JPH08156558A - Leveling valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simplify a structure, facilitate size reduction reduce cost, provide high reliability and high durability, and attain nonadjustment and maintenance free. CONSTITUTION: A leveling valve is provided with an air supply valve part and an air exhaust valve part which supply/discharge compressed air to/from an air spring interposed between a car body frame and a wheel shaft and a supply-discharge switching mechanism 21 which has a rotary shaft 15A to rotate according to a height of a car height and selectively switches so as to open and close the air supply valve part and the air exhaust valve part by interlocking with rotation of the rotary shaft. Therefore, a part 46 to be sensed having a recessed groove is provided on the rotary shaft 15A, and a capacitance type sensor 16A is arranged in a prescribed position corresponding to the part to be sensed, and and a rotary position of the rotary shaft 15A to adjust a car height is detected by sensing the part 46 to be sensed by the sensor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a leveling valve used in a vehicle height adjusting device for adjusting the vehicle height of a vehicle equipped with an air suspension.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle equipped with an air suspension can automatically adjust the vehicle height according to the traveling speed and the unevenness of the road surface in order to improve the traveling stability of the vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle height adjusting device of a system capable of forcibly changing the vehicle height by a predetermined manual switch so that the vehicle height is convenient for passengers and passengers to get on and off has been put to practical use and equipped.

As shown in FIG. 10, a conventional vehicle height adjusting device includes a supply tank 1 for supplying compressed air, and an air spring 2 interposed between a body frame (not shown) and an axle.
And a leveling valve 3 that operates so as to supply and discharge compressed air from the supply tank 1 to and from the air spring 2.
And an air supply line 4 from the supply tank 1 to the air supply port 3a of the leveling valve 3, an air supply / exhaust line 5 from the air spring 2 to the air supply / exhaust port 3b, and a flow rate switching compressed air inlet port 3c. And one end of the switching pipe 6 is connected to each of them.

The vehicle height adjusting device includes a control cylinder 10, an axle (not shown), and a leveling valve 3.
By interposing it between the tip end portion 13a of the vehicle height detection lever 13 provided on the control cylinder 10 and operating the control cylinder 10 via the electromagnetic valve 9 by a predetermined manual switch 8, the total length of the control cylinder 10 is changed. Adjust the vehicle height by selectively changing it.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a conventional leveling valve, FIG. 12 is a front sectional view taken along the line DD, and FIG. 13 is a side sectional view. The leveling valve 3 is installed at a predetermined position of a vehicle body frame (not shown), and the valve housing 14 has an air supply valve portion 18, an exhaust valve portion 19,
A switching valve portion 22 for switching the flow rate, and a rotary shaft 15 that rotates integrally with the vehicle height detection lever 13 according to the height of the vehicle are provided, and the air supply valve is interlocked with the rotation of the rotary shaft 15. A supply / discharge switching mechanism 21 for selectively opening / closing the portion 18 and the exhaust valve portion 19 is provided.

The leveling valve 3 is provided with a supply / discharge switching mechanism 2 in the storage chamber 11 formed in the valve housing 14.
Both pressing members 20 that rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 15
When the pressure receiving rods 26 and 27 corresponding to a and 20b are pressed, the air supply valve bodies 23a and 2 of the air supply valve unit 18 are pressed.
3b and the exhaust valve element 24 of the exhaust valve section 19 are selectively opened so that compressed air can be supplied to the air spring 2 and exhaust from the air spring 2 through the exhaust port 3d can be selectively performed. Has become.

FIG. 14 is a partial plan view showing a main portion of the leveling valve in a cutaway manner. A vehicle height detection switch 29, which is switched by a vehicle height detection lever 13 for operating the leveling valve, is provided in the stepped hole portion 28 of the leveling valve 3 shown in FIG. The vehicle height detection switch 29 is fixed to a small diameter portion 30a of a sliding member 30 slidably fitted in a stepped hole portion 28 having a small diameter portion 28a and a large diameter portion 28b of the valve housing 14. The tip portion 33a of the detection pin 33 guided slidably on the inner surface of the large diameter portion 30b of the sliding member 30 has the vehicle height detection lever 1
3 is arranged so as to correspond to the mountain-shaped convex portion 34a of the protruding member 34 attached using the adjusting screw 31.

