Abstract: An air suspension system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating thereof includes an air suspension device for adjusting a ride-height position of the motor vehicle by the feeding and removal of compressed air into a plurality of air springs. The system also includes a dryer supplied via a compressed-air supply unit which has a compressor driven by an electric motor. A control unit for performing a ride-height control function has instruction for: raising the ride-height position to a first ride-height position; subsequently lowering the ride-height position to a second ride-height position; checking a first condition whether a determined air quantity ratio is less than a first predetermined air quantity limit value; checking a second condition whether a saturation level of the dryer is greater than a saturation limit value, and activating the ride-height control function when either the first or the second condition is satisfied.

Abstract: An air suspension system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating thereof includes an air suspension device for adjusting a ride-height position of the motor vehicle by the feeding and removal of compressed air into a plurality of air springs. The system also includes a dryer supplied via a compressed-air supply unit which has a compressor driven by an electric motor. A control unit for performing a ride-height control function has instruction for: raising the ride-height position to a first ride-height position; subsequently lowering the ride-height position to a second ride-height position; checking a first condition whether a determined air quantity ratio is less than a first predetermined air quantity limit value; checking a second condition whether a saturation level of the dryer is greater than a saturation limit value, and activating the ride-height control function when either the first or the second condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of air of a compressed air system for a motor vehicle, the compressed air system comprising an air compressor, an air dryer and an ambient temperature sensor, wherein an exchange operation of a system air volume is performed by the air compressor, wherein during the exchange operation a part of the system air from the compressed air system is released into the surroundings and ambient air is filled into the compressed air system. The method includes determining a current ambient temperature value (TU) using the ambient temperature sensor, checking a first condition, whether or not the current ambient temperature value (TU) is lower than a temperature limit value (TG), and performing the exchange operation to lower the dew point of the system air by the air dryer if the first condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of air of a compressed air system for a motor vehicle, the compressed air system comprising an air compressor, an air dryer and an ambient temperature sensor, wherein an exchange operation of a system air volume is performed by the air compressor, wherein during the exchange operation a part of the system air from the compressed air system is released into the surroundings and ambient air is filled into the compressed air system. The method includes determining a current ambient temperature value (TU) using the ambient temperature sensor, checking a first condition, whether or not the current ambient temperature value (TU) is lower than a temperature limit value (TG), and performing the exchange operation to lower the dew point of the system air by the air dryer if the first condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring a load on a rear axle and/or a front axle of a chassis, wherein a level control system raises the chassis to a predetermined level by a raising operation after a loading operation and/or after an alteration in a level of the chassis, wherein the method includes the following steps: determination of the load on the rear axle and/or the front axle of the chassis, wherein determination is performed continuously after initiation of the raising operation; comparison of the load determined with a predefined limiting value; and adaptation of the raising operation if the limiting value is exceeded or undershot.

Abstract: A method of controlling a suspension system for a vehicle which comprises determining a first filter vehicle height based upon a signal from at least one sensor located at a rear axle of the vehicle at a first time. A second filter vehicle height is determined based upon a signal from the at least one sensor located at the rear axle of the vehicle at a second time. The difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal is compared to a forklift threshold and the suspension system is placed in forklift mode when the difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal exceeds the forklift threshold.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut for a vehicle, having a working chamber which is at least partially enclosed by a pneumatic spring bellows and having a centrally arranged telescopic damper, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is fastened to the pneumatic spring cover and to a pneumatic spring piston connected to the damper cylinder and can roll on the outer side of the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring piston is connected, at its top end and above the roll fold, to the damper cylinder by an elastic bearing, and the elastic bearing is composed of an elastomer body which is provided between a collar, which is situated on the damper cylinder, and a flange, which is arranged on the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the collar situated on the damper cylinder is arranged below the piston-rod-side end of the damper cylinder.

Abstract: An air spring device having a folding bellows which protects the rolling fold against contaminants, the folding bellows being fastened to that end of the rolling piston which lies opposite the rolling fold, and surrounding the outer guide at least over the length of the latter.

Abstract: A method of controlling a suspension system for a vehicle which comprises determining a first filter vehicle height based upon a signal from at least one sensor located at a rear axle of the vehicle at a first time. A second filter vehicle height is determined based upon a signal from the at least one sensor located at the rear axle of the vehicle at a second time. The difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal is compared to a forklift threshold and the suspension system is placed in forklift mode when the difference between the first filter signal and the second filter signal exceeds the forklift threshold.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut for a vehicle, having a working chamber which is at least partially enclosed by a pneumatic spring bellows and having a centrally arranged telescopic damper, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is fastened to the pneumatic spring cover and to a pneumatic spring piston connected to the damper cylinder and can roll on the outer side of the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring piston is connected, at its top end and above the roll fold, to the damper cylinder by an elastic bearing, and the elastic bearing is composed of an elastomer body which is provided between a collar, which is situated on the damper cylinder, and a flange, which is arranged on the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the collar situated on the damper cylinder is arranged below the piston-rod-side end of the damper cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air spring device having a free-standing air spring bellows and an outer guide which is fastened to the air spring bellows by means of an inner clamping ring, wherein the outer diameter of the inner clamping ring is greater than the outer diameter of the air spring bellows in the unpressurized state, and the inner clamping ring generates a radially outwardly pointing encircling bulge in the unpressurized air spring bellows.

