Patent classifications
B60G2500/205
Methods and systems for using waste energy from electric motors and inverters in electric vehicle air suspension systems
An air suspension system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a suspension actuator, a reservoir, a compressor, and a first cooling circuit. The suspension actuator has a chamber. The reservoir includes a shell and an adsorptive material. The shell at least partially defines an interior region. The interior region is fluidly connected to the chamber. The adsorptive material is in the interior region. The compressor is fluidly connected to the interior region. The first cooling circuit includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a conduit. The first heat exchanger is in thermal contact with the interior region. The second heat exchanger is in thermal contact with an electric vehicle component. The conduit is adapted to circulate a fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The present disclosure also provides a method of operating the air suspension system.
AIR SUSPENSION CONTROL
Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle suspension system. In some example methods, a height change request is received for a vehicle suspension having a displacement control for implementing height change requests. A displacement of at least one spring of the vehicle suspension may be determined, as well as whether the displacement satisfies a displacement control criteria. The height of the vehicle suspension may be changed using an air mass control in response to determining the displacement control criteria is not satisfied.
Throttle assembly and pressure control system having such a throttle assembly
A throttle assembly for a pressure control system in a vehicle includes at least one throttle valve. The at least one throttle valve defines an assembly cross-section of the throttle assembly, the assembly cross-section specifies a flow resistance acting on a pressure medium entering the throttle assembly, and the at least one throttle valve includes at least one controllable throttle valve configured to be controlled in accordance with an upstream pressure. The assembly cross-section of the throttle assembly is configured to be set, by control of the at least one controllable throttle valve, in such a way that an inlet volume flow of the pressure medium entering the throttle assembly can be limited to a limit volume flow in accordance with the upstream pressure, in order to set, in accordance with the upstream pressure, a power consumption of a pneumatic load in the pressure control system.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING WASTE ENERGY FROM ELECTRIC MOTORS AND INVERTERS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
An air suspension system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a suspension actuator, a reservoir, a compressor, and a first cooling circuit. The suspension actuator has a chamber. The reservoir includes a shell and an adsorptive material. The shell at least partially defines an interior region. The interior region is fluidly connected to the chamber. The adsorptive material is in the interior region. The compressor is fluidly connected to the interior region. The first cooling circuit includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a conduit. The first heat exchanger is in thermal contact with the interior region. The second heat exchanger is in thermal contact with an electric vehicle component. The conduit is adapted to circulate a fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The present disclosure also provides a method of operating the air suspension system.
Shared Compressor
A system includes a source that provides air, a first compressor stage that receives the air from the source and is configured to compress the air to a first pressure, and a second compressor stage that receives the air from the first compressor stage and is configured to compress the air to a second pressure. The system also includes a first component, a second component, valves that control flow of the air, and a controller that is configured to control the valves according to a first control mode, in which the air is supplied to the first component by the first compressor stage, and a second control mode, in which the air is supplied to the second component by the second compressor stage.
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle comprises: a main battery which is disposed under the floor of a vehicle interior; a front seat which is provided for a front part of the vehicle interior; a front housing chamber which is formed under a seating surface of the front seat; and an air-suspension device including an air spring which is made to expand and contract by air pressure, an air compressor which compresses air, and one or more first surge tanks which store high-pressure air or low-pressure air, in which the first surge tanks and the air compressor are disposed in a front housing chamber.
Suspension device
When a vehicle's driving situation is a rolling state, a compressor is used to transfer compressed air between left and right air suspensions of front wheels, and a compressor is used to transfer compressed air between left and right air suspensions of rear wheels. The air suspensions of the left and right front wheels and the air suspensions of the left and rear wheels thus independently generate counter rolls. This makes it possible to concurrently perform vehicle height adjustment of the air suspensions of the left and right front wheels and vehicle height adjustment of the air suspensions of the left and right rear wheels, which improves responsiveness in counter roll control.
METHOD FOR OPERATING A PRESSURE-REGULATING SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE AND PRESSURE-REGULATING SYSTEM
A method for operating a pressure control system in a vehicle includes controlling a flow-control valve in a charging line, which conveys a charging pressure medium, in dependence upon an admission pressure and/or upon an admission volume flow. The admission pressure and/or the admission volume flow characterizes a prevailing or currently to be expected loading of a pneumatic consumer of the pressure control system during the supply of the charging pressure medium with a charging volume flow and at a charging pressure into the pneumatic consumer. The method further includes adjusting a flow-control cross-section, which acts on the charging pressure medium as it flows through the flow-control valve, or adjusting an average flow-control cross-section so as to limit the charging volume flow to a limit volume flow. The method additionally includes outputting the volume-flow limited charging pressure medium to the pneumatic consumer.
Towable vehicle
A towable vehicle including a chassis, at least two wheels and a suspension assembly supporting each wheel. The suspension assembly includes a swing arm pivotally mounted to the chassis, an axle mounted proximate an end of the swing arm, the wheel being mounted on the axle, at least one shock absorber extending from the chassis to the swing arm, an airbag swing arm mounting pivotally coupled to the swing arm, an airbag chassis mounting coupled to the chassis, an airbag coupled to the airbag swing arm and airbag chassis mountings so that inflation of the airbag allows a suspension height to be adjusted over an operating range and a pivot arm pivotally mounted to the chassis and the airbag swing arm mounting to maintain an orientation of the airbag swing arm mounting over the operating range.
SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND VEHICLE WITH ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE HEIGHT
A suspension system (vehicle) includes: an air suspension that is inserted between a vehicle body and each of wheels and that is capable of extending and contracting by means of pressure of working fluid; a compressed air control unit that controls the working fluid; an electric power supplier that supplies electric power to the compressed air control unit; and a power saver that stops flow of the working fluid when abnormality occurs in the electric power supplier. When a vehicle has a predetermined vehicle height, the power saver stops the flow of the working fluid, and when the vehicle has a vehicle height other than the predetermined vehicle height, the power saver allows the working fluid to flow until the vehicle height reaches the predetermined vehicle height, and then stops the flow of the working fluid.