The vehicle height detecting switch 29 is constructed so that the switch actuator 29a is not pressed by the other end 33b of the detecting pin 33 only by the urging force of the small compression spring 35 for urging the detecting pin 33. The passage 14
Compressed air is introduced into the pressure receiving space 37 in the large diameter portion 28b via d, and the sliding member 30 is compressed by the compression spring 32 and the small compression spring 35.
Sliding against the urging force of the
It can be operated by applying a to the convex portion 34a of the protruding member 34.

For example, when traveling on a road surface having a lot of unevenness, if the vehicle height is changed in small increments in the vertical direction and compressed air is supplied and discharged in accordance with this vehicle height change, compression will occur. It is a waste of air. Therefore, the switching valve portion 22 is closed, and the large-diameter passage 22 for compressed air is provided.
By supplying and discharging compressed air only through a small diameter passage 22b having a small diameter in parallel with a, the leveling valve 3
Response is slowed down, thereby suppressing waste of compressed air.

On the other hand, when the control cylinder 10 is operated by the manual switch 8 via the electromagnetic valve 9 and the total length of the control cylinder 10 is changed to selectively change the vehicle height, the vehicle height rising speed is increased. In order to increase the descending speed, compressed air is introduced into the pressure receiving chamber 41a through the through hole 7a of the introduction connector 7 screwed into the introduction port 3c shown in FIG. 12, and the piston 44 is pushed against the biasing force of the compression spring 43. By sliding and separating the switching valve body 25 of the switching valve portion 22 from the valve seat 14c, the passage of compressed air is switched to the large diameter passage 22a having a larger passage area than the small diameter passage 22b.

Then, compressed air is rapidly supplied to the air spring 2 through the large-diameter passage 22a or exhausted from the air spring 2 until the vehicle height detection switch 29 is switched to the on state, so that the vehicle height is quickly changed. After the high detection lever 13 becomes substantially horizontal and the vehicle height detection switch 29 is turned on, compressed air is slowly supplied to the air spring 2 or exhausted from the air spring 2 only through the small diameter passage 22b again. Slowly raise or lower the height.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional leveling valve 3 for a vehicle height adjusting device, the valve housing 14 is provided with the stepped hole portion 28 and the air passage 14d, and the sliding member 30, the detection pin 33 and the like are provided. Since it is necessary, the structure is complicated and large, the cost is also high, and the contact type has a limit in durability in terms of wear of the tip of the detection pin 33, so that the vehicle height detection lever 13 protrudes. Since the member 34 is attached by the adjusting screw 31, the detection pin 3
There is a drawback that the adjustment of the clearance between the tip end of 3 and the projecting member 34 is a physical adjustment each time it is attached to the actual vehicle, and it is also difficult to readjust each member due to wear and deformation due to external force.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and the object thereof is to have a simple structure, easy miniaturization and compactness, low cost, high reliability and high durability. It is to provide a leveling valve that has no adjustment and is maintenance-free.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1, is an air supply for supplying / discharging compressed air to / from an air spring interposed between a vehicle body frame and an axle. A valve unit and an exhaust valve unit, and a rotary shaft that rotates according to the height of the vehicle, and the air supply valve unit and the exhaust valve unit are selectively opened and closed in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary shaft. In the leveling valve having a supply / discharge switching mechanism, a rotating shaft is provided with a sensed portion along the circumferential direction, and a sensor is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensed portion. It is characterized in that the turning position of the turning shaft for adjusting the vehicle height is detected by sensing the sensed portion. Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, an air supply valve portion and an exhaust valve portion for supplying / discharging compressed air to / from an air spring interposed between the vehicle body frame and the axle and depending on the height of the vehicle. A leveling valve having a rotating shaft that rotates, and a supply / discharge switching mechanism that selectively opens and closes the air supply valve unit and the exhaust valve unit in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft. The moving shaft is provided with a connecting portion, and a sensor having a sensing shaft that is connected to the connecting portion and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft is provided, and the vehicle height is adjusted by rotating the detecting shaft. It is characterized in that the turning position of the turning shaft is detected.

