The present invention relates to a method for determining aging of a vehicle suspension arrangement (100) arranged between a frame and a wheel axle of a vehicle, said suspension arrangement (100) comprising a flexible bellows (102) for damping motions from said wheel axle, the method comprising the steps of determining a distance moved by a portion of the flexible bellows (102) when the suspension arrangement is exposed to an external load; determining a gas pressure level within said flexible bellows (102) when the portion of said flexible bellows (102) has moved said distance; determining a relationship between the determined gas pressure level within said flexible bellows and said distance moved by the portion of the flexible bellows; comparing the relationship with a predetermined threshold level; and determining that said flexible bellows is aged if a difference between the relationship and the predetermined threshold level is outside a predetermined threshold range.

A method of operating an adjustable roll stabilizer for a motor vehicle. The stabilizer has an actuator which can be rotated through a system angle about a rotational axis to apply a system torque and rotate two stabilizer sections relative to one another about the axis. The stabilizer sections are coupled at a radial distance from the axis to a respective wheel suspension, and depending on the system angle and under the external influence of movements of the wheel suspensions, twist relative to one another through a stabilizer angle. In the context of a perturbation magnitude regulation, the actuator is controlled based on the stabilizer angle determined from height levels of the wheels, by virtue of a stored relationship for the roll stabilizer and/or motor vehicle. The plausibility of the stored relationship between the wheel height levels and the stabilizer angle is checked by a model calculation.

A cap is provided for covering the threaded end of a removable spindle, having a cover with thread engaging tabs extending from a reservoir basin. The tabs include surface projections for retaining the cap to the spindle threads. The tabs are formed to fit within available slots of a slotted hex nut connected to the spindle. The cap includes a separately formed skirt or guard to make flexible surface contact with the torsion arm or spindle supporting structure. The skirt can include a sacrificial anode region to provide cathodic protection for the spindle threads and spindle retention nut. The skirt is removable from the cap so that the cap can be reused with a new skirt. The cap is formed to be used with existing spindle assemblies and to be reusable.

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining a fault in a suspension system of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, sensor data is obtained via one or more vehicle sensors during operation of the vehicle; a one or more first coefficients for the vehicle are calculated via a processor using a pitch model with the sensor data; one or more second coefficients for the vehicle are calculated via the processor using a roll model with the sensor data; and a fault in the suspension system is determined via the processor using the first coefficients and the second coefficients.

A frequency sensing system for a vehicle includes a shock absorber. The shock absorber has a frequency sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a shock frequency. The frequency sensing system includes a transmitter. The frequency sensing system includes an output device. The output device has a receiver for receiving the signals indicative of a shock frequency from the transmitter. One of the shock absorber and the output device is configured to compare the signals indicative of a shock frequency with a target frequency range. Further, the output device displays a notification when the shock frequency is outside of the target frequency range.

A frequency sensing system for a vehicle includes a shock absorber. The shock absorber has a frequency sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a shock frequency. The frequency sensing system includes a transmitter. The frequency sensing system includes an output device. The output device has a receiver for receiving the signals indicative of a shock frequency from the transmitter. One of the shock absorber and the output device is configured to compare the signals indicative of a shock frequency with a target frequency range. Further, the output device displays a notification when the shock frequency is outside of the target frequency range.

Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test on a fuel system in a vehicle. In one example, in response to a determination, based on the prevailing vehicle and ambient thermal conditions, that altering vehicle height may increase pressure or vacuum build during a pressure or vacuum build phase of an engine off natural vacuum test, employing the vehicle's active suspension to make said height adjustments. In this way the accuracy of engine off natural vacuum testing can be improved, and the conditions under which such testing can be efficaciously conducted increased.

A method for operating an automated utility vehicle includes, after a change in the load state of the automated utility vehicle, determining a current weight and/or a current load distribution of the automated utility vehicle. The method further includes making available the determined current weight and/or the determined current load distribution in the form of current load information. The current load information is used for situation-dependent adaptation of planning and/or control of a trajectory of the automated utility vehicle.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a functional status of a vehicle shock absorber arrangement (100). The method determines a difference between force values during compression and expansion of the vehicle shock absorber arrangement (100), whereby the shock absorber arrangement (100) can be determined to be degraded if the difference is below a predetermined threshold.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a shock absorber coupled to a vehicle tire. In one example, a sensor of a tire pressure measurement system coupled inside a tire is used to measure a tire pressure as well as an oscillatory behavior of the tire. A state of health of a shock absorber coupled to the tire is estimated based on the oscillatory behavior.