Abstract: Disclosed is a configurable dynamic valve. In various embodiments the valve operates to control a pneumatic leveling system for vehicles and provide the capability for an operator to select an elevated or lowered ride height, to block air flow in and out of the leveling air bags, or to dump air from the air bags controlling the ride height. In various embodiments, the valve utilizes rotary disks which contain actuate apertures, wherein the disks form seals between ports which connect various inlet and outlet chambers such that the pneumatically selected operative disk apertures and ports provide air flow in or out of leveling air bags dynamically at a selected ride height during varying load and road conditions. In various embodiments, the modular design of the valve components allows for an easily configurable valve which may be customized to a particular application with a minimum of effort and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a configurable dynamic valve. In various embodiments the valve operates to control a pneumatic leveling system for vehicles and provide the capability for an operator to select an elevated or lowered ride height, to block air flow in and out of the leveling air bags, or to dump air from the air bags controlling the ride height. In various embodiments, the valve utilizes rotary disks which contain actuate apertures, wherein the disks form seals between ports which connect various inlet and outlet chambers such that the pneumatically selected operative disk apertures and ports provide air flow in or out of leveling air bags dynamically at a selected ride height during varying load and road conditions. In various embodiments, the modular design of the valve components allows for an easily configurable valve which may be customized to a particular application with a minimum of effort and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a configurable dynamic valve. In various embodiments the valve operates to control a pneumatic leveling system for vehicles and provide the capability for an operator to select an elevated or lowered ride height, to block air flow in and out of the leveling air bags, or to dump air from the air bags controlling the ride height. In various embodiments, the valve utilizes rotary disks which contain actuate apertures, wherein the disks form seals between ports which connect various inlet and outlet chambers such that the pneumatically selected operative disk apertures and ports provide air flow in or out of leveling air bags dynamically at a selected ride height during varying load and road conditions. In various embodiments, the modular design of the valve components allows for an easily configurable valve which may be customized to a particular application with a minimum of effort and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a configurable dynamic valve. In various embodiments the valve operates to control a pneumatic leveling system for vehicles and provide the capability for an operator to select an elevated or lowered ride height, to block air flow in and out of the leveling air bags, or to dump air from the air bags controlling the ride height. In various embodiments, the valve utilizes rotary disks which contain actuate apertures, wherein the disks form seals between ports which connect various inlet and outlet chambers such that the pneumatically selected operative disk apertures and ports provide air flow in or out of leveling air bags dynamically at a selected ride height during varying load and road conditions. In various embodiments, the modular design of the valve components allows for an easily configurable valve which may be customized to a particular application with a minimum of effort and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A large vehicle with air bags and a leveling system that controls air flow into and out of an air spring (also known as an “air bag”) to maintain the air spring height close to the optimum level. The system is altered at minimum cost to further minimize the repeated flow of air into and out of the air spring, to thereby save fuel. A mechanical-to-electrical converter (50) is mounted on the air spring height sensor to generate an electrical signal indicating vehicle ride height, and the electrical output is connected to a computer (62) on the vehicle. The computer is programmed to control the flow of pressured air through a blocking valve (60) to a leveling valve (22) that flows air into and out of the air spring, according to the outputs of a plurality of sensors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A large vehicle with air bags and a leveling system that controls air flow into and out of an air spring (also known as an “air bag”) to maintain the air spring height close to the optimum level. The system is altered at minimum cost to further minimize the repeated flow of air into and out of the air spring, to thereby save fuel. A mechanical-to-electrical converter (50) is mounted on the air spring height sensor to generate an electrical signal indicating vehicle ride height, and the electrical output is connected to a computer (62) on the vehicle. The computer is programmed to control the flow of pressured air through a blocking valve (60) to a leveling valve (22) that flows air into and out of the air spring, according to the outputs of a plurality of sensors on the vehicle.

Abstract: An hydraulic actuator with a housing having two ports (A, C) that selectively receive pressured fluid to move a piston (12) to a forward position (12F) or to a rearward position (12R), wherein the piston can be moved to a third, or neutral position (12N) by applying equally pressured fluid to both ports. A pusher (24) that lies in the same housing cavity as the piston, is pushed forward by pressured fluid applied to the second port (C), and the pusher pushes the piston forwardly. The pusher moves forward until the pusher abuts a housing surface (52), at which point the piston lies in the third position (12N).