[0015]

In the leveling valve according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the rotating shaft is provided with a sensed portion along the circumferential direction, and a sensor is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensed portion. By detecting the turning position of the turning shaft for adjusting the vehicle height by sensing the sensed part by the instrument, the projecting member and the adjusting screw are unnecessary, and the stepped hole and the air passage are provided in the valve housing. You do n’t have to
High reliability and high durability are obtained without requiring a piston, a sliding member, a detection pin, etc., which enables cost reduction. The leveling valve according to the present invention according to claim 2, wherein the rotating shaft includes a connecting portion, and a detector having a detecting shaft that is connected to the connecting portion and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft is provided. By detecting the turning position of the turning shaft for adjusting the vehicle height by turning the sensing shaft, the projecting member and the adjusting screw become unnecessary,
Since it is not necessary to provide a stepped hole portion or an air passage in the valve housing, and a piston, a sliding member, a detection pin, etc. are not required, high reliability and high durability can be obtained, and the cost can be reduced.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side sectional view showing a leveling valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention and corresponds to FIG. 13, and FIG. 2 is a view on arrow AA of FIG. Only the essential parts of the sensor are shown.

Leveling valve 3A according to the first embodiment
Is used in place of the conventional leveling valve 3 shown in FIG. 10, in which the valve housing 14 is provided with an air supply valve section, an exhaust valve section, and a switching valve section for switching the flow rate, and is formed in the valve housing 14. First storage room 1
The point that the supply / discharge switching mechanism 21 is housed in 1 is the same as the conventional one. Further, the leveling valve 3A is used in the supply / discharge switching mechanism 2
The rotating shaft 15A forming part 1 is provided with a sensed portion 46, and a capacitance sensor 16A is provided as a sensor at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensed portion 46.
Is characterized in that the rotational position of the rotary shaft 15A for adjusting the vehicle height is detected by sensing the sensed portion 46.

The valve housing receives the rotating shaft 15A by the bearing portions 50, 50 provided on both left and right sides, and the capacitance sensor 16A is provided in the second storage chamber 12 formed adjacent to the first storage chamber 11. For storing the second storage chamber 12
A lead-out hole 14a communicating with the outside is opened in the upper part of the above, and the outer sides of the bearing parts 50, 50 are sealed by seal members 51a, 51b. In FIG. The air supply / exhaust port 3b and the compressed air for switching 3c are provided, and the air supply line 4 from the supply tank 1 is switched to the air supply port 3a, and the air supply / exhaust line 5 from the air spring 2 is switched to the air supply / exhaust port 3b. The switching conduit 6 is connected to the inlet 3c for compressed air for use.

The rotating shaft 15A is used for the second storage chamber 12
A sensed portion 46 in which irregularities are formed on the outer periphery of a portion corresponding to the inside
Is provided, and the base end portion 13b of the vehicle height detection lever 13 is attached to the end portion protruding from the valve housing 14 by a bolt 47 and a nut 4.
It is fastened and fixed by 8 and rotates integrally with the vehicle height detection lever 13 as the vehicle height changes. Sensitive part 46
In the case of this embodiment, one concave groove 46a having a slightly larger area than the tip portion 16a of the electrostatic capacity sensor 16A is provided, and when the vehicle height detection lever 13 becomes horizontal at the neutral position, the concave groove 46a is formed. The groove 46a is right above.

The capacitance sensor 16A has its tip facing the sensed portion 46 of the rotary shaft 15A and the second storage chamber 1
2 is arranged right above the rotary shaft 15A, and the lead-out hole 14
The lead wire 53 is derived from a, and the rotating shaft 15
A change in the distance from the surface due to the rotation of A is changed into a change in electrostatic capacitance, and the vehicle height is adjusted based on this change in electrostatic capacitance.

The operation of the leveling valve according to the first embodiment will be described. When the vehicle is stopped and the vehicle height is to be rapidly lowered from the state where the vehicle is traveling while the vehicle height detection lever 13 is substantially horizontal, the control cylinder 10 is controlled via the electromagnetic valve 9 by the manual switch 8 shown in FIG. When the control cylinder 10 is actuated to shorten the overall length of the control cylinder 10, the vehicle height detection lever 13 is tilted so that the tip portion 13a is lowered, the exhaust valve portion is opened, and the switching valve portion is also opened. Compressed air is rapidly discharged and the vehicle height decreases.

