Abstract: A front discharge transit mixer having an air spring associated with each wheel. A load sensing system senses the pressure in each air spring and is analyzed to determine a load at each wheel. The load at each wheel is compared to a predetermined load and the pressure is varied as needed to distribute the load to other wheels.

Abstract: An improved axle control apparatus for industrial vehicles. A multi-movement hydraulic cylinder is provided at each end of a rear axle to couple the rear axle with a body frame. Each cylinder has a pair of oil chambers, which are defined by a piston. The oil chambers of the same cylinder are connected with each other by an oil line. An electromagnetic valve is located in each oil line. When the electromagnetic valves open the lines, oil flow between the chambers of the same cylinders is permitted. This permits the pistons to move. When the electromagnetic valve closes the lines, oil flow between the chambers of the same cylinders is prohibited. This locks the pistons. When the pistons in both cylinders are movable, the rear axle is permitted to tilt relative to the body frame. The rear axle is locked by locking the piston of at least one of the cylinders. Thus, if one of the cylinders is malfunctioning, the rear axle is locked by the other cylinder. The reliability of the apparatus is improved accordingly.

Abstract: A suspension system for a motor vehicle in which at least two wheels are independently suspended from the frame of the vehicle with at least one control arm and wherein motors are selectively actuated by sensors in the driver's seat to move the control arm on each side in response to inertial and centrifugal forces acting on the driver during operation to counteract the adverse effects of such forces.

Abstract: In a sensor arrangement for a vehicle wheel suspension, a pivot arm is mounted pivotably on a vehicle body and a sensor for detecting the relative position between pivot arm and vehicle body is arranged in a fixed position on the vehicle body. The sensor is mechanically coupled to the pivot arm. A sensor-side attachment element and a pivot-arm-side attachment element are attached to the vehicle body at a common attachment point.

Abstract: An automatic leveling system for off-road vehicles having a cab and boom assembly rotatably mounted on a carrier base via a tilt table. The system includes a sensing device and control circuit for adjusting the level of the cab assembly relative to the base of the vehicle. The sensing device has a pendulum gimbaled within a housing. The pendulum has a pilot shaft extending upwardly therefrom and positioned proximate four switches for sensing changes in the orientation of the cab assembly. The switches are electrically connected to control circuits for a system capable of adjusting the orientation of the tilt table. A delay circuit is provided to inhibit re-leveling during extension of the boom.

Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic strut with an internal level control, especially for automobiles, has a power cylinder. The power cylinder is under the pressure of at least one gas pad acting as a spring. The gas pad is placed in a high-pressure chamber, which high-pressure chamber is filled with damping agents. The power cylinder is divided into two working chambers by a working piston. The working piston is carried by a hollow piston rod and is equipped with valves. A piston pump is driven by the spring motion and transports oil from a low-pressure chamber into the working chamber. The working chamber is connected to the high-pressure chamber. The piston pump includes a pump chamber formed by the hollow piston rod and a pump rod that is connected to the power cylinder. The damping agent in the pump chamber can be pressure-impacted by a driving element.

Abstract: A device for indicating the level of the axle of a vehicle having a reference mark indicator which follows the level of the vehicle axle is arranged fixedly connected on the axle of the vehicle and changes its position as a result of the change in level. An electric signal which corresponds to the level of the axle is obtained from a resistance network which is firmly attached to the body of the vehicle. In a level indicator which operates with little wear, is economical to manufacture, and nevertheless is of high accuracy, the resistance network has, associated with it, a contact structure which, under the action of a magnet device which is movable by the change in position of the reference mark indicator, can be deflected in the manner that an electrical connection which is dependent on the level of the axle is produced.

