Pneumatic switching valve for systems for lifting and lowering the body of vehicles including air suspension

A pneumatic switching valve (1) for systems for lifting and lowering the body of a vehicle including air suspension includes a mechanical actuation element (33) for adjusting a lifting position, a lowering position, a driving position and a stop position associated with respective positions of the vehicle. An inlet valve (11), an outlet valve (12) and a locking valve (13) each include a valve body (24), a tappet (26) and a closing spring (27). The inlet valve (11) and the outlet valve (12) are arranged in one common plane to face in opposite directions. The closing springs (27) of the inlet valve (11) and of the outlet valve (12) also serve to move the actuation element (33) from the lifting position or from the lowering position to the stop position when the operator releases the actuation element (33). A control piston (6) having an axis perpendicular to and spaced apart from the axes of the inlet valve (11) and of the outlet valve (12) includes a plurality of cam surfaces (8; 9; 10) for actuating the valve bodies (24) of the inlet valve (11), the outlet valve (12) and the locking valve (13). The control piston (6) is subjected to compressed air to move the switching valve (1) from the stop position to the driving position. The control piston (6) is designed and arranged to be rotated from the stop position to the lifting position or to the lowering position.