Contitech Luftfedersysteme Gmbh

Contitech Luftfedersystem Gmbh

Norbert Fischer

Roland Altsinger

The invention is directed to an air spring arrangement having a device for making ultrasonic distance measurements. An ultrasonic sensor, which is built into an air spring (,) for making measurements, can be disturbed when high frequency sonic oscillations occur when filling and venting the air spring. An air supply line (,) is disposed between the air spring (,) and a source of compressed air (,). To prevent the above disturbing frequencies, the air supply line (,) includes an air connecting pipe stub (,) which is lined with a net-shaped layer (,) on its inner wall surface. The layer (,) is preferably a plastic mesh. The filaments (,) of the mesh-shaped layer (,) are slightly inclined to the longitudinal center axis (,) of the pipe stub (,).

Air spring arrangement having a device for making ultrasonic distance measurements therein

The exact spring height as well as the spring pressure can be determined with a single arrangement for the optimal utilization of the axle loads of a multi-axle air spring suspended vehicle and to control the distance between the chassis and the axle. An air spring (2) is equipped with an ultrasonic pulse/echo measuring system. The air spring (2) includes a transmitter/receiver component (14) arranged on the chassis and a first reference electrode (20) and a reflector component (16) fixed to the axle. The air spring height can be determined in a conventional manner from the relative value of the running times of the ultrasonic pulses which are traversed on the reference path and the measuring path. A second reference reflector (22) is mounted at a different distance to the first reference reflector (20). For the determination of pressure, the transmitting power or the receiving amplification of the second reference reflector (22) is controlled in such a manner that the amplitude (intensity) of the sonic waves, which are reflected from the first reference reflector (20), remains at a constant value. This amplitude (intensity) is measured via the sonic transducer (14).

Method and arrangement for making contactless distance and pressure

The invention is directed to an arrangement for making contactless distance and pressure measurements within an air spring. With a single arrangement, the exact elevation of the spring as well as the spring pressure can be determined. This permits optimal utilization of the axle loads of a multi-axle vehicle and permits adjustment of the distance between the chassis and the axle. In the arrangement, an ultrasonic configuration makes contactless distance measurements in accordance with the pulse/echo method. The arrangement includes a transmitter/receiver component (4) mounted on the chassis and a first reflector (24) defining a first reference distance (16) therebetween. The component (4) and a reflector (6) define a measuring distance (30). The reflector (6) is fixedly mounted to the axle. The transmitter/receiver component (4) is elastically supported by a suspension (10) in a pipe stub (8) fixedly mounted to the chassis. A second reflector (28) is fixedly mounted on the pipe stub (8) and defines a second reference distance (18) to the component (4). The displacement of the elastically-supported component (4), which is caused by the internal pressure, is given by a comparison of the propagation times assigned to the two reference distances (16 and 18). In this way, the internal pressure of the air spring is determined.

Arrangement for making contactless distance and pressure measurements

The invention is directed to an arrangement for making contactless distance measurements within an air spring of a motor vehicle. With the invention, it is unnecessary to modify the longitudinal support of the motor vehicle for the purpose of integrating an ultrasonic distance measuring device. The arrangement includes a transmitter/receiver component (16) which is fixedly mounted to the chassis and is mounted within the air spring (2) laterally next to the support (10) of the vehicle, that is, the transmitter/receiver component is mounted elastically off-center in a tubular stub (14) arranged as part of the cover plate (4). A reflector component (24) is fixedly mounted on the axle and assigned to the transmitter/receiver component (16). The reflector component (24) is mounted on the roll-off piston (8) and includes a lens-shaped convex surface (26) having a surface normal (28) directed toward the transmitter/receiver component (16).

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Sehnde, Germany

Norbert Fischer