Method of operating a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method of operating a motor vehicle with a chassis system comprising at least two, preferably four vibration damper includes carrying out a body control and a wheel control with the chassis system, and controlling the energy supply for the chassis system via an energy control arrangement. A motor vehicle performing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a motor vehicle (1) with a chassis system (6) having at least two vibration dampers (2, 3, 4, 5), the method comprising the following steps: carrying out a body control and a wheel control with the chassis system (6); providing an energy control arrangement; controlling the energy supply for the chassis system (6) with the energy control arrangement (7); predetermining a maximum value for a peak load of the energy supply; predetermining a maximum value for a continuous load of the energy supply; using a value between 400 W and 600 W as the maximum value for the peak load of the energy supply; and/or using a value between 100 W and 300 W as the maximum value for the continuous load of the energy supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy consumption of the chassis system is limited.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising distributing the available energy amount (10, 20) when the energy requirement (12, 14, 16) of the chassis system (6) exceeds an available energy amount (10, 20) or a maximum value.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising making available an available energy amount (10, 20) first for the wheel control and then for the body control.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising using, on the average, of an available energy 5% to 15% for the wheel control and 95% to 85 % for the body control.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out the body control and the wheel control in the vibration dampers by different mechanisms.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising accomplishing a redistribution of the energy supply from the wheel control to the body control, or vice versa, continuously or quasi-continuously.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out a distribution of the energy supply to the wheel control and the body control depending on a storage condition of at least one energy storage (8).

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out a distribution of the energy supply to the wheel control and the body control depending on at least one operating state of the motor vehicle (1).

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out the body control and the wheel control by the vibration dampers (2, 3, 4, 5).

11. A motor vehicle (1)comprising a chassis system (6) for carrying out a body control and a wheel control, and an energy control arrangement (7) for controlling the energy supply to the body control and the wheel control, and wherein the energy control arrangement (7) is configured for implementation of the method according to claim 1.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising using a value of 500 W as a maximum value for the peak load.

13. The method according to claim 1, comprising using a value of 200 W as a maximum value for the continuous load.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising using, on the average, of the available energy 10% for the wheel control and 90% for the body control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle including the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts an energy amount and energy requirement in a first configuration;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts an energy amount and energy requirement in a second configuration;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts an energy amount and energy requirement in a third configuration;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts an energy amount and energy requirement in a fourth configuration; and

(7) FIG. 6 depicts an energy amount and energy requirement in a fifth configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 with vibration dampers 2, 3, 4 and 5 which together form the chassis system 6. Further, the motor vehicle 1 has an energy control arrangement 7, an energy storage 8 and a vehicle power supply 9. The chassis system 6 in the form of vibration dampers 2, 3, 4 and 5 is connected to the vehicle power supply 9 via the energy control arrangement 7.

(9) Alternatively, the vibration dampers 2, 3, 4 and 5 can also be connected directly to the vehicle power supply 9. In this case, however, the control of the energy distribution to the body control and wheel control functions realized in the vibration dampers 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, is to be implemented in a less economical manner.

(10) A number of configurations of the energy allotment are shown in the following figures.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the simplest control case, namely when the vehicle power supply 9 makes available an energy amount 10 which is sufficient by itself to exceed the energy requirement 12 of the chassis system 6 which is composed of the energy requirement 14 for the wheel control and the energy requirement 16 for the body control. The energy amount is plotted in arbitrary units along axis 18. It is crucial that the energy amount 10 is higher than, and therefore greater than, the energy requirement 12. In this case, the energy control arrangement 7 can cover energy requirement 12 through energy amount 10 without the need for controlling intervention.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a further configuration in which a portion of the energy, namely energy amount 10, is retrieved from the vehicle power supply and an energy amount 20 is retrieved from the energy storage 8. In this case too, there is enough energy in total to satisfy the energy requirement 12 of the chassis system 6.

(13) However, there is a need for control when, as is shown in FIG. 4, the energy requirement 12 of the chassis system 6 exceeds the available energy amount 10 or 10 and 20. It will be noted that the control through the energy control arrangement 7 does not depend on the presence of an energy storage 8. In this case, the available energy amount 10 is predetermined solely through the vehicle power supply 9.

(14) FIG. 5 shows a first possibility for dividing the available energy amount. The energy requirement 14 for the wheel control is completely covered and the energy requirement 16 of the body control is covered to the extent that energy is available. Consequently, the energy requirement 22 for body control shown in the shaded portion is not met.

(15) Further, FIG. 6 shows a possible alternative to FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the available energy amount 10 and 20 is divided percentagewise through the energy control arrangement 7. Consequently, the energy requirement 24 for the wheel control 14 and the energy requirement 22 for the body control 16 are not met. As a result of this, a roll or pitch cannot be completely compensated within the framework of the body control and the damping force actually strived for is not completely achieved within the framework of the wheel control. However, a certain percentage of roll and pitch compensation takes place and a certain percentage of damping force is also provided.

(16) In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, it can be provided as additional decision mechanism in the energy control arrangement 7 that values do not fall below the threshold values 26 and/or 28 which are predefined either for the wheel control and/or for the body control. In particular, threshold value 26 can be necessary to ensure a minimum damping force.

(17) Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.