Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

Matt J Wilson

Jesse W Cervantez

Santo A Padula

Phillippi R Pierce

Matthew VanMeter

Jay D White

Michael J Keeler

Jeffrey S Morris

Jeff R Zawacki

Jared A Haney

Stephen H Burke

Shawn M Dinger

Nicholas R Barbieri

Matthew Vanmeter

A control apparatus for heavy-duty vehicle lift axle/suspension systems, the control apparatus comprising a source of fluid pressure, a primary controller, and a secondary controller. The primary controller is located remote from the lift axle/suspension system. The secondary controller is located proximate to the lift axle/suspension system and the source of fluid pressure and is in fluid communication with the primary controller, the source of fluid pressure, and at least one lift bag and at least one air spring of the lift axle/suspension system. The secondary controller includes a pilot-operated poppet assembly and a discrete or integrated relay valve assembly wherein the primary controller transmits at least a pneumatic pilot signal to the secondary controller in order to selectively inflate and deflate the at least one air spring and the at least one lift bag to selectively control and maintain the extension and retraction of the lift axle/suspension system.

Control apparatus for lift axle/suspension systems of heavy-duty vehicles

A load-based tire inflation system for a heavy-duty vehicle comprises at least one source of fluid pressure, suspension structure of the heavy-duty vehicle, a tire and wheel assembly and a system to control fluid pressure in the tire and wheel assembly. The suspension structure is located between a frame member and an axle and has a condition indicative of a weight of the heavy-duty vehicle. The tire and wheel assembly is operatively mounted to the axle and is in fluid communication with the source of fluid pressure. The control system controls fluid pressure in the tire and wheel assembly in response to the condition of the suspension structure.

Load-based tire inflation system for heavy-duty vehicles

A regulator for establishing outlet fluid pressure. The regulator includes a valve body having a fluid pressure inlet in selective fluid communication with a fluid pressure outlet. A pilot pressure inlet is formed in the valve body and in fluid communication with a source of pilot pressure. Valving structure in the valve body establishes outlet fluid pressure as a function of pilot pressure. First adjustable structure within the valve body may establish a minimum outlet fluid pressure threshold without regard to pilot pressure. Second adjustable structure within the valve body may establish outlet fluid pressure offset relative to pilot pressure.

Pilot operated regulator with adjustable minimum delivery pressure

A central tire pressure monitoring system interfaces with a tire inflation system to check the pressure in all of the tires of a trailer of a heavy-duty vehicle at a single interface location on the trailer, without the need to provide power to the trailer. The tire inflation system includes a source of pressurized air, at least one tire, a pneumatic conduit extending between and fluidly connecting the source of pressurized air to the tire, and a controller fluidly connected to the conduit. The monitoring system includes a monitoring valve fluidly connected to the conduit between the controller and the tire. The monitoring valve includes a port, and a test tool selectively fluidly connects to the monitoring valve port to enable air flow from the tire to the test tool. An indicator fluidly connects to the test tool and provides a reading of a pneumatic pressure in the tire.

Central tire pressure monitoring system

A vehicle tire inflation system includes an air supply source in fluid communication with multiple tires of the vehicle. A pneumatic conduit extends between and is in fluid communication with the air supply source and the tires. Means are fluidly connected to the pneumatic conduit for enabling selective inflation and deflation of the tires. The means include a first pneumatic circuit for inflation of the tires, and a second pneumatic circuit for deflation of the tires. The second pneumatic circuit is discrete from the first pneumatic circuit and is common to more than one of the tires. The means provides controlled deflation of the tires in the second pneumatic circuit based upon a predetermined condition, preventing deflation of the tires until the vehicle is parked, or limiting the deflation of the tires, which in turn enables the tire inflation system to accommodate a desirable increased pressure in the tires.

Tire inflation system with discrete deflation circuit

A constant pressure vehicle tire inflation system includes an air supply source. A first wheel valve is in fluid communication with a first tire of the vehicle, and a second wheel valve is in fluid communication with a second tire of the vehicle. A pneumatic conduit extends between and is in fluid communication with the air supply source and the wheel valves. At least a portion of the pneumatic conduit remains charged with air from at least one of the supply source and the tires. The system includes means for distributing air flow between the pneumatic conduit and the first and second wheel valves, in which the wheel valves and the means selectively maintain fluid communication between the first and second tires and the pneumatic conduit to provide pneumatic balancing between the tires, and the wheel valves provide emergency protection when a tire experiences significant pressure loss.

Constant pressure pneumatic balancing tire inflation system

A vent system for an axle of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a check valve and an exhaust tube that is connected to the check valve. The check valve includes a first end that is mounted on the axle, a second end, and a body that is disposed between the first and second ends and is in selective fluid communication with the axle interior. The exhaust tube includes a first end that is mounted on the second end of the check valve, and a second end that is open to atmosphere and is in fluid communication with the check valve body. Using any one of a number of types of configurations for the valve body, the vent system selectively exhausts air from the axle interior to atmosphere to relieve buildups of pressure in the axle, while protecting the integrity of the check valve and preventing contaminants from entering the axle.

Vehicle axle vent system

A vehicle tire inflation system includes an air supply that is connected to a vehicle tire by a pneumatic conduit. A pump that is independent of and pneumatically parallel to the vehicle air supply includes an inlet and an outlet. The pump inlet receives air from atmosphere, the pump compresses the air, and the pump outlet is fluidly connected to the pneumatic conduit. When the air pressure in the pneumatic conduit drops below a predetermined level, compressed air from the pump is introduced into the pneumatic conduit, thus increasing the air pressure in the conduit to increase the air pressure that is available to the tire. A reservoir tank, which is also independent of the vehicle air supply, may be in fluid communication with the pump outlet and the pneumatic conduit.

Tire inflation system with parallel pump

A temperature warning system for a vehicle includes a thermal plug disposed on the wheel end assembly of the vehicle. The thermal plug is in fluid communication with an air supply and with a flow sensor. The flow sensor is operatively connected to a warning light or indicator. Excessive heat in the axle spindle end and/or the wheel end assembly causes a fusible material in the thermal plug to melt allowing air to flow from the air supply through the thermal plug thus activating the flow sensor. The flow sensor in turn activates the warning light or indicator alerting the driver of the vehicle of a problem condition at the wheel end assembly and/or axle spindle.

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Canal Fulton, OH, United States of America

Matt J Wilson