When the vehicle height is lowered to the level where the vehicle height detection lever 13 becomes horizontal, the exhaust valve portion is closed by the supply / discharge switching mechanism 21, and the electrostatic capacitance sensor 16A causes the sensed portion 46 to move. Detect and detect vehicle height 13
Is detected, and the switching valve section is also closed by the output signal from the controller which receives the detection signal according to the detection result.

Next, when it is desired to increase the vehicle height rapidly, if the entire length of the control cylinder 10 is extended,
The vehicle height detection lever 13 is in an inclined state in which the tip portion is raised,
As the air supply valve section opens, the switching valve section also opens,
Compressed air is rapidly supplied to the air spring 2, and the vehicle height rises. Then, when the vehicle height rises to a level where the vehicle height detection lever 13 becomes horizontal, the air supply valve section is closed by the supply / discharge switching mechanism 21, and the capacitance sensor 1
6A senses the sensed portion 46 to detect the horizontal state of the vehicle height detection lever 13, and the switching valve portion is also closed by the output signal from the controller which receives the detection signal according to the detection result.

In the first embodiment, the sensed portion 46 of the rotary shaft 15A may be provided with a projection instead of the concave groove 46a. As shown in FIG.
A shallow concave groove 46b and a projection 46c for detecting a rotation angle may be provided by shifting the positions in the circumferential direction before and after. Providing a plurality of irregularities in this way has the advantage that the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 15A can be detected.

FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, showing a cross section of a rotary shaft of a leveling valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an optical sensor. In the leveling valve 3B according to this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 15B is blackened to form a sensed portion 56, and the tip portion 16a is opposed to the sensed portion 56, and a reflection type photo sensor as the sensor 16B. A sensor is provided. Since the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, duplicated description will be omitted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modification of the case where an optical sensor is used, and show a case where a transmissive photosensor is used as the sensor 16B in place of the reflective photosensor. In this case, the sensed portion 56 has a disc 57 made of an opaque material fixed to the rotating shaft 15B, and the disc 57 has a rectangular neutral window 57a and a large size with circumferential intervals on both sides of the neutral window 57a. Angle sensing window 5 with different angles
7b and 57c are opened to form the neutral window 57a at the neutral position.
Is located just above the rotary shaft 15B. The sensor 16B, which is a transmissive photosensor, has a light emitting portion on one of the two forked ends 16b and 16b.
The other has a light receiving portion, and both tip portions 1 are provided on both sides of the disk 57.
6b and 16b are positioned, and the light receiving part receives a change in the amount of transmitted light that the light emitting part emits through the neutral window 57a and the like, thereby sensing the rotating position of the rotating shaft 15B.

FIG. 7 shows a leveling valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention and is a front view corresponding to FIGS. This leveling valve 3C includes a rotating shaft 15C.
A magnetic material is fixedly mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the
A magnetic sensor 16C as a sensor allows the sensed portion 6 to be detected.
6 is sensed. Since the other points are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the duplicated description will be omitted. In this case, a Hall element or a magnetoresistive element may be used instead of the magnetic sensor.

FIG. 8 shows a leveling valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is an end view in the CC section of FIG. In the case of this leveling valve 3D, a rotary shaft 15D having a non-circular hole 70 at its end and a rotary switch 16D as a sensor are used. The rotating shaft 15D has a non-circular hole 70 in which a uniform plane 70a is formed, and the plane is oriented right in the neutral position without rotation.

The rotary switch 16D is a second switch formed by a recess provided on the front side of the valve housing 14.
The non-circular hole 7 of the rotary shaft 15D is fixed to the outside of the housing cover 17 that closes the recess of the storage chamber 12 of FIG.
A rotary shaft 73 having a non-circular cross-section fitting end 72 having a flat surface 72a formed in a part corresponding to 0.
The fitting end 72 in the storage chamber 12 of the rotary shaft 15D.
It is fitted in the non-circular hole 70. Then, in the rotary switch 16D, the rotary shaft 73 is the rotary shaft 1
It is rotatable in unison with 5D and is in the ON state at the neutral position, and when the rotary shaft 73 rotates, the electrical resistance changes, and the change in position is sensed. It can detect the position.

