ASSEMBLY IN A COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

Assembly in a compressed air system of a vehicle provided with an air ride suspension, the assembly being configured to lift the vehicle body by filling at least one air spring, the solenoid valves being switchable in cooperation with an electronic control device, and the assembly including a pressure line for filling the air springs, and the pressure line including a first branch line connectable to the pressure line via a pilot-controlled solenoid valve for filling the air springs and including first supply pipes and pilot-controlled solenoid valves for each air spring as well as a second branch line for providing a control pressure which includes second supply pipes for the pilot-controlled solenoid valves, wherein the second branch line is connected to the pressure line via a check valve, the check valve providing a block position against venting or pressure drop in the second branch line.

Claims

1. An assembly in a compressed-air system of a vehicle provided with an air ride suspension, the vehicle equipped with a plurality of air springs, the assembly being configured to lift the vehicle body in relation to a road level by pressure-filling at least one of the plurality of air springs, the assembly comprising: a pneumatic circuit having a plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves; said plurality of solenoid valves being switchable in cooperation with an electronic control device; a pressure line for filing the air springs, said pressure line being connected to a compressed air supply; said pressure line including a first branch line for filling the air springs, said first branch line including first supply pipes for each of the plurality of air springs; said pressure line including a second branch line for providing a pilot pressure to said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves, said second branch line including second supply pipes for said pilot-controlled solenoid valves; said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves including first pilot-controlled solenoid valves; wherein, in said first branch line, said first supply pipes include at least one of said first pilot-controlled solenoid valve for each of the plurality of air springs, wherein said first pilot-controlled solenoid valves each have a gate and a block position; said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves including a second pilot-controlled solenoid valve configured as a pneumatic pressure-controlled solenoid valve; said first branch line being configured to connect to said pressure line via said second pilot-controlled valve, said second pilot-controlled solenoid valve having a first gate position for filling the plurality of air springs and a second gate position for venting said first branch line; and, said second branch line being connected to said pressure line via a check valve, said check valve having a block position against venting or pressure drop in said second branch.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first pilot-controlled solenoid valves are pilot-controlled 2/2-way solenoid valves.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said second pilot-controlled valve is a pilot-controlled 3/2-way solenoid valve.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a central compressed air supply is provided for supplying the plurality of air springs of the air ride suspension and an air brake system.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the central compressed air supply is provided by a compressor in the vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said check valve is configured such that the pilot pressure is at least 5 bar.

7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said first branch line is configured to connect to an atmosphere via a silencer when said pilot-controlled 3/2-way solenoid valve is switched to said second gate position.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said pneumatic circuit and said electronic control device are integrated in the assembly and said electronic control device is connected to a vehicle control system via at least one of connecting components and a CAN bus.

9. A compressed air system of an air-suspended vehicle having a vehicle body and an air ride suspension, the compressed air system comprising: a plurality of air springs; a lift assembly configured to lift the vehicle body in relation to a road level by filling at least one of said plurality of air springs; said lift assembly including a pneumatic circuit including a plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves; said plurality of solenoid valves being switchable in cooperation with an electronic control device; a compressed air supply; said lift assembly including a pressure line for filing said plurality of air springs, said pressure line being connected to said compressed air supply; said pressure line including a first branch line for filling said plurality of air springs, said first branch line including first supply pipes for each of said plurality of air springs; said pressure line including a second branch line for providing a pilot pressure to said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves, said second branch line including second supply pipes for said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves; said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves including first pilot-controlled solenoid valves; wherein, in said first branch line, said first supply pipes include at least one of said first pilot-controlled solenoid valve for each of said plurality of air springs, wherein said first pilot-controlled solenoid valves each have a gate and a block position; said plurality of pilot-controlled solenoid valves including a second pilot-controlled solenoid valve; said first branch line being configured to connect to said pressure line via said second pilot-controlled valve, said second pilot-controlled solenoid valve having a first gate position for filling said plurality of air springs and a second gate position for venting said first branch line; said second branch line being connected to said pressure line via a check valve, said check valve having a block position against venting or pressure drop in said second branch; and, said lift assembly being a modular component configured to mate other components of the compressed air system.

10. The compressed air system of claim 9, wherein said lift assembly is a separate and replacement component of the compressed air system.

