Patent ID: 8132817

Claim:
An air suspension control apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a charge tank selectively connected to a source of pressurized air maintained at a first air pressure such that selective filling of said charge tank with compressed air is permitted; a tank air valve operably disposed between said source of pressurized air and said charge tank, said tank air valve being selectively movable between a first disposition and a second disposition thereof; a ride height air valve operably connected to said tank air valve and to said source of pressurized air, said ride height air valve being selectively movable between a first setting and a second setting thereof; a control device operably connected to said tank air valve for controlling movement of said tank air valve between said first and said second dispositions thereof such that in said first disposition of said tank air valve, said charge tank is maintained at a second air pressure which is less than said first air pressure and when said tank air valve is in said second disposition thereof, said charge tank is maintained at said first air pressure, said control device being operably connected to said ride height air valve for controlling movement of said ride height air valve between said first and said second settings thereof; and an air spring operatively connected to said tank air valve and to said ride height air valve such that: in a first mode of operation of said air suspension control apparatus, said tank air valve is in said first disposition thereof and said ride height air valve is in said first setting thereof so that said air spring is maintained at said second pressure for supporting and suspending the vehicle when the vehicle is driven, said ride height air valve maintaining said air spring and said charge tank at said second air pressure, in a second mode of operation of said air suspension control apparatus, said tank air valve is in said second disposition thereof and said ride height air valve is in said second setting thereof such that said air spring is maintained at a third pressure, said third pressure being lower than said second pressure so that the vehicle is lowered for facilitating loading and unloading of said vehicle while said air pressure within said charge tank is increased from said second air pressure to said first air pressure, in a third mode of operation of said air suspension control apparatus, said tank air valve is restored to said first disposition thereof and said ride height air valve is restored to said first setting thereof, such that said first pressure within said charge tank rapidly inflates said air spring from said third pressure to said second pressure so that driving of the vehicle is permitted, said first setting of said ride height air valve subsequently restoring said charge tank to said second pressure.