JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ISSN 0975 – 668X| NOV 16 TO OCT 17 , VOLUME –04, ISSUE – 02
AUTOMATIC AIR SUSPENSION IN CARS
2
1
PROF. D. A. MORE, RAJENDRA HIRAVE, 3AJAY JADHAV, 4RASHID PINJARI, 5SURAJ PISAL

Department of Mechanical Engineering,

RDTC’s S.C.S.C.O.E., Dhangawadi, Pune-412206,
S. P. Pune University, Maharashtra, India.
dpkmore7@gmail.com, hirverajendra196@gmail.com, jadhavajay5006@gmail.com,
rashidpinjari11396@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
A new approach to constraint-based path selection for dynamic routing and wavelength allocation in
optical Air ride suspension carries the load on each axle with a pressurized air bag much like a high pressure
balloon. Air ride suspension systems have been in common use for over forty years and have proven to provide
the smoothest and most shock-free ride of any known vehicle suspension system. Modern air bags are
constructed using the same methods as a tire by using high strength cords which are then encapsulated in
rubber. These units are very durable in service and have a proven life of many years.
In addition to providing extremely smooth ride quality, air ride suspension also provides other
important features. First, the system automatically adjusts air pressure in the air bag so that the trailer always
rides at the same height, whether lightly loaded or heavily loaded. This allows the suspension system to always
provide the maximum usable wheel travel independent of trailer load. In addition, the higher air bag pressure
associated with higher trailer loads automatically provides a stiffer suspension which is exactly what is
required for a smooth ride. The lower air bag pressure for lightly loaded conditions automatically provides for
a softer suspension, thus providing the same ride quality for all trailer loading conditions. Since each axle is
independently supported by its own air bag, the air ride suspension is a truly, fully independent suspension
system. The automatic control of the air bag pressure is accomplished by a solid state electronic control system
specifically designed and packaged for vehicle use. This system continuously monitors the "ride height" of the
trailer suspension and increases air pressure if the ride height is too low, by turning on an on-board air
compressor. The air compressor stops automatically when the proper ride height is reached. If the ride height is
too high, an automatic vent valve vents excess air pressure and stops venting when the proper ride height is
reached. All required electrical power is provided by a 12 volt battery contained in the trailer equipment
compartment.

KEYWORDS: Suspension System, Air Spring, Air Bag, Ride Comfort.

1. INTRODUCTION availability of ultra long reach transport and all optical

Suspension is the term given to the system of springs switching has enabled the deployment of all optical
shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle networks.
to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual
purpose contributing to the car's road holding
handling and braking for good active safety and
driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants
comfortable and reasonably well isolated from road
noise, bumps, and vibrations, etc.
These goals are generally at odds, so the tuning of
suspensions involves finding the right compromise. It
is important for the suspension to keep the road wheel
in contact with the road surface as much as possible,
because all the forces acting on the vehicle do so
through the contact patches of the tires. The
suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any
cargo or luggage from damage and wear. The design
of front and rear suspension of a car may be different.
o fulfill these requirements different optical transport
network architectures have been proposed driven by
fundamental advances in WDM technologies. The Figure 1: Locating Suspension Units

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MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ISSN 0975 – 668X| NOV 16 TO OCT 17 , VOLUME –04, ISSUE – 02
A suspension system comprises springs, shock The air suspension system is an air-operated,
absorbers and linkages. This suspension connects an microprocessor controlled suspension system. This
automobile to its wheels. The suspension systems not system replaces the conventional coil spring
only help in the proper functioning of the car's suspension and provides automatic front and rear load
handling and braking, but also keep vehicle occupants leveling. The 4 air springs, made of rubber and
comfortable and make your drive smooth and plastic, support the vehicle load at the front and rear
pleasant. It also protects the vehicle from wear and wheels.
tear. To know about the suspension system, one needs
to know about the spring rate or suspension rate. An air suspension supports the vehicle on the axles
with an arrangement of air bags instead of some type
Various spring types are used for different vehicles. of steel spring, leaf or coil, or some type of torsion
In case of heavier suspension loads, the spring rate is spring arrangement. The air bags are sometimes
higher and vice versa. Spring rate is measured as a referred to as air springs or bellows. Suspensions that
ratio used to measure how resistant a spring is to have steel or torsion springs that are supplemented by
being compressed or expanded during the spring's the use of air bags are not considered air suspensions.
deflection besides spring rate, one needs to take in There are combination systems that have both air and
account the wheel rate. Wheel rate is the effective steel springs. Usually the air suspension components
spring rate when measured at the wheel. It is are used on the rear of the vehicle.
generally equal to or considerably less than the spring
rate.

