Patent ID: 6824145
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: B60C,B60G

Abstract:
A level control system for vehicle including a vehicle body and at least one wheel axle, the level control system comprising:a plurality of air springs which can be filled or discharged with compressed air and are mounted for suspending said vehicle body relative to said vehicle axle; a first compressed air line; a compressor and an air dryer connected to each other by said first compressed air line; a check valve connected to said air springs so as to open toward said air springs; each of said air springs being connectable to said compressor via said air dryer and said check valve for filling said air springs; a second compressed air line branching off from said first compressed air line and containing a first pneumatically controllable directional valve; said first pneumatically controllable directional valve being switchable between a first switched position wherein said second compressed air line is connected to the atmosphere and a second switched position wherein said second compressed air line is blocked to the atmosphere; said air springs having a pneumatically controllable discharge valve associated therewith which can bridge said check valve and each of said air springs being connectable to the atmosphere via said pneumatically controllable discharge valve, said air dryer and said first pneumatically controllable directional valve whereby control inputs of each of said discharge valve and said first pneumatically controllable directional valve are selectively charged with the pressure in at least one air spring; a third compressed air line branching off said first compressed air line or said second compressed air line and containing a tire fill connection; a switchable tire fill valve which can bridge said check valve; a compressed air reservoir mounted in said level control system so as to cause a reserve wheel connected to said tire fill connection to be fillable with Compressed air from said compressed air reservoir via said switchable tire fill valve and said air dryer whereby said second compressed air line is then blocked with respect to the atmosphere; and, a cutoff valve switchable between a first position wherein one of said air springs is discharged end said second compressed air line is open to the atmosphere and a second position wherein said compressed air reservoir is connected with said tire fill connection and an opening of said second compressed air line to the atmosphere is prevented.