An air spring suspension system can add a lot of versatility to a car, SUV or truck.
Along with providing a smoother ride than conventional steel coils, the volume of the spring’s chamber can be adjusted to raise and lower the vehicle. This is particularly beneficial for trucks and SUVs by allowing them to have high ground clearance for off-road driving and a lower ride height for improved efficiency at high speeds and ease of entry.
Electric vehicles can similarly benefit from the reduced aerodynamic drag provided by a low ride height, which helps extend their driving range. The issue is that the systems are complex, heavy and require an energy-sapping electric compressor to keep an accumulator full and ready to pump up the springs.
General Motors has now come up with a clever way to eliminate the compressor by adding a second air chamber to each mechanism, which works like a bellows to pump air into a central reservoir as the vehicle bumps along the road.
The concept is described in a new patent for a “Self-Pressurizing Air Suspension System” that the automaker was recently granted.
An electronically controlled valve system is used to release air from the accumulator when needed, while relief valves ensure that it isn’t overfilled during normal operation. The patent notes that the air springs could either be standalone units, or be combined with metal springs wrapped around the chambers.
Interestingly, the patent includes a sketch of what appears to be a Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV, which isn’t offered with an air suspension system. However, the recently discontinued Acura ZDX that was built on the same platform, was available with a conventional air suspension.
GM currently only offers air suspensions on its full size gas and electric trucks, the three-row Cadillac Vistiq three-row crossover SUV and the Cadillac Celestiq large car, in part because they offer plenty of packaging space for the equipment and are priced high enough to absorb its cost.
The automaker hasn’t said anything about introducing a feature like the one in the patent, but it could potentially bring air suspensions to smaller, more affordable models.
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