Abstract: An air spring device having a folding bellows which protects the rolling fold against contaminants, the folding bellows being fastened to that end of the rolling piston which lies opposite the rolling fold, and surrounding the outer guide at least over the length of the latter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air spring device having a free-standing air spring bellows and an outer guide which is fastened to the air spring bellows by means of an inner clamping ring, wherein the outer diameter of the inner clamping ring is greater than the outer diameter of the air spring bellows in the unpressurized state, and the inner clamping ring generates a radially outwardly pointing encircling bulge in the unpressurized air spring bellows.

Abstract: A wheel-guiding forward axle spring strut includes a spring and a shock absorber (6) integrated axially therein. The spring includes two end members (8, 10) and a spring element is disposed between these end members. The shock absorber (6) includes a shock absorber cylinder (20) and a shock absorber rod (18) connected to the chassis (24) via a non-rotatable shock absorber bearing (22) The end member (8) is connected by a rotational bearing (28) to the chassis. The lower spring end member (10) is fixedly connected to the shock absorber cylinder (20) and thereby in common to the forward axle. The upper spring end member is an air spring cover and the lower spring end member is an air spring piston (10) and an air spring flexible member (12) is mounted between the cover (8) and the piston (10) so as to be pressure-tight and tension-tight.

Abstract: A rolling-lobe air spring (2) includes a cover (cover plate, 6-I or 6-II), a roll-off piston (8) and a rolling-lobe flexible member (4). A support bell (16-I or 16-II) is provided in order to solve stability problems. The support bell (16-I or 16-II) is rigidly connected to the cover (6-I or 6-II) in order to provide a guide of high stiffness to the rolling-lobe flexible member. The support bell (16-I or 16-II) is rigidly connected to the cover (6-I or 6-II) and can be arranged within or outside of the cover (6-I or 6-II). For an inner-lying support bell (16-I) the upper end of the rolling-lobe flexible member is attached to the throat region (18-I) of the support bell (16-I) with the aid of a clamp ring (12-I) applied from the outside. For an outside-lying support bell (16-II), the throat region (18-II) of the support bell (16-II) is deformed against the upper end of the rolling-lobe flexible member and against a support ring (12-II) disposed therebelow.

Abstract: A method for controlling the storage pressure of a pressurized air store (4) of a closed level control system for a motor vehicle includes a compressor (6), a pressurized air store (4) (which can be filled with air from the atmosphere and which can be discharged into the atmosphere) and at least one air spring (2a to 2d). The air springs (2a to 2d) are connected via the compressor (6) to the pressurized air store (4) so that pressurized air from the air springs (2a to 2d) can be transferred into the pressurized air store (4) and can be transferred in the opposite direction. The storage pressure of the pressurized air store (4) is controlled indirectly via the air quantity in the level control system in that this air quantity is determined. The pressurized air store (4) is filled with air from the atmosphere when the air quantity lies below a lower limit and the pressurized air store (4) is discharged into the atmosphere when the air quantity lies above an upper limit.

Abstract: An air spring (4) includes an air spring cover (8), a roll-off piston (10) and an air spring flexible member (14). The flexible member (14) is attached between the cover (8) and the piston (10) by clamp rings (12a, 12b). An ancillary spring pot (28) accommodates a compression stop (30). The connection of the ancillary pot (28) on the air spring cover (8) is realized in that the air spring cover (8) is made of sheet metal and has a side facing toward the interior space (22) of the air spring. On this side, the air spring cover has a hollow-cylindrical region with a support (24) for the press-fit accommodation of the ancillary spring pot (28). The diameter of the hollow-cylindrical region of the air spring cover (8) is slightly greater than the diameter of the ancillary spring pot (28). The hollow-cylindrical region includes a peripherally-extending groove (26) for accommodating an outwardly formed edge (34) of the pot (28).

Abstract: A wheel-guiding forward axle spring strut includes a spring and a shock absorber (6) integrated axially therein. The spring includes two end members (8, 10) which are at a variable spacing to each other and a spring element is disposed between these end members. The shock absorber (6) includes a shock absorber cylinder (20) and a shock absorber rod (18) which is axially displaceable and rotatable. The rod (18) is connected to the chassis (24) via a non-rotatable shock absorber bearing (22). The upper spring end member (8) is articulately connected by a pivot bearing (28) so as to be rotatable on a chassis (24) about its longitudinal axis (16). The lower spring end member (10) is fixedly connected to the shock absorber cylinder (20) and thereby in common to the forward axle.

Abstract: An air spring strut is mounted between a chassis of a motor vehicle and a wheel support of a wheel suspension and takes up wheel transverse forces. The air spring strut includes: an air spring including an outer hollow cylinder (8) and an inner hollow cylinder (9). A piston is arranged within the inner hollow cylinder (9) and is connected to the outer hollow cylinder (8). A first rolling-lobe resilient member (10) is arranged between the outer hollow cylinder (8) and the inner hollow cylinder (9) so as to seal off an outer air chamber. A second rolling-lobe resilient member (11) is arranged between the inner hollow cylinder (9) and the piston (2) so as to seal off an inner air chamber (7). The inner hollow cylinder (9) is articulately connected to the wheel support (3). The inner hollow cylinder (9) and the outer hollow cylinder (8) are arranged eccentrically to each other.

Abstract: An air spring includes a flexible member which, on the one hand, is attached to a housing and, on the other hand, to a roll-off piston and which encloses an air volume. The surface of the housing, which faces toward the air volume of the air spring, is charged with the air pressure of the air volume; and, the air spring can be connected to the chassis of a motor vehicle with the interposition of an elastic bearing. The housing includes at least two parts of which a first part serves as the connection of the air spring to the chassis of a motor vehicle and a second part serves as the attachment of the flexible member; and, the elastic bearing is configured to have an annular shape and is mounted between the two parts of the housing.