There are two types of suspension systems-

dependent and independent. A dependent suspension
comprises a beam that holds wheels parallel to each
other and perpendicular to the axle. An independent
suspension helps in the rising and falling movement
of the wheels. There is also a semi-dependent
suspension where the motion of one wheel affects the
position of the other but they are not rigidly attached
to each other.

The dependent suspension includes Trailing arms,

Satchell link, Panhard rod, Watt's linkage, WOBLink
and Mumford linkage. The independent suspensions
includes Swing axle, Sliding pillar, MacPherson
strut/Chapman strut, Upper and lower A-arm (double
wishbone), multi-link suspension, semi-trailing arm
suspension, swinging arm and leaf springs.
Figure 2: Advanced Air Suspension
2. AIR SPRING:
3. PROBLEM DEFINITION:
Air springs combine spring and shock absorbing
General Problems without Suspension
action in one unit and were often used without metal
• Unsprung Weight
springs. The first one was developed by Cowey
Having a large beam connecting the two front wheels
Motor Works of Great Britain in 1909. It was a
results in a lot of mass. This extra mass really hinders
cylinder that could be filled with air from a bicycle
the road holding capability of the suspension on
pump through a valve in the upper part of the
rough road.
housing. The lower half of the cylinder contained a
diaphragm made of rubber and cord which, because it
• Wheel Movement
was surrounded by air, acted like a pneumatic tire. Its
Because both wheels are tied together the force acting
main problem was that it often lost air.
on each wheel are directed to the other wheel. Under
the load this causes the wheels to ‘Shimmy’ and
The newest air spring, developed by Goodyear, is decrease the stability of the vehicle in corners.
found on some late-model Lincolns. Like the ones
that have preceded them, these ride-on-air units are
more costly than conventional springs and hydraulic • Bad Bump Steer
shock absorbers. Because a beam axle makes locating the steering
correctly difficult, most solid axle suspensions suffer

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 JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ISSN 0975 – 668X| NOV 16 TO OCT 17 , VOLUME –04, ISSUE – 02
from an uncontrollable amount of bump steer. Again, • Air Lift or Timbren?
hindering the performance of the car. • Firestone air springs or Firestone work-rite
non-air suspension kits?
• Size
Simply put solid axles are huge and fitting them into These are common questions and we will touch on a
a chassis requires an amount of space practically few of the pros and cons of each to make your buying
available. decision a little easier. Which is better? In our
experience over the years, we've found that both air
• Ride Quality suspension kits and kits that don't use air will reduce
Due to the high mass of the axle and the wheels being suspension sag. If you search the web, you'll find
connected there is not much ride isolation between truck, motor home and SUV owners around the
the springs and unsprung mass. This results in rough world using one or the other that would recommend
ride and even worse, compromised road holding either of them to friends. Rather than ask which is
capacity. better, perhaps a better question is “Which suspension
kit is better for me?”
4. HOW DOES AIR SUSPENSION WORK
Firestone Ride-Rite
An air-suspension system is used to replace coil
Firestone Coil-Rite
springs in an automobile, traditionally used to absorb
Firestone Sport-Rite
shock and provide a smoother ride, with air springs
Air Lift Load-Lifter 5000
made of heavy-duty rubber. They use onboard
Air Lift 1000
compressors, airbags, solenoids, valves and lines to
Air Lift Ride-Control
balance heavy payloads and improve a vehicle's ride.
Hellwig Air Springs
As of 2014, air-suspension systems offer distinct
advantages over metal springs, including instant
tuning, improved suspension and adaptability to Pros and Cons? Let’s take a quick look and a few of
different driving situations. the pros and cons of each kit to help you weight your
decision
In newer vehicles, this automotive technology offers
more control and easier installation than conventional
Pros:
springs. In air-suspension systems, air bags replace
coil springs and the airbag is inflated to the
appropriate ride height. The system uses an onboard Air adjustable: A little obvious, but this is the major
compressor, which is an electric pump, to feed air to plus that a non-air kit can never overcome, the ability
the bags through multiple lines. The compressor pulls to adjust your truck to the desired ride height. Hook
outside air into the pump, compresses the air and up your trailer, truck sags a few inches, no problem.
transfers it to the bags. Valves are used in the system Inflate the air springs until your truck is level. Done
to allow air to enter different parts of the system. towing and just using the truck for the daily
Valves play a major role in controlling the direction commute? Simply remove the air pressure until air
of the air. Solenoids are useful for inflating and springs are at the minimum required air pressure, and
venting the airbags in electronically controlled your good to go.
systems. When the system makes adjustments for
different driving conditions, the solenoids open and Level Side-to-Side: Have a motor home with a tank
close to change the amount of air entering each full of water on one side, or a pickup with a slide in
airbag. In electronic systems, there is an electronic camper and your leaning to one side? With air
control module that controls the analog on/off springs, you have the option of running a “T” fitting
controls, manages ride height and monitors pressure. and inflating both the air springs equally, or running
the air lines separately to each bag which allows you
to increase the pressure on one side over the other.
5. PROS AND CONS OF AIR SUSPENSION This allows you to level out the side with the water
SYSTEM tank, etc.
Do you have a truck and it sags more than you like
when towing a trailer or a hauling a bed full of Cons:
supplies? Ever wonder what is the best solution to
get rid of the suspension sag, so your truck drives Using air to level your truck is a major plus, and the
normally? advantages do outweigh the disadvantages, but air
does require more attention and opens the door for
• Air springs or non-air suspension kits? cons that a non-air load leveling kit will never
experience. When dealing with air, you have the