Abstract: An anti-creep device for use with an air spring of a tractor-trailer is shown. The anti-creep device includes a support member which is mounted inside the air spring for movement between a blocking position and an articulating position. In the articulating position, the full range of compression between the top plate and piston of the air spring can be exercised. In the blocking position, the support member limits the downward movement of the top plate relative to the piston. Therefore, the support member limits downward movement of the frame rail of the trailer with respect to the axle and trailing arm. The support member can comprise a pivotable plate, a bladder filled with an incompressible fluid, a vertically telescoping arm or upper and lower bumpers rotatable into and out of vertical alignment.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension with an airspring of the type with a flexible sleeve forming a chamber portion and a rolling lobe portion. The chamber portion is attached to a tilted closure and the rolling lobe portion of the airsleeve is attached to a piston that is transversely moved which introduces a shear force into the airsleeve and increases a surface area on an upward tilted side of the sleeve so as to provide side load compensation and where the axial length of the rolling lobe is substantially equalized to enhanced flexural life. A method of imparting a side load force with an airspring fastened between a fixed member and reciprocating member of a vehicle suspension, is provided by tilting a closure member of the airspring, transversely moving a piston connected to a rolling lobe portion of the airspring while distorting a chamber portion of the airspring, and eccentrically offsetting the piston in a manner that tends to equalize an axial length of a rolling lobe.

Abstract: In accordance with an output signal from a weight sensor mounted on a vehicle, a display control section causes a display unit to display weight calculated at predetermined intervals by a weight calculating section. The display control section adds, to the weight which is being displayed, the difference in the weights sequentially calculated by the weight calculating section from detection of start of a loading/unloading operation performed by a detection section to start of running of the vehicle and causes the display unit to display the obtained weight. A power supply control section for controlling a power supply circuit for supplying operating electric power for the sensor, the display unit, the display control section and the detection section controls to interrupt supply of operating electric power from the power supply circuit when an ignition switch is switched off.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle including a frame, and a stabilizer apparatus including a pressure source, first and second fluid-actuated stabilizer assemblies connected respectively to the front and rear axles shiftably moveable on the frame, one of the first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being locked against extension and contraction in the absence of pressurization thereof by the pressure source, and the other of the first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being free to extend and contract in the absence of pressurization thereof by the pressure source, hydraulic circuit connected between the pressure source and the first and second fluid activated stabilizer assemblies and including flow controller operable between a first mode wherein the pressure source is disconnected from the first and second stabilizer assemblies, whereby the one of the stabilizer assemblies is locked against extension and retraction, thereby locking the axle connected thereto against shifting movement relative to

Abstract: A system for preventing the overturning of the bin of a tipper truck during the raising of the bin for purposes of unloading includes a lateral level sensor to sense the lateral orientation of the tipper truck, and a longitudinal level sensor for sensing the longitudinal inclination of the bin. A processor processes the outputs of the lateral and longitudinal level sensors to derive a measure of risk of overturning. The system also includes a display for displaying an indication responsive to the measure of risk. The processor preferably processes the output of the lateral level sensor to calculate a rate of change of lateral inclination of the tipper truck. Optionally, a mechanism may be provided for interrupting the raising of the bin, the mechanism being responsive to the processor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle including a frame, and a stabilizer apparatus including a pressure source, first and second fluid-actuated stabilizer assemblies connected respectively to the front and rear axles shiftably moveable on the frame, one of the first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being locked against extension and contraction in the absence of pressurization thereof by the pressure source, and the other of the first and second stabilizer assemblies normally being free to extend and contract in the absence of pressurization thereof by the pressure source, a hydraulic circuit connected between the pressure source and the first and second fluid activated stabilizer assemblies and including a flow controller operable between a first mode wherein the pressure source is disconnected from the first and second stabilizer assemblies, whereby the one of the stabilizer assemblies is locked against extension and retraction, thereby locking the axle connected thereto against shifting movement relative

Abstract: A vehicle body levelling device for a working vehicle having outriggers 5 provided at the front and rear of a self-propelled lower running body 1 for stabilizing the vehicle body while in service wherein the inclinations of the vehicle body in the front to rear and left to right directions thereof are detected by means of a front to rear inclination detector 13 and a left to right inclination detector 14, respectively, and the lengths of the front, rear, left and right outrigger arms 6 are detected by outrigger length detectors 18 so as to calculate by a controller 10 required amount of extension of piston rods of the left and right jack cylinders 7 provided on the front and rear outriggers 5, and wherein a control valve 15 provided on each of the jack cylinders is controlled in accordance with results of the calculation, whereby the vehicle body can be levelled in a short period of time even on an inclined place.

