Air suspension

The air suspension system is a suspension system which exploits the compressibility of gases, more specifically the air.

Advantages of air suspension are quiet and comfortable driving and the variable ride height. The suspension by means of air bladders in which forms compressed air for compression and rebound with fluctuating pressure the opposing force to the dynamic driving forces at each wheel or the axle. About level control valves of the pressure in the springs is controlled so that the carriage height remains constant regardless of the load. In the absence of air, the car body lowers to built mechanical emergency operation.

2.1 Current commercial vehicles with air suspension

Passenger cars

In the passenger car construction air suspension is (as of 2008 ) a clear upper-class characteristics and has been since the mid- 1950s in some vehicle types, such as Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at the Borgward P 100, used in Mercedes 300 SEL and the Mercedes 600. In contrast, air suspension has not been used due to their construction costs across the board. In the passenger car construction is in addition to the simple and inexpensive steel suspension ( for well over 95 % of vehicles ) and the hydropneumatic a competing system for air suspension. The latter is a development of Citroën and a typical feature of the medium and large sedans this manufacturer (DS, SM, GS, CX, BX, Xantia, XM, C5, C6), but was also license and the Mercedes- Benz 450 SEL 6.9 installed at the Rolls- Royce Silver Shadow.

In the S -Class from Mercedes -Benz, known as Airmatic air suspension is used as standard since 1998, with the exception of the top model S 600, which is equipped with the so-called Active Body Control suspension - an active chassis, which on a conventional steel suspension based with special hydraulic elements. The ABC suspension is superior in all driving situations, from a technical point of air suspension due to the rapid response times. Air suspension are dependent on stabilizers for supporting the body during cornering (increasing Wankfederrate ), which can be dispensed with ABC suspension.

For some time, an increase in the proportion of passenger cars of the upper middle class and upper class with standard or optional air suspension is recorded.

Latest cars with air suspension

(As of 2013 selection)

Audi A6 ( optional, standard on A6 Allroad Quattro )
A7 ( optional)
Q7 ( optional, standard for the eight-and twelve -cylinder diesel )
A8 (standard)

Continental GT (standard)
Continental GTC (standard)
Continental Flying Spur (standard)
Mulsanne (standard)

5 Series Touring (standard on the rear axle )
7 Series (optional on the rear axle, standard for the long-wheelbase versions as well as the 760i )
X5 (optional on the rear axle, standard for the eight-cylinder )
X6 (optional on the rear axle, standard for the eight-cylinder )

Grand C4 Picasso (optional on the rear axle )

Grand Cherokee ( optional)

Discovery 4 (standard from model variant SE)
Range Rover Sport (standard)
Range Rover (standard)

LS (standard)
RX (optional)

Town Car (standard)

Maybach 57 and 62 (standard)
E-Class ( optional, standard for the eight-cylinder and at the rear of the T models)
CLS- class ( optional, standard for the eight-cylinder )
R-Class (optional)
M-Class (optional)
GL- class (standard)
S-Class (standard for S 600 and AMG models but with Active Body Control suspension )
CL-Class ( standard in conjunction with all-wheel drive, otherwise the Active Body Control suspension )

Grand Marquis (standard)

Cayenne (optional, standard on the Cayenne Turbo)
Panamera (optional, standard on the Panamera Turbo)

Ghost (standard)
Phantom ( serial)
Phantom Coupé (standard)
Phantom Drophead Coupé ( standard)

Touareg ( optional, standard for the eight- cylinder)
Phaeton (standard)

Earlier cars with air suspension

(Selection)

Borgward P 100 (standard)
Mercedes -Benz 600 ( W 100 ) (standard)
Mercedes -Benz 300 SE (W 112) (standard)
Mercedes -Benz 300 SEL (W 109) (standard)
Mercedes -Benz V -Class ( rear axle)
Cadillac Eldorado Brougham (standard)
Subaru L- series (optional)
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GX (1996-1998 )
Subaru XT (standard)

Air suspension kits for retrofitting

For some years there are companies that specialize in air suspension kits for later installation in production vehicles. These are also called Airride.

Commercial vehicles, buses

Also in the vehicle for road vehicles, the air suspension is used. Especially when it is used buses. There, they can in many modern bus models for easier entering and exiting the vehicle to the curb tend ( kneeling ). Another major application area of the air suspension is the commercial vehicle. In Europe, almost half of all commercial vehicles will be equipped with an air suspension now. Use the level control, a semi-trailer can be, for example, easy and simple from and saddle up.

Current commercial vehicles with air suspension

(2007, selection)

Fiat Scudo (optional)
Scania (optional)
Mercedes -Benz (optional)
Volvo (optional)
Iveco (optional)
MAN (optional)

Railway

Modern cars and motor coaches are equipped with air suspension between bogie and body. It is mainly used to improve the ride comfort as well as automatic level control, this ensures a constant height of the car floor above top of rail. The constant height is especially popular with trains of passenger transport that often the car floor is level with the edge of the platform so as to allow barrier-free access for people with disabilities.

In addition, the air pressure is determined in all bellows and reported to the vehicle control. Thereby, the current loading condition is determined and implemented by the brake control, a variable load in order to avoid an overbraking and to achieve a consistent and optimal delay.

Aircraft

The airship LZ 129 Hindenburg ( built in 1936 ) had air suspension legs.

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