Abstract: A position indicator (20) mountable on a valve housing (12) that forms a chamber that holds a piston assembly (24) that can slide to different positions spaced along an axis (32) that extends in front and rear directions (F, R), to indicate the position of the piston assembly along the axis. The position indicator includes a frame (60) that forms a cavity (62), a plunger (50) that is slidably mounted on the frame, and a spring (70) that urges the plunger forward along the axis. A plurality of switches (81-83) are mounted in the cavity, and a switch operator in the form of a slider (72) coupled to the plunger rear end to move with it, operates different switches as the plunger moves forward and rearward along the axis. The valve housing has a rear end (22) that can be opened and the indicator frame in mounted on the housing rear end, with a plunger front end (56) projecting forward of the frame and into the housing chamber (34) and abutting a rear end of the piston assembly in the housing.

Abstract: A valve for supplying pressured air to vehicle air bags, includes a shuttle (20) with a valving member (80) having a precision polished seal surface (86) that presses against a precision polished sealed-against housing lower surface (50) of a housing (14) that confines the shuttle to sliding left and right. A recess (90) in the valving member can connect first and second holes (52 and 56, 58) in the housing lower surface, or isolate the holes from each other. The shuttle includes a shuttle frame (70) with a vertical bore (74) that receives a guiding part (82) of the valving member. A conduit extends from the valving member recess to a sealed region (102) at the top of the vertical passage to pressurize the sealed region with pressured air, to push down the valving member against the housing lower surface.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling valve for flowing pressured air to an airbag when its height falls below a predetermined height at the bottom of a height range, and for flowing air out of the airbag when its height rises above the top of the height range, which enables easy adjustment. A main valve member has a sealing surface (36) with a slot (34) therein. A disc (30) that pivots as the airbag height changes, has bores (122) that hold inserts (42, 46) with passages (40, 44). The inserts are biased against the sealing surface and have passage near ends (150) that lie adjacent to the slot ends. Each insert can pivot about a pivot axis within a disc bore (122), and each passage near end has a center (130) that is offset from the pivot axis (132a). Each insert can be pivoted about the pivot axis to shift the passage end slightly closer or further from the slot end (102) to adjust the top or bottom of the height zone.

Abstract: A valve for supplying pressured air to vehicle air bags, includes a shuttle (20) with a valving member (80) having a precision polished seal surface (86) that presses against a precision polished sealed-against housing lower surface (50) of a housing (14) that confines the shuttle to sliding left and right. A recess (90) in the valving member can connect first and second holes (52 and 56, 58) in the housing lower surface, or isolate the holes from each other. The shuttle includes a shuttle frame (70) with a vertical bore (74) that receives a guiding part (82) of the valving member. A conduit extends from the valving member recess to a sealed region (102) at the top of the vertical passage to pressurize the sealed region with pressured air, to push down the valving member against the housing lower surface.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling valve for flowing pressured air to an airbag when its height falls below a predetermined height at the bottom of a height range, and for flowing air out of the airbag when its height rises above the top of the height range, which enables easy adjustment. A main valve member has a sealing surface (36) with a slot (34) therein. A disc (30) that pivots as the airbag height changes, has bores (122) that hold inserts (42, 46) with passages (40, 44). The inserts are biased against the sealing surface and have passage near ends (150) that lie adjacent to the slot ends. Each insert can pivot about a pivot axis within a disc bore (122), and each passage near end has a center (130) that is offset from the pivot axis (132a). Each insert can be pivoted about the pivot axis to shift the passage end slightly closer or further from the slot end (102) to adjust the top or bottom of the height zone.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for indicating when the water level rises to a predetermined height, of the type that includes a float assembly (44) with a float that rises along a guide of a fixed housing assembly (40) until an activator (74) on the float assembly activates a switch (70) on the housing assembly. The guide is in the form of a downwardly-extending post (42), and the float assembly includes a hollow shaft (52) that extends upwardly from the float and that surrounds the post. As a result, the sliding surfaces (60, 62) along which the float assembly slides upwardly along the post, is isolated from the environment to ensure reliable sliding despite a hostile environment that could damage any exposed sliding surfaces and prevent reliable sliding.