Abstract: A tag axle latching mechanism is disclosed that includes opposed matching engaging components wherein a first is attached to a tag axle system and a second is attached to a truck frame. The components cooperate to direct supporting forces associated with the tag axle system through the truck frame. The tag axle system is mounted on a tailgate such that the engaging components are aligned as the tailgate is operated between a closed and an open position. The tag axle system is connected to the tailgate such that it is covered by the tailgate but forces associated with support provided by the tag axle system are not transferred to the tailgate.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a damping characteristic of at least one shock absorber for an automotive vehicle in which, when direction determining signs of both vertical sprung mass velocity (V) and relative velocity (Sv) between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass are the same, the variable control of the damping characteristic C is carried out at either of extension stroke side (V is plus and Sv is plus) or contraction stroke side (V is minus and Sv is minus) to provide C=.alpha..multidot.V/Sv, and when the direction determining signs of both vertical sprung mass velocity (V) and relative velocity (Sv) between the sprung mass and the unsprung mass are mutually different, the variable control of the damping characteristic C is carried out at either of extension stroke side (V is plus and Sv is minus) or contraction stroke side (V is minus and Sv is plus) to provide C=.alpha..multidot.V.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system has hydraulically extensible and contractable actuators 14 connected between the vehicle body and the wheel assemblies 17. The actuators 14 are controlled by valves 25 to control the vehicle attitude. The valve 25 of each of the actuators 14 is controlled by a first device such as a digital processor 100, 200, 300 and 400 respectively which is individual to the respective actuator and a second device such as a digital processor 500 which controls all of the actuators 14. Signals generated from the first and second devices are combined to form control signals for each actuator 14. Signals from the second device 500 are filtered before being combined with those from the first device 100, 200, 300 or 400 to remove signals from the second device 500 that are outside a particular band width. The filtering means may be adjustable to set the band width of frequencies above which signals from the second device are removed.

Abstract: The inventive device controls the trailing axle of a vehicle having at least two rear axles, wherein at least one rear axle is a driving axle. Pressure fluid chambers, mounted on both the driving and trailing axles, support the vehicle structure. Their pressure is varied to raise or lower the vehicle structure depending on the vehicle load and road conditions. The inventive device further comprises a first valve arrangement and a second valve arrangement. The first valve arrangement selectively connects the pressure fluid chambers of the driving axle to a compressed-air supply, to a pressure fluid sink, or isolates them. The first valve arrangement has a first and a second valve. The first valve is a 3/2-position valve actuated by a first solenoid. The second valve of the first valve arrangement is a 2/2-position valve actuated by a second solenoid. The second valve arrangement is a 3-position valve actuated by a third solenoid.

Abstract: A hydraulic suspension system for a multi-wheeled vehicle where each wheel is supported a suspension arm pivoted to the vehicle body and a hydraulic system including a cylinder positioned between the arm and the vehicle body to support the body on the wheels. The hydraulic system for each wheel functions independently of the hydraulic system of other wheels to maintain a near constant vehicle ground clearance.