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 JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ISSN 0975 – 668X| NOV 16 TO OCT 17 , VOLUME –04, ISSUE – 02
potential to run into leaks, damaged air line, holes in 2. Nicholson, Timothy Robin (1966). The vintage
air springs etc. These problems can all be easily car, 1919-1930. Batsford. p. 161. Retrieved 16
repaired, and are not very common in the big picture, June 2014.
but they do happen. If you're planning on extensive 3. US 673682
travel, it's never a bad idea to have a spare air spring 4. "Pneumatic Spring For Vehicles". Machine-
and some air line. Replacement air springs and air History.Com. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
line are readily available and not very expensive. 5. http://www.seminarsonly.com/mech%20&%20a
uto/Automatic-Air-Suspension.php
Time to install: 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_suspension.
7. https://www.scribd.com/doc/45264031/Automati
c-Air-Suspension.
You will have to allow yourself a few more hours to
8. www.seminarstopics.com/seminar/automatic-air-
install an air suspension kit. The instructions get
better every year and now include detailed images, suspension-system
and many kits are no-drill, bolt on installations, but it 9. projects-seminars.net/q/air-suspension-system-
pdf-free-download
still can be time consuming. They are not technically
difficult to install, but it can take some time to cut,
run the air lines, etc. Click to view the Air Lift 57275
installation instructions for the Chevy 2500HD and
GMC Sierra 2500HD.

Maintaining Minimum Air Pressure:

This is about as easy as it gets, but is one of the major

causes of air spring failure. All kits require a
minimum air pressure, usually 5-10 PSI. While it’s
easy to check them while filling up for gas or
washing your truck, people tend to forget.
Running air springs without the minimum air
pressure can cause them to tear or rub against
something causing a hole. The best solution if your
concerned about this, is an air compressor kit. This
gives you the ability to monitor the air pressure from
inside the cab and takes all the guessing away.

6.CONCLUSION:

Air suspension is today mainly feature for luxury

vehicle . It offers a lot of feature for compact class.
Cost or price level will be more attractive. Integration
& smart design is key. The Air Suspension System
has ability to change the load carrying capacity
simply by changing the air pressure.
From the whole discussion in air suspension system,
it is observed that the system is like a white blood
cell. As white blood cell provides energy to our body
to fight against diseases or viruses which try to
destroy or try to decrease our life, in the similar way
air suspension system provides the energy to a
vehicle to protect itself from damaging, increasing
life of the vehicle, increases the handing, increases
comfort of passengers and many more.

7. REFERENCES:

1. Norbye, John P. (1972). "A Short History of Air

Suspensions". Special interest Autos: 21.
Retrieved 16 June 2014.

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