The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 28, 1999
Joseph Michael Raad, Southgate, MI (US);
George Nicholas Villec, Tucson, AZ (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An automotive vehicle suspension system includes a respective gas leveler (,) at each of multiple wheels. A compressor (,) and reservoir (,) serve the gas levelers. The compressor has an internal gas compressing mechanism (,) for charging the reservoir, an internal electric-operated exhaust valve (,), and a port (,) through which the gas compressing mechanism and the exhaust valve communicate with the reservoir and gas levelers. A respective branch (,) from each gas leveler and the reservoir to the compressor port contains a respective electric-operated valve (,) in series with the respective gas leveler and reservoir. An electric pressure sensor (,) provides an actual pressure measurement within a range of pressures at a node that is common to the branches and to the compressor port. Apparent hoisting or jacking of the vehicle is detected (FIG.,) by measuring the ride height at each wheel by means of a respective electric sensor, measuring gas pressure in each gas leveler, and signaling apparent hoisting or jacking by processing the ride height and the gas leveler pressure measured at each wheel and a predetermined load for the wheel. Operation of the gas levelers is inhibited when apparent hoisting or jacking is signaled.