Abstract: A suspension system for tracked vehicles has a plurality of interconnected air bags that is used to more evenly distribute the weight of the vehicle superstructure over the belt track. The more even weight distribution improves floatation of the vehicle over the ground, and reduces instability and wear of the superstructure. A tensioner with a pressurized air bag can be used to increase the tension on the belt track during vehicle operation. The pressure in the tensioner air bag can be reduced to ease the tension on the belt track for efficient servicing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the force produced by an air spring assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes mechanisms for determining the position, velocity, and direction of movement of the chassis relative to the wheel and tire assembly as well as a mechanism for measuring the pressure within the air spring. A processor is utilized to determine the force produced by the air spring based upon these measured parameters. A method for determining the air spring force is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic position sensor system including a magnetic medium divided into a plurality of areas of magnetization for producing a magnetic field with a variable intensity. The magnetic medium includes a first side, a second side and a longitudinal axis. A Hall cell is used for detecting the intensity of the magnetic field produced by the magnetic medium and for producing an electric signal which corresponds to the intensity detected. The magnetic medium is movable with respect to the Hall cell so that the Hall cell scans along the first side of the medium along the longitudinal axis and detects the intensity of the magnetic field at any given point along the longitudinal axis of the medium.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle such as a boom sprayer or the like having a first axle member with one end connected with a wheel and its opposite end pivotally connected with the vehicle chassis on the side of the chassis opposite such wheel, a second axle member having one end connected with a wheel and its opposite end pivotally connected with the vehicle chassis on the side of the chassis opposite such wheel and first and second air springs operatively positioned between a portion of the axle members and the chassis to cushion the chassis while traversing irregular and bumpy terrain.

Abstract: A multi-purpose suspension system for resiliently mounting a rigid body on a rigid base assembly includes an intermediate frame supported from the base assembly by a spring for providing limited relative angular movement about an axis vertically aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the base assembly and for pivotally supporting the body for limited horizontal and vertical movement relative thereto, and an arm pivotally mounted on at least one end of the base assembly for providing limited angular movement relative thereto about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the intermediate frame, the arm being connected by links to opposite sides of the body.

Abstract: A suspension controller includes a controller that actuates devices for charging and discharging a pressure fluid into and from front and rear wheel-side cylinders. The controller has first-order lag circuits including first-order lag elements with different time constants. In the early stage of a steering operation, the rear wheel-side cylinders carry a higher travelling load than that shared by the front wheel-side cylinders on the basis of transverse acceleration data detected with a transverse acceleration sensor, so that excellent vehicle turning characteristics can be obtained. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the front wheel-side cylinders are also subjected to control based on the transverse acceleration data, so that the load is shared between the front and rear wheel-side cylinders in a well-balanced manner. Thus, excellent convergence is obtained.

Abstract: An active roll control system for attachment to a vehicle having a wheel suspension system includes an actuator attached by a linkage to the wheel suspension system. The actuator is controlled by a programmable computer having input signals from a lateral accelerometer and a load cell from an output signal to a servovalve controlling the hydraulic fluid to the actuator. The active roll control system operates to maintain the vehicle in a substantially level state about the vehicle longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active suspension system for controlling the suspension of a wheeled land vehicle, which comprises an actuator (31) of variable length in parallel with a spring (34), connected between the body or chassis of a vehicle and a wheel and hub assembly (40) of such. The extension/contraction of the actuator is controlled by a control unit (60) in response to parameters measured by various sensors (61, 64, 65, 66 and 62). The control unit (60) also makes allowance for loads on the vehicle not measured by the sensors, so that accurate control of the suspension system is achieved.

Abstract: A vehicle height control apparatus for a vehicle is comprised of a fluid chamber installed for each wheel. The fluid chamber changes the vehicle height by receiving or discharging the fluid supplied from a fluid supply source. The vehicle height control apparatus operates to decrease the difference between right and left vehicle heights when the difference between the right and left vehicle heights is greater than a predetermined value, the vehicle is in a parked condition, and the fluid supply source cannot supply the fluid to the fluid chamber. The operation by the apparatus is carried out such that the right and left fluid chambers are communicated with each other.

