Self-pressurizing air suspension system
A suspension system includes an air spring including a flexible bellows having a first chamber configured to hold pressurized air, a second chamber, and an air reservoir configured to hold pressurized air. A control valve is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the air reservoir. The first chamber expands in response to receiving pressurized airflow from the air reservoir via the control valve. An intake valve is in fluid communication with the second chamber and an ambient environment. The second chamber receives airflow from the ambient environment via the intake valve during an expansion stage of a jouncing event. An exhaust valve is in fluid communication with the second chamber and the air reservoir. Airflow is directed from the second chamber toward the air reservoir via the exhaust valve during a compression stage of the jouncing event to at least partially pressurize the air reservoir.
1 . A suspension system comprising:
an air spring including a flexible bellows having a first chamber configured to hold pressurized air and a second chamber;
an air reservoir configured to hold pressurized air;
a control valve in fluid communication with the first chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, the first chamber of the bellows expanding in response to receiving pressurized airflow from the air reservoir via the control valve;
an intake valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and an ambient environment, the second chamber receiving airflow from the ambient environment via the intake valve during an expansion stage of a jouncing event; and
an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, airflow directed from the second chamber toward the air reservoir via the exhaust valve during a compression stage of the jouncing event to at least partially pressurize the air reservoir.
2 . The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber of the bellows contracts in response to directing pressurized airflow toward the air reservoir via the control valve.
3 . The suspension system of claim 2 , further comprising a control module operable to direct pressurized airflow between the air reservoir and the control valve to cause expansion and compression of the first chamber of the bellows.
4 . The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust valve directs airflow from the second chamber toward the air reservoir in response to air pressure within the second chamber being greater than a threshold level during the jouncing event.
5 . The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the air reservoir is in fluid communication with a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve directing airflow from the air reservoir toward the ambient environment in response to air pressure within the air reservoir being greater than a threshold level.
6 . The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the intake valve directs airflow from the second chamber toward the ambient environment in response to air pressure within the second chamber being greater than a threshold level during the jouncing event.
7 . The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein the air spring is mounted between a first element and a second element, the first chamber expanding to increase a distance between the first element and the second element and the first chamber contracting to decrease the distance between the first element and the second element.
8 . The suspension system of claim 7 , further comprising a biasing element, the biasing element urging the first element and the second element away from one another.
9 . The suspension system of claim 8 , wherein the biasing element includes a coil spring disposed between the first element and the second element and outboard of the bellows of the air spring.
10 . The suspension system of claim 7 , wherein the first element includes a body of a vehicle and the second element includes a wheel of the vehicle.
11 . A vehicular suspension system comprising:
a first mounting element configured to attach to a body of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular suspension system;
a second mounting element configured to attach to a wheel of the vehicle;
an air spring including a flexible bellows having a first chamber configured to hold pressurized air and a second chamber;
an air reservoir configured to hold pressurized air;
a control valve in fluid communication with the first chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, the first chamber of the bellows expanding in response to receiving pressurized airflow from the air reservoir via the control valve;
an intake valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and an ambient environment, the second chamber receiving airflow from the ambient environment via the intake valve during an expansion stage of a jouncing event; and
an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, airflow directed from the second chamber toward the air reservoir via the exhaust valve during a compression stage of the jouncing event to at least partially pressurize the air reservoir.
12 . The vehicular suspension system of claim 11 , wherein the first chamber of the bellows contracts in response to directing pressurized airflow toward the air reservoir via the control valve.
13 . The vehicular suspension system of claim 12 , further comprising a control module operable to direct pressurized airflow between the air reservoir and the control valve to cause expansion and compression of the first chamber of the bellows.
14 . The vehicular suspension system of claim 11 , wherein the first chamber expands to increase a distance between the first mounting element attached to the body and the second mounting element attached to the wheel, and the first chamber contracts to decrease the distance between the first mounting element attached to the body and the second mounting element attached to the wheel.
15 . The vehicular suspension system of claim 11 , further comprising a biasing element, the biasing element urging the first mounting element and the second mounting element away from one another.
16 . A vehicle comprising:
a body;
a wheel;
a first mounting element attached to the body;
a second mounting element attached to the wheel;
an air spring including a flexible bellows having a first chamber configured to hold pressurized air and a second chamber;
an air reservoir configured to hold pressurized air;
a control valve in fluid communication with the first chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, the first chamber of the bellows expanding in response to receiving pressurized airflow from the air reservoir via the control valve;
an intake valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and an ambient environment, the second chamber receiving airflow from the ambient environment via the intake valve during an expansion stage of a jouncing event; and
an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the second chamber of the bellows and the air reservoir, airflow directed from the second chamber toward the air reservoir via the exhaust valve during a compression stage of the jouncing event to at least partially pressurize the air reservoir.
17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first chamber of the bellows contracts in response to directing pressurized airflow toward the air reservoir via the control valve.
18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising a control module operable to direct pressurized airflow between the air reservoir and the control valve to cause expansion and compression of the first chamber of the bellows.
19 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first chamber expands to increase a distance between the first mounting element attached to the body and the second mounting element attached to the wheel, and the first chamber contracts to decrease the distance between the first mounting element attached to the body and the second mounting element attached to the wheel.
20 . The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising a biasing element, the biasing element urging the first mounting element and the second mounting element away from one another.