Air suspension valve setup

When a vehicle leans, the suspension transfers weight from one side or end to the other. This adds or removes weight from different points on the suspension.

The compressibility of air allows the vehicle to move up or down on the frame as the weight shifts without adding or removing air from the bags. This brings us to:. How the air suspension functions. The vehicle is supported on the frame with an arrangement of air bags. The vehicle air system, engine air compressor, tanks, lines, etc.

The height control valves are connected to the air bags with an air line. When weight is added to the vehicle or transferred through the suspension of the vehicle, the air in the air bag s is compressed, the frame moves closer to the axle. This forces the HCV linkage up. As the linkage moves up, the valving of the HCV connects the air supply to the air bag s. The added pressure and volume inflates the air bag s , causing the frame to move away from the axle.

As the frame moves back to the proper ride height, the HCV linkage moves to the neutral position. This moves the valving away from the air supply and locks the air in the air bag to maintain the proper ride height.

As weight is removed from the vehicle or the suspension shifts weight away, the existing pressure in the air bag s can push the frame away from the axle. The HCV linkage is pulled down. This connects the air bag s to the HCV exhaust port. As air is exhausted from the air bag s , the frame lowers back down towards the axle.

As the linkage moves up to the neutral position, the exhaust port is closed and the air is again locked in the air bag s , maintaining proper ride height. These three drawings show a schematic example of the height control valve in the neutral position, inflate position and deflate or exhaust position.

A suspension air dump is used to exhaust the air from all of the suspension air bags. This is done for different reasons, such as kneeling, the vehicle down for entrance accessibility or to use a leveling system.

The pilot operated suspension air dump is the most common suspension dump system used at this time. The basic components of the pilot air dump system are the pilot operated control valve and the individual dump valves, one on each height control valve.

You also have the control switch, wiring harnesses for the control valve along with air lines and fittings to connect the control valve to the dump valves. The pilot air dump system can also be controlled by a different source such as a leveling system control panel. It is not meant to be used for diagnostic purposes. The vehicle or suspension manufacturer should always be consulted before working on the suspension dump system.

The pilot valve is an electrically activated spool valve. Each end of the valve has an electric solenoid. The pilot valve must be shifted with the electrical solenoids. The pilot valve has no spring operation. When shifted to the Dump position, the pilot valve stays there until shifted to the Travel position.

It will stay in the Travel position until shifted again. The pilot valve uses air to activate the dump valves at each HCV. In the Travel position, the pilot valve connects the HCV dump valves to an exhaust port. This keeps the dump valve control pressure at 0 psi.

When shifted to the Dump position, the pilot valve connects the HCV dump valves to the air supply. This shifts the HCV dump valves to an air dump position. Mounting the compressors and running the air lines is a matter of personal preference.

Compressors come in both stand-alone electric units and also engine mounted belt-driven styles. Each has its advantages and its disadvantages. While less expensive, the electric units are louder than the belt driven units, and while the engine driven units offer a constant supply of air, they are considerably more costly and complex.

Tanks are the same way; you can get a large tank and display it, or a smaller 3 gallon , 4 gallon , or 5 gallon tanks and tuck it away. Speedway offers several designs of air tanks, one for any application.

The larger the volume of the tank the less the compressors will need to refill them, the smaller the easier it is to hide them away. The control of the air ride system is through a handheld controller and electronic solenoid valves. The controller selects the opening and closing of the valve; allowing air pressure to either enter or exit the air spring. Speedway offers several designs of controllers , from simple to complex.

The Accuair system controls the solenoids through a computer that can repeat preset heights and consistently put the vehicle to the same ride height again and again. This system monitors how high the vehicle is with data recording sensors. Support Videos. Log in Register. Search titles only. Search Advanced search…. New posts. Search forums. Log in.

Install the app. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. The springing rate varies much less between the laden and unladen conditions, as compared with that of conventional springs.

The springing rate is more as compared to the air suspension system. Stiffness of the system increases with an increase in deflection. Stiffness of the system decreases with an increase in deflection. Application: Volvo bus, Luxury cars 6. Application: Heavy and medium-duty vehicles, passenger cars, etc. Reduced fatigue to the driver and passenger. More fatigue to the driver and passenger as compared to the air suspension system. It consists of Compressor, reservoir, leveling valve, air springs or air bellows, etc.

It consists of leaf spring, coil spring, shock absorber, shackle joint, bracket, etc. The advantage of air suspension is as follows: 1 A variable space for wheel deflection is put to optimum use by virtue of the automatic control devices 2 Because the vehicle altitude is also constant, changes in head lamp alignment due to varying loads are avoided.

It reduces the dynamic loading. Disadvantages of an air suspension system are as follows. The air suspension system is used in Modern Buses, Volvo, passenger cars, and trucks for comfort ride. Currently, he is working in the sheet metal industry as a designer. Additionally, he has interested in Product Design, Animation, and Project design. He also likes to write articles related to the mechanical engineering field and tries to motivate other mechanical engineering students by his innovative project ideas, design, models and videos.

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