Abstract: An automatic leveling system for a four-wheel vehicle system having outrigger assemblies at each of the four corners of the vehicle chassis and in which each outrigger assembly has an outrigger pad and a hydraulic cylinder for moving the pad downwardly and upwardly relative to the ground. The leveling system includes a low-pressure high-flow source of hydraulic fluid which is connected for one-way flow into the head ends of all four of the cylinders to lower all pads to the ground and then maintain them in contact with the ground. A level sensor senses the relative levelness of the right front and left rear corners of the vehicle and high-pressure low-flow hydraulic fluid is connected to the head end of the cylinder at the lower of those two corners to raise that corner of the vehicle relative to the ground.

Abstract: A shock absorber of the invention comprises a strut, a inner cylinder fixed to the strut and extending inside the strut, and a sliding cylinder mounted to slide inside the strut and associated with the inner cylinder to communicate with the inside thereof via throttling orifices and short-circuit orifices, a pump and control arrangement being provided to pump hydraulic liquid from the sliding cylinder into the inner cylinder so as to produce a retraction of the sliding cylinder into the strut when both the throttling and short-circuit orifices are closed. The throttle orifices produce a communication between the sliding cylinder and the inner cylinder which produces a normal damping operation of the strut while the short-circuit orifices provide a rapid release of the sliding cylinder from a retracted position and a control member selectively closes one or both of the orifices.

Abstract: A system for automatically leveling a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle installed with a plurality of extensible jacks and disposed at strategic positions on the vehicle underside, and responsive to an automatic level control electronics to extend simultaneously all of the jacks and at different speeds as determined by the angle of vehicle versus gravity and bring vehicle to a level condition. The jacks are stopped when they are use higher current than that used before the jacks contact the ground, to assure ground contact, and the vehicle is level.

Abstract: A trim attitude correcting device for an automotive vehicle comprising three sensors detecting the angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle, the angular position of the end of an anti-banking bar connected to the rod of a jack made fast to a road wheel support in the vertical position of the wheel support onto which the casing of the jack is pivotally mounted, respectively, the signals from these three sensors being received by a computer designed to limit the length of the jack through the medium of a hydraulic regulator when the angle of the steering wheel corresponds to a steering lock of the road wheels close to the maximum and the jack or the associated end of the anti-banking bar is likely to hit a neighboring part.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the displacement of a piston within a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. A piston is provided for controlling the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber. Finally, a capacitance sensor is used for determining the position of the piston with respect to the pressure cylinder so that the displacement of the piston may be determined.

Abstract: The vehicle is supported on the ground by tiltable propulsion units carried by a vehicle body. The vehicle includes force sensors for forming force signals representative of the forces applied to each propulsion unit from the vehicle body. Support signal forming means receive and process these force signals to form support signals representative of the support forces applied to the propulsion unit by the ground. The invention is particularly applicable to the nuclear industry.

Abstract: In a system for controlling active suspensions of a motor vehicle, having fluid suspensions for the respective wheels, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, control valves for the respective suspensions, and a controller for producing a control quantity to adjust the control valves to charge and discharge fluid into and out of the fluid suspensions so as to control the vehicle attitude, the reaction force of each suspension is detected and a mean value of the suspension reaction force is calculated to determine the loading condition of the vehicle while the vehicle is driven straight ahead at a constant speed. The control quantity is corrected by a correcting circuit so as to match the loading condition of the vehicle whereby the vehicle attitude is precisely controlled so as to match the vehicle weight even in such a transient state as acceleration, deceleration and turning. The internal pressure of each suspension may be detected as the reaction force.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension control system that is especially applicable to an aircargo transport loader which is adapted for storage in a cargo hold of an aircraft. The suspension control system utilizes sensors to monitor the clearance between the vehicle and an underlying or overlying surface such as the ramp leading into a cargo hold or the roof of the cargo hold. The sensors relay information concerning clearance to a central control where the necessary suspension adjustments are made to allow the vehicle to avoid a clearance problem once travel is continued after stopping for the suspension adjustment. The system allows for suspension adjustments to be made either automatically or manually. The invention also includes an under deck support system which allows for limited pitch, yaw, roll and side to side adjustments to be made to the deck with respect to the underlying base frame.

