INDUCTIVE SHOCK ABSORBER

Abstract

An inductive shock absorber for a motor vehicle is provided having a cylindrical damper tube and a damper rod. A related method for operating a shock absorber is also provided.

Claims

1. A shock absorber for a motor vehicle, comprising: a cylindrical damper tube; and a damper rod, which can move in linear manner inside the damper tube, and in which at least one permanent magnet is situated, wherein at least two coils are arranged in the damper tube.

2. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the at least two coils are arranged one on top of the other inside the damper tube.

3. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the at least two coils comprise cylindrical coils having an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the damper rod.

4. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the at least two coils comprise toroidal coils having an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the damper rod.

5. The shock absorber according to claim 1, comprising two coils.

6. The shock absorber according to claim 1, comprising more than two coils.

7. The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the electrical terminals of the at least two coils are led out from the damper tube.

8. A method for operating a shock absorber of a motor vehicle, the shock absorber including a cylindrical damper tube and a damper rod that can move linearly inside the damper tube, wherein the damper tube includes at least two coils and the damper rod includes at least one permanent magnet, the method comprising: regulating a dampening characteristic of the shock absorber using the at least two coils; and using kinetic energy of the damper rod to generate electrical energy; and taking the energy out from the at least two coils.

9. The method according to claim 8, in which the dampening characteristic of the shock absorber is regulated by conducting an electric current through the at least two coils.

10. The method according to claim 9, in which electric currents of different current strength are conducted through the individual coils of the at least two coils.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments are shown schematically with the aid of the drawings and shall be further described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a shock absorber.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a shock absorber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows schematically a cross section of one embodiment of a shock absorber 10. A damper rod 12 is movable inside a damper tube 11. In the damper rod 12 are arranged two magnetic cores 13. In the damper tube 11 are located a first copper coil 14, a second copper coil 15 and a third copper coil 16, the inner diameter of which is greater than the outer diameter of the damper rod 12. In other embodiments, further additional copper coils can be provided between the first copper coil 14 and the second copper coil 15.

[0025] During a linear movement of the damper rod 12 in the damper tube 11, the magnetic cores 13 are moved past the copper coils 14, 15 and 16 and thus electric energy is generated by induction. The electric energy can be picked off from the copper coils 14, 15 and 16 and be taken by cable to a voltage converter (17), which transforms the voltage to a suitable level for feeding it into an onboard network and/or an energy accumulator (such as a HV battery, LV battery, or a capacitor).

[0026] In order to set the dampening characteristic, the copper coils 14 and 15 (and possibly also 16) are energized with current differently as needed and thus differently magnetized. The magnetization determines the resistance which the magnetic cores 13 and thus the damper rod 12 experience during a linear movement in the damper tube 11. Thanks to the use of two copper coils 14 and 15, different hardness stages can be set for the traction stage and the compression stage, the dampening of the traction stage being set via the first copper coil 14 and the dampening of the compression stage via the second copper coil 15. The third copper coil 16 can remain non-energized and be used for the energy recovery; or it can be used for fine tuning the dampening behavior. A controller (not shown) controls the voltage converter 17 and the currents through the coils 14, 15, 16 and thus the dampening properties and the energy recovery of the shock absorber 10.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows schematically a cross section of another embodiment of a shock absorber 10, where the electric energy is not transmitted from the copper coils 14, 15, 16 by cable led out from the damper tube 11, but instead by inductive energy transmission. The copper coils 14, 15, 16 are connected to an induction pickup 18, comprising a transmitter adapted for resonant inductive coupling with a receiver 19 situated outside the damper tube 11. The transmitter of the induction pickup 18 is designed to transmit electric energy to the receiver 19, which feeds a voltage converter. A controller (not shown) controls the voltage converter 19 and the currents through the coils 14, 15, 16 and thus the dampening properties and the energy recovery of the shock absorber 10.

[0028] German patent application no. 10 2022 102600.0, filed Feb. 3, 2022, to which this application claims priority, is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

[0029] Aspects of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.