11. An air-suspended commercial vehicle or motorbus comprising the compressed air system of claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0027] The invention will now be described with reference to the single FIGURE of the drawing (FIG. 1) which shows an assembly 1 according to the disclosure in a compressed air system. With such an assembly elevating or lifting of the vehicle body in relation to the road level can be performed by filling at least one air spring. FIG. 1 is executed in a strictly schematic manner only and with the aid of standard function or circuit symbols.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The assembly 1 includes a pneumatic circuit 2 provided with pilot-controlled solenoid valves V1, V2, and V3, the solenoid valves being switchable in cooperation with an electronic control device 3. The assembly 1 is illustrated in its outline including the essential associated functional elements by the dashed line here. Inside the dashed outline of the assembly 1, the electronic control device 3, the outline of which is illustrated by a dash-dotted line, can also be seen. Inside of this dash-dotted outline of the control device 3, inter alia, the functional elements for the pressure measuring sensors 4 and the plug-in members 5 for the electric connections 5.1 to the magnets of the pilot-controlled solenoid valves V1 to V3 can be found.

[0029] The pneumatic circuit of the assembly first of all includes a pressure line 7 connected to a compressed air supply 6 and providing for the compressed air volume for filling the air springs.

[0030] The pressure line 7 is divided into two branch lines, namely into a first branch line 8 for filling the air springs, which includes first supply pipes 8.1 for each air spring, as well as a second branch line 9 for providing a control pressure which includes second supply pipes 9.1 for the pilot-controlled solenoid valves V1 to V3. The air springs as such are no further shown here and are usually provided in a number corresponding to the suspended axes or wheels. Here, only supply pipes 8.1 for two air springs are shown for the sake of simplification. The number may, of course, be as desired.

[0031] The first supply pipes 8.1 for each air spring associated with the first branch line 8 respectively include a pilot-controlled solenoid valve V2, V3 which, depending on the switching of the solenoid valves, can occupy a gate or a block position, respectively.

[0032] In this embodiment, the pilot-controlled solenoid valves V2 and V3 are 2/2-way solenoid valves as is also apparent from the circuit symbols. For completeness, it should be mentioned here that it is also possible to vent or lower the air springs through these valves. The latter then depends on the position of the pilot-controlled solenoid valve V1.

[0033] Here, the pilot-controlled solenoid valve V1 serves to connect the first branch line 8 to the pressure line 7. To this end, the solenoid valve V1 can occupy a first gate position for filling the air springs, and a second gate position for venting the first branch line 8 as is also apparent from the circuit symbols. In this embodiment, the pilot-controlled solenoid valve V1 is a 3/2-way solenoid valve. A venting of the first branch line 8 is performed directly into the atmosphere via a silencer means 10 here.

[0034] According to the disclosure, the second branch line 9 is connected to the pressure line 7 via a check valve 11. In its block position, the check valve prevents venting of the second branch line 9 or a pressure drop in the second branch line 9 so that the pressure in the second branch line, namely in the control pressure line, cannot drop below a minimum pressure of 5 bar.

[0035] In the upper part of FIG. 1, two plug-in members or connections 12 and 13 can be seen with the aid of which the assembly or its electronic control device can be connected to a vehicle control system not shown here and to another sensor system of the vehicle or the air ride suspension.

[0036] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS (PART OF THE SPECIFICATION)

[0037] 1 Assembly in a compressed air system of a vehicle provided with an air ride suspension [0038] 2 Pneumatic circuit [0039] 3 Electronic control device [0040] 4 Pressure sensor [0041] 5 Plug member [0042] 5.1 Electric connection [0043] 6 Compressed air supply [0044] 7 Pressure line [0045] 8 First branch line of the pressure line [0046] 8.1 First supply pipe, supply pipe for the air spring [0047] 9 Second branch line of the pressure line [0048] 9.1 Second supply pipe, supply pipe for the pilot pressure [0049] 10 Silencer means [0050] 11 Check valve [0051] 12 Plug-in members and connections to the vehicle control system [0052] 13 Plug-in members and connections to the sensor system [0053] V1 Pilot-controlled 2/2-way solenoid valve [0054] V2 Pilot-controlled 2/2-way solenoid valve [0055] V3 Pilot-controlled 3/2-way solenoid valve