Abstract: In a self-contained ride level control system for a motor vehicle, the accumulator pressure is controlled as follows: determination of the current pressure Ps(current) of the compressed air accumulator (4); definition of at least one level whereto the vehicle can be lifted or lowered; determination os the air volume required for lifting or lowering the motor vehicle from the current level and bringing it to a given level; determination of the subsequent accumulator pressure Ps(later) for reducing the current accumulator pressure Ps(current) if the motor vehicle is lifted from its current level up to the given level or determination of the subsequent accumulator pressure Ps(later) for increasing the current accumulator pressure Ps(current) if the motor vehicle has been lowered from the current level to the given level; filling the compressed air accumulator (4) with compressed air if the subsequent pressure Ps(later) is below a lower threshold value Ps (U) and emptying the compressed air accumulator if the sub

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic level control system equalizer of a motor vehicle equipped with a battery and a generator supplying the battery, as well as a compressor driven by an electric motor and associated with the level control system equalizer, the electric motor of the compressor being only supplied with electric current by the vehicle battery and/or generator in certain conditions. The power requirements of the level control system equalizer can be pre-evaluated for a change of level and/or a filling of the pressure tank to be performed.

Abstract: The damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system is controlled by, when the leveling system is activated, a signal that is generated and transmitted to a damper force control device (5). When the level control system is activated, the damper force is adapted, and especially reduced for a rapid control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic shock absorbing system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one pneumatic spring (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) per motor vehicle wheel on at least one vehicle axle, at least one control device (36), at least one compressor (2), at least one pressure sensor (10), at least one on-off valve (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), and at least one connecting pipe (8, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 62, 64) which is connected to an external source (76) of compressed air. The control device (36) of the pneumatic shock absorbing system (1) receives a start signal for basic filling while at least one valve (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) is triggered by the control device (36) in such a way that at least one component (8, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 62, 64) of the pneumatic shock absorbing system (1) is basically filled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic level control system equalizer of a motor vehicle equipped with a battery and a generator supplying the battery, as well as a compressor driven by an electric motor and associated with the level control system equalizer, the electric motor of the compressor being only supplied with electric current by the vehicle battery and/or generator in certain conditions. The power requirements of the level control system equalizer can be pre-evaluated for a change of level and/or a filling of the pressure tank to be performed.

Abstract: A method controls the level of a pneumatic level-control system of a motor vehicle including at least two axles, at least one pneumatic spring (2a, 2b) per axle, optionally one or more pressure accumulators (3), at least one pressure sensor (24), elements (16, 18, 20, 22) for determining the distance between at least one wheel and/or an axle and the vehicle body, a control unit (10) and a compressor (12). The axle levels are controlled in sequence and adjusted from a starting level to a target level. During a positive adjustment operation the compressor (12) is at least operated temporarily and/or a connection of at least one pneumatic spring (2a, 2b) to the pressure accumulator (3) is established.

Abstract: In a self-contained ride level control system for a motor vehicle, the accumulator pressure is controlled as follows: determination of the current pressure Ps(current) of the compressed air accumulator (4); definition of at least one level whereto the vehicle can be lifted or lowered; determination os the air volume required for lifting or lowering the motor vehicle from the current level and bringing it to a given level; determination of the subsequent accumulator pressure Ps(later) for reducing the current accumulator pressure Ps(current) if the motor vehicle is lifted from its current level up to the given level or determination of the subsequent accumulator pressure Ps(later) for increasing the current accumulator pressure Ps(current) if the motor vehicle has been lowered from the current level to the given level; filling the compressed air accumulator (4) with compressed air if the subsequent pressure Ps(later) is below a lower threshold value Ps (U) and emptying the compressed air accumulator if the sub

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting leaks in an air spring arrangement (1) in a motor vehicle, having a ride level control device which has a plurality of air springs (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), devices (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6, 12, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) for determining the total quantity of air in the air spring arrangement (1), and devices (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16, 17) for sensing the temperature, and a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The damper force in vehicles having a ride level control system is controlled by means of a method, according to which, when the leveling system is activated, a signal is generated and transmitted to a damper force control device (5). When the level control system is activated, the damper force is adapted, and especially reduced for a rapid control.

