Patent classifications
B60G2800/182
DYNAMIC WEIGHT SHIFT SUSPENSION SYSTEM
A dynamic weight shift suspension system for shifting the tandem axle loads on a vehicle. The system includes a first airbag connected between the drive axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame, and a second airbag connected between a tag axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame. The system also has a mechatronic control unit comprising at least one port and at least one solenoid. The mechatronic control unit is in direct fluid communication with the airbags and an air supply via fluid communication lines.
Method for controlling the traction of a pneumatically sprung vehicle and air suspension system for carrying out the method
In a pneumatically sprung vehicle (1) with a front steering axle (A), one rear drive axle (TA) and one trailing axle (SA), traction is controlled by an air suspension system (36), having a “pressure ratio control” mode maintaining a parametrised ratio of air pressures in supporting bellows (2, 4) of the drive axle (TA) compared to air pressures in supporting bellows (3, 5) of the trailing axle (SA); a “relieve loading of trailing axle” mode checking whether relieving of the loading of the trailing axle (SA) is possible without overloading the drive axle (TA); and an “optimum traction” control mode increasing the pressure in the supporting bellows (2, 4) of the drive axle (TA) and reducing the pressure in the supporting bellows (3, 5) of the trailing axle (SA) without exceeding the maximum permissible axle load of the drive axle (TA) while maintaining residual pressure of the trailing axle (SA).
ANTI-SWAY BAR DISCONNECT SYSTEM
An anti-sway bar assembly for a vehicle. The anti-sway bar assembly including: a first anti-sway bar member associated, at a first end thereof, with a first wheel of the vehicle; a second anti-sway bar member associated, at a first end thereof, with an opposed second wheel of the vehicle; and a connection assembly associated with a second end of each of the first anti-sway bar member and the second anti-sway bar member, the connection assembly configured for movement between a use condition in which the first anti-sway bar member and the second anti-sway bar member are connected to one another, and a released condition in which the first anti-sway bar member and the second anti-sway bar member are disconnected from one another.
WHEEL-TO-SURFACE CONTACT PATCH FORCE VARIATION
A control system (300) for controlling an active suspension system (104) of a vehicle (100), the active suspension system comprising suspension actuators (502), the control system comprising one or more controller (301), wherein the control system is configured to: in dependence on an activation signal (904), provide (908) a control signal to the active suspension system to cause the suspension actuators of the active suspension system to repetitively pulse vertical force through wheels (FR, FL, RR, RL) of the vehicle in a controlled pattern determined by the one or more controller, to vary wheel-to-surface contact patch forces, wherein the pattern comprises repetitively pulsing vertical force through at least one of the wheels at a first phase and through at least one other of the wheels at a second phase.
Dynamic weight shift suspension system
A dynamic weight shift suspension system for shifting the tandem axle loads on a vehicle. The system includes a first airbag connected between the drive axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame, and a second airbag connected between a tag axle of a tandem and the vehicle frame. The system also has a mechatronic control unit comprising at least one port and at least one solenoid. The mechatronic control unit is in direct fluid communication with the airbags and an air supply via fluid communication lines.
Method for determining whether or not ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel of a vehicle
A method is provided for determining whether or not ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body having a vertical extension in a vertical direction, the wheel being allowed to be subjected to a relative vertical displacement, in the vertical direction, in relation to the vehicle body, the vehicle further being such that a maximum value of a vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body is limited to a relative vertical displacement limit, the method including determining an actual relative vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body, determining a limit margin as the difference between the actual relative vertical displacement and the relative vertical position limit, and determining that ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel if the limit margin is within a predetermined vertical threshold range.
Suspension control system for a bicycle, bicycle, and suspension control method
A suspension control system and a method for controlling a damper device of a bicycle include a damper device and a spring device for sprung damping of a relative motion between a first and a second component of the bicycle. The suspension device has a spring unit exhibiting a spring characteristic, and the damper device exhibits a damping characteristic. The spring characteristic of the spring unit is changed under the control of an electrically operated actuator, which in turn is controlled via an electric control device.
AIR SUSPENSION INDVIDUAL CORNER CONTROL TO OPTIMIZE TRACTION
An air suspension system for a vehicle comprises four corner assemblies, wherein one corner assembly is located at a suspension position corresponding to each of the wheel corners for the vehicle. An air supply unit including a compressor, and an ECU are connected to the corner assemblies. The air supply unit is capable of independently adjusting the corner assemblies from one another. A sensor for measuring jounce/rebound travel for a wheel is associated with each of the corner assemblies and the air suspension system is operable adjust the air pressure at each of the four corner assemblies to provide optimized traction for the vehicle when at least one of the wheels has a predetermined amount of travel.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT GROUND CONTACT LOSS IS IMMINENT FOR A WHEEL OF A VEHICLE
A method is provided for determining whether or not ground contact loss is imminent for wheel of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body having a vertical extension in a vertical direction, the wheel being allowed to be subjected to a relative vertical displacement, in the vertical direction, in relation to the vehicle body, the vehicle further being such that a maximum value of a vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body is limited to a relative vertical displacement limit; the method including determining an actual relative vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body, determining a limit margin as the difference between the actual relative vertical displacement and the relative vertical position limit, and determining that ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel if the limit margin is within a predetermined vertical threshold range.
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE TRACTION OF A PNEUMATICALLY SPRUNG VEHICLE AND AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD
In a pneumatically sprung vehicle (1) with a front steering axle (A), one rear drive axle (TA) and one trailing axle (SA), traction is controlled by an air suspension system (36), having a pressure ratio control mode maintaining a parametrised ratio of air pressures in supporting bellows (2, 4) of the drive axle (TA) compared to air pressures in supporting bellows (3, 5) of the trailing axle (SA); a relieve loading of trailing axle mode checking whether relieving of the loading of the trailing axle (SA) is possible without overloading the drive axle (TA); and an optimum traction control mode increasing the pressure in the supporting bellows (2, 4) of the drive axle (TA) and reducing the pressure in the supporting bellows (3, 5) of the trailing axle (SA) without exceeding the maximum permissible axle load of the drive axle (TA) while maintaining residual pressure of the trailing axle (SA).