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:
Feb. 22, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2003
Robert D. Sorum, Caledonia, MI (US);
Gary L. Schafer, Shelbyville, MI (US);
Curtis A. Trudeau, Caledonia, MI (US);
Dick E. Winter, Kentwood, MI (US);
Robert D. Sorum, Caledonia, MI (US);
Gary L. Schafer, Shelbyville, MI (US);
Curtis A. Trudeau, Caledonia, MI (US);
Dick E. Winter, Kentwood, MI (US);
Hadley Products, Grandville, MI (US);
Abstract
A suspension system that restricts side-to-side airflow between air springs on opposite sides of a vehicle or trailer. In one embodiment, active airflow discs in suspension ports of a valve operate in two modes; restrictive and non-restrictive. A disc attains a non-restrictive mode when air is exhausted from an air spring. A disc attains a restrictive mode when air is injected into the suspension port from the valve toward an air spring. Airflow discs in opposing suspension ports both attain a non-restrictive state to rapidly dump air from the springs and lower vehicle ride height. In another embodiment, a pneumatic circuit includes one-way check valves, in fluid communication with opposing air springs, aligned to restrict airflow between the opposing springs under uneven loading conditions. A pair of electronic solenoids acts in concert with the check valves to selectively inflate or deflate the air springs.