Smc Corporation of America

Smc Pneumatics, Inc.

Alexander Montgomery Mlsna

Robert L Thommen

Paul D Mundie

Shinichi Yoshimura

Robert William Dickman

A lift axle control system is provided for a vehicle that has fixed axles and a lift axle. The lift axle is configured to move between a raised position spaced apart from the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground to reduce the load carried by the fixed axles. The lift axle control system is configured to control the raising and lowering of the lift axle. According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the lift axle control system includes a housing and a valve configured to control the flow of air to a lower bag that lowers the lift axle into contact with the ground.

Lift axle control system

A dual piston pilot valve includes a housing forming first and second cylinders. A first spool is moveable in the first cylinder for engaging the a piston to effect movement of the first piston and a second spool is moveable in the second cylinder for engaging a second piston to effect movement of the second piston. The valve further includes a single pressurized fluid supply port communicating with both the first and second cylinders, a first output port communicating with the first cylinder, a second output port communicating with the second cylinder, a single exhaust port communicating with both the first and second cylinders, and a diaphragm engaging the housing and both the first and second pistons. The diaphragm is positioned between both the first and second spools and both the first and second seal regions of the first and second pistons to effect a seal between the single exhaust port and the first and second spools. Movement of the first piston is controlled independently from the movement of the second piston, and vice versa.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Alexander Montgomery Mlsna