It is also possible to employ a potentiometer instead of the rotary switch in the fourth embodiment. In this case, a rotary shaft having a non-circular hole as described above is used, and the meter shaft provided in the potentiometer also has a fitting end portion having a non-circular cross section as described above, and the fitting end portion has a non-circular hole. Be inserted into. The potentiometer is capable of detecting a continuous change in the rotation angle, and its meter shaft rotates integrally with the rotation shaft, and the change in the rotation angle of the meter shaft causes the rotation position of the rotation shaft to change. To judge.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the position of the sensed portion at the neutral position of the rotating shaft can be set in any direction other than directly above, and the cross-sectional shape of the non-circular hole of the rotating shaft and the fitting end portion fitted into the hole is also circular. The shape may be any shape other than a partly cutaway shape.

[0032]

According to the leveling valve of the present invention as defined in claim 1, the rotating shaft is provided with a sensed portion, a sensor is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensed portion, and the sensor is rotated by the sensor. By detecting the rotational position of the rotary shaft for adjusting the vehicle height by sensing the sensed portion of the shaft,
Eliminates the need for protruding members and adjustment screws, does not require stepped holes or air passages in the valve housing, and does not require sliding members or detection pins, resulting in high reliability and durability, and cost reduction. It can be reduced. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensor including a connecting part on the rotating shaft, and a sensor having a detecting shaft connected to the connecting part and rotating integrally with the rotating shaft. By detecting the rotation position of the rotation shaft for adjusting the vehicle height by the rotation of the shaft, the projecting member and the adjusting screw are not required, and the valve housing is provided with a step like the invention according to claim 1. Since it is not necessary to provide a through hole or an air passage, a sliding member and a detection pin are not required, high reliability and high durability can be obtained, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a leveling valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, showing only the rotating shaft and the sensor.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing, in an enlarged manner, only a main part of a rotary shaft and a sensor corresponding to FIG. 2 in a modification of the leveling valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing only a rotary shaft and a sensor of a leveling valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view showing only an essential part of a modified example of the leveling valve according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing only a pivot shaft and a main part of a sensor of a leveling valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a leveling valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a view taken along the line CC of FIG. 8, showing only the rotating shaft and the sensor.

FIG. 10 is a main part configuration diagram of a vehicle height adjusting device to which a leveling valve is applied.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a conventional leveling valve.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view showing a conventional leveling valve.

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged plan sectional view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Supply Tank 2 Air Spring 3A Leveling Valve (First Embodiment) 3B Leveling Valve (Second Embodiment) 3C Leveling Valve (Third Embodiment) 3D Leveling Valve (Fourth Embodiment) 3a Air Supply Port 3b Air supply / exhaust port 3c Inlet port 3d Exhaust port 13 Vehicle height detection lever 14 Valve housing 15A Rotating shaft (first embodiment) 15B Rotating shaft (second embodiment) 15C Rotating shaft (third embodiment) ) 15D Rotating shaft (fourth embodiment) 16A Capacitance type sensor (sensor of the first embodiment) 16B Photo sensor (sensor of the second embodiment) 16C Magnetic sensor (third embodiment) Sensor) 16D rotary switch (sensor of the fourth embodiment) 21 supply / discharge switching mechanism

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air supply valve section and an exhaust valve section for supplying and discharging compressed air to and from an air spring interposed between a vehicle body frame and an axle, and a rotating shaft which rotates according to the height of the vehicle. A leveling valve comprising: a supply / discharge switching mechanism for selectively opening / closing the air supply valve section and the exhaust valve section in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft.
The rotating shaft is provided with a sensed portion, a sensor is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensed portion, and the rotary shaft is used for adjusting the vehicle height by sensing the sensed portion by the sensor. A leveling valve which detects the rotational position of the. 2. An air supply valve section and an exhaust valve section for supplying and discharging compressed air to and from an air spring interposed between a vehicle body frame and an axle, and a rotating shaft which rotates according to the height of the vehicle. A leveling valve comprising: a supply / discharge switching mechanism for selectively opening / closing the air supply valve section and the exhaust valve section in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft.
The rotating shaft is provided with a connecting portion, and a sensor having a sensing shaft that is connected to the connecting portion and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft is provided, and the vehicle height is adjusted by rotating the detecting shaft. A leveling valve for detecting the rotation position of the rotation shaft.