Abstract: A method determines a driving state from a plurality of driving states sorted in accordance with the degree of danger thereof. In the method, at least one test criterion for at least one driving parameter is allocated to each of the driving states. At least one of the driving parameters is detected and, based on the driving parameter, a test is made to determine if one of the driving states from the plurality of driving states is present. This testing is in a time sequence starting with the most dangerous of the driving states by evaluating the test criterion corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A method controls the level of a pneumatic level-control system of a motor vehicle including at least two axles, at least one pneumatic spring (2a, 2b) per axle, optionally one or more pressure accumulators (3), at least one pressure sensor (24), elements (16, 18, 20, 22) for determining the distance between at least one wheel and/or an axle and the vehicle body, a control unit (10) and a compressor (12). The axle levels are controlled in sequence and adjusted from a starting level to a target level. During a positive adjustment operation the compressor (12) is at least operated temporarily and/or a connection of at least one pneumatic spring (2a, 2b) to the pressure accumulator (3) is established.

Abstract: One or several vibration dampers of a vehicle suspension have a damping force arrangement wherein a control signal is computed within the actuating range in accordance with a standard control method for adjusting the damper characteristic. The drive of a damper adjustable in accordance with this invention is so improved that body movements (notwithstanding a harder adjusted damping for critical driving situations) are substantially suppressed as early as possible. In specific driving situations, the adjusting range of the damper force is changed in that the upper limit of the adjusting range is raised or lowered and/or the lower limit of the adjusting range is raised or lowered. A soft damper setting takes place preferably in dependence upon signals which announce or display a change of the vehicle longitudinal deceleration or vehicle transverse acceleration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the wheel loading of a motor vehicle wheel, with an attached air spring, with the aid of which the vehicle chassis is suspended relative to the motor vehicle wheel, including the following steps: a stationary wheel loading is calculated from the product of the effective cross-sectional area of the air spring and the pressure therein; a dynamic wheel loading is calculated from the product of the spring stiffness of the air spring and the deflection from the rest position thereof; the wheel loading is determined by adding the stationary and dynamic wheel loadings.

Abstract: An adjustable shock absorber (8) includes a damping force changing device (16) which continuously adjusts the damping force characteristic of the shock absorber in response to input control signals. A first signal is generated by a first sensor which represents the damping force movement. At least a second signal is generated by at least a second device (10a . . . ) which represents the vertical bodywork speed (VA, 12) and/or the vehicle longitudinal speed (20). Based on this, a control signal (18) for adjusting the damping force characteristic is computed in accordance with a control law in the manner that the change of the desired current can be limited over time.

Abstract: A method controls the damper current of a damper of a motor vehicle. The damper is adjustable by an electrical current and the permissible change of the current per time interval is delimited by a limit.

Abstract: A method controls (open loop and/or closed loop) the damping force of adjustable dampers in vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, with active or semi-active damping systems. The method effects economically and rapidly a reliable control (open loop or closed loop). The control (open loop and closed loop) takes place in dependence upon the damper velocity (VDK) and the damper velocity signals are determined with the aid of distance sensors and difference formation of the distance sensor signals over a predetermined time difference.

Abstract: A method determines a driving state from a plurality of driving states sorted in accordance with the degree of danger thereof. In the method, at least one test criterion for at least one driving parameter is allocated to each of the driving states. At least one of the driving parameters is detected and, based on the driving parameter, a test is made to determine if one of the driving states from the plurality of driving states is present. This testing is in a time sequence starting with the most dangerous of the driving states by evaluating the test criterion corresponding thereto.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling damping for a bodywork of a vehicle. The bodywork is dampened with a first damping coefficient for a first wheel load. The change of the wheel load is detected and a second damping coefficient is determined based on the change of the wheel load so that the damping remains essentially unchanged after the change of the wheel load.

Abstract: One or several vibration dampers of a vehicle suspension have a damping force arrangement wherein a control signal is computed within the actuating range in accordance with a standard control method for adjusting the damper characteristic. The drive of a damper adjustable in accordance with this invention is so improved that body movements (notwithstanding a harder adjusted damping for critical driving situations) are substantially suppressed as early as possible. In specific driving situations, the adjusting range of the damper force is changed in that the upper limit of the adjusting range is raised or lowered and/or the lower limit of the adjusting range is raised or lowered. A soft damper setting takes place preferably in dependence upon signals which announce or display a change of the vehicle longitudinal deceleration or vehicle transverse acceleration.

Abstract: A method detects leakages in a motor vehicle air spring system which includes a plurality of air springs and has a level control arrangement. The level control arrangement includes: an electronic control apparatus; a plurality of elevation determination sensors associated with corresponding ones of the air springs; a pressure sensor; a plurality of air spring valves corresponding to respective ones of the air springs and a compressor. The elevation determination sensors and the pressure sensor are connected to the control apparatus for supplying signals thereto. The control apparatus functions to process the signals for controlling the air spring valves and the compressor for controlling the motor vehicle upwardly or downwardly in elevation.