehicle includes a telescopic damper configured to mediate between respective sprung and unsprung portions of the wheel assembly, a rebound spring arranged to moderate wheel travel, and a force-transfer system operative to apply a force to change one or more parameters of the suspension system. The application of the force by the force-transfer system is effective in a first operating mode to change a length of the telescopic damper and in a second operating mode to regulate a wheel rate of the wheel assembly. The force-transfer system is controllable to modify a wheel-travel value at which the wheel rate of the wheel assembly changes in the second mode of suspension operation.

A method performed by an intention indicating system of a vehicle, for indicating to a potential observer an ongoing or impending autonomous kinematic action of the vehicle. The method includes determining an ongoing or impending autonomous kinematic action of the vehicle and performing a vertical vehicle motion representing the autonomous kinematic action, the vertical vehicle motion including raising and/or lowering a front portion and/or a rear portion of a vehicle body of the vehicle.

A hybrid passenger vehicle includes a chassis supported by at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, a body coupled to the chassis including at least one door, and a vehicle floor coupled to the chassis. The body defines an interior space configured to be occupied by at least one passenger when operating the vehicle, and the vehicle floor has a front end and a rear end. A rear wall is coupled to the rear end of the vehicle floor such that the rear wall defines a rearmost boundary of the vehicle floor. A rear suspension assembly is coupled to the chassis. The rear wall is arc-shaped, and the rear suspension assembly is located rearward of the rear wall.