Abstract: In a system for controlling active suspensions of a motor vehicle, having fluid suspensions for the respective wheels, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, control valves for the respective suspensions, and a controller for adjusting the control valves to charge and discharge a fluid into and out of the fluid suspensions so as to control the vehicle attitude, a hysteresis circuit is provided to receive a longitudinal acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor, for hysteresis processing of the signal, whereby microvibration components included in the acceleration signal is removed. The width of hysteresis is increased as the vehicle speed increases because the amplitude of microvibration becomes larger as the vehicle speed increases. For more stable vehicle attitude control, a dead-zone circuit is provided to cut fluctuations of the hysteresis-processed signal within a specific width in the vicinity of zero.

Abstract: An active suspension system for use with a mass suspended relative to a movable structure and subject to external forces such as the chassis of off-road vehicles, and in particular the hull of heavy combat vehicles, has a passive hydropneumatic suspension system (PHSS) connected to a servopump and an accumulator, and wherein the servopump transfers fluid energy between the accumulator and the suspension system, in accordance with sensed operating conditions which are inputted to a processor whose output commands the velocity of the servopump to control the pressure and volume relationships of the PHSS and accumulator to improve the ride of said vehicle and to substantially reduce energy requirements when operating off-road.

Abstract: Selectively engagable auxiliary leaf springs (38) for vertically supporting a vehicle chassis (32) on an axle assembly (22 or 102) in parallel with main suspension springs (34 or 114). Forward and rear ends (38b,38a) of the auxiliary leaf springs are pivotally attached to the vehicle chassis and the axle assembly, and pivotal movement of the forward ends (38b) is inhibited or prevented by actuators (56) to engage the auxiliary leaf springs.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system of the disclosure is provided with a cylinder device between a vehicle body member and a vehicle wheel member for the vehicle body member by which suspension characteristics are changed. The suspension characteristics are changed by controlling hydraulic fluid supply for the cylinder device, a vehicle height detecting device for detecting a vehicle height displacement, a vehicle height change rate detecting device for detecting a change rate of the vehicle height displacement, and a control device for receiving signals from both the vehicle height displacement detecting device and the vehicle height change rate detecting device to control the hydraulic fluid supply for the cylinder device.

Abstract: An active suspension system is provided a timing control valve in a supply line. The timing control valve is so designed as to provide a predetermined magnitude of delay in building up line pressure upon initiation of suspension control operation. A flow restriction means is further provided in parallel relationship to the timing control valve for permitting fluid flow therethrough in limited flow rate so that sudden increasing of the line pressure in the supply line can be successfully prevented.

Abstract: A height regulation system for an automotive vehicle to generally adjust a vehicular height level within a predetermined height range includes a variable pressure chamber, in which the fluid pressure is adjusted to adjust the relative distance between the vehicular body and a vehicular wheel. The system includes a control circuit including a sensor for monitoring vehicular height for detecting an actual vehicular height beyond the predetermined height range for triggering height adjustment operation. The control circuit limits the variation range of the fluid pressure within a predetermined range so as to avoid excess adjustment of the pressure at any vehicular condition.

Abstract: An active suspension system of an automotive vehicle having four air suspension units for four wheels has a first sensor for detecting vertical acceleration of the mass above each suspension unit spring, a second sensor for detecting the vertical relative displacement of the masses above and below each unit spring, a controller for operating in response to the output signals from the two sensors and a relative displacement velocity signal obtained by differentiation of the signal from the second sensor to generate an instruction air flow quantity signal, and a control valve operating in response to this flow quantity signal from each controller to control the charging or discharging of air into or from each unit. An auxiliary damper is provided in each unit to damp vibrations of relatively high frequencies.

Abstract: An electrically powered suspension for a vehicle including a roadwheel and tire assembly, an electrically powered suspension unit having one end attached to the roadwheel and tire assembly and the other end attached to the chasis of the vehicle, with the suspension unit including an electric motor for positioning the roadwheel with respect to the chasis, and a controller for operating the electric motor so as to control the vertical movement of the wheel and tire assembly with respect to the vehicle's chassis. The electric motor may include either a linear or rotating electric motor, acting either alone or in parallel with a static load carrying device such as a fluid or coil spring.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus of a vehicle has a cylinder unit interposed between a sprang weight and an unsprung weight, which changes a ride height of the vehicle body by supplying or discharging an operating liquid through a supply/discharge control valve. The supply/discharge control value is controlled on the basis of a predetermined condition so as to control a posture of the vehicle body. There are further provided a bump detecting sensor for detecting a bump of each of the wheels, which occurs further from a state in which the wheel is bumped, and a pressure detecting sensor for detecting a pressure in the cylinder unit. When it is sensed by the bump detecting sensor that the bump occurs further from the bumping state, if the pressure detected by the pressure detecting sensor is continued in a lowering state for a given period of time, it is judged that the supply/discharge control valve is in trouble.

Abstract: An automatic level control device for vehicles is furnished with an electrically triggered shut-off valve (44). The shut-off valve (44) can be loaded with a pressure in closure direction corresponding to an air-suspension pressure. The force to be exerted by the electrical actuation device (23) for opening of the shut-off valve (44) is independent of the closure pressure loading the shut-off valve (44). The device components of the electrical actuation device (23) of the shut-off valve (44) can be furnished of small volume size and the passage cross-section of the shut-opff valve (44) can be formed of relatively large size. The device serves for automatic level control devices for vehicles.

Abstract: A suspension system for a sidecar-type motorcycle which operates to maintain the motorcycle in a level, vertical disposition irrespective of uneven terrain being traversed by the motorcycle. The sidecar wheel is mounted on a beam which is pivotally mounted at one end on the sidecar frame. The lower end of a shock absorber is pivotally connected to the other end of the beam and the upper end of the shock absorber is connected to a lever which is pivotally mounted on the sidecar frame and which is operated by an extensible motor. The extensible motor may comprise a screw jack, an air cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder. The extensible motor is operated either automatically by a level sensing device carried by the motorcycle or manually by the operator.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an automotive suspension position sensor including the steps of placing the sensor into a position corresponding to a predetermined ride height, applying a reference signal to the sensor, measuring the output signal value from the sensor, and adjusting the output signal value by means of an automatic calibrator associated with the sensor to achieve a predetermined desired signal value. An adjustable ride height sensing system for an automotive vehicle includes a sensor interposed between the chassis of the vehicle and a roadwheel so that the electrical impedance of the sensor will be a function of vertical position of the roadwheel with respect to the chassis and means for automatically adjusting the apparent impedance of the sensor so that the output of the sensor achieves a desired range of values.

Abstract: Selectively engagable auxiliary leaf springs (38) for vertically supporting a vehicle chassis (32) on an axle assembly (22 or 102) in parallel with main suspension springs (34 or 114). Forward and rear ends (38b,38a) of the auxiliary leaf springs are pivotally attached to the vehicle chassis and the axle assembly, and pivotal movement of the forward ends (38b) is inhibited or prevented by actuators (56) to engage the auxiliary leaf springs.

Abstract: Present invention relates to an apparatus to improve the riding feel of the vehicle when the rear wheels pass over a sporadic hollows or protrusions of a ground by altering the rear suspension characteristic, i.e. the spring constant and the damping force of the shock absorbers after such hollows or protrusions are detected by front wheels of the vehicle passing thereover and the detected hollow or protrusion is judged to exceed a predetermined size. Besides that, the present invention has another control measures to give a priority to the maintenance of the vehicle posture when the driving condition is that need drivability and stability more than the riding comfort over the above-mentioned rear suspension characteristic alteration.