Damper with integrated electronics

• US 10,000,104 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blankenship, David R., Kazmirski, Karl C., Dunaway, Scott S., Paenhuysen, Jeroen K., Roessle, Matthew L., Schelosky, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/218,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/00 Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of vibration dampers adjusting damping effect B60G17/06; vibration dampers per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/08 hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/051 Trailing arm twist beam axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/24 Fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/112 on dampers, e.g. fluid dampers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/17 Magnetic/Electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/114 pressure regulating valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/71 Distributed control; Master - slave controllers; Remote control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/73 Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/185 Bitubular units where compression of gas leads to a clear spring action F16F9/062
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3207 : Constructional features F16F9/34 - F16F9/50 take precedence; assembly or repair F16F9/3271
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3292 : Sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/463 : characterised by electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/464 : Control of valve bias or pre-stress, e.g. electromagnetically F16F9/465 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a damper system for a vehicle. The damper system may have an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a rod guide assembly, a pressure tube, a reserve tube and an electromechanical valve. The electromechanical valve may be disposed in a valve cavity within the shock absorber. An integrated electronic system may be included which has a power drive electronics. The power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the electromechanical valve. The integrated electronic system is disposed along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pressure tube, and at a location radially outwardly of the pressure tube adjacent the rod guide assembly.

Claims

1. A damper system for a vehicle, the damper system comprising:

an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a rod, a rod guide assembly, a pressure tube, a reserve tube and an electromechanical valve;

the electromechanical valve being disposed in a valve cavity within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber; and

an integrated electronic system having power drive electronics, wherein the power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the electromechanical valve, and the integrated electronic system is disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressure tube, and at a location external to the pressure tube, the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.

2. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed at least partially within the rod guide assembly.

3. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical valve includes a plurality of electromechanical valves.

4. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical valve includes a plurality of electromechanical valves, and the valve cavity comprises a plurality of valve cavities, and wherein each one of the plurality of electromechanical valves is disposed in a respective one of the plurality of valve cavities in a circumferentially spaced apart configuration.

5. The damper system of claim 3, wherein the electromechanical valves are disposed in a circumferential arrangement within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.

6. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed along an external surface of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.

7. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical valve comprises a digital valve.

8. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber further comprises a lead frame for electrically coupling the integrated electronic system to the electromechanical valve.

9. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic system comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

10. The damper system of claim 9, wherein the PCBA comprises a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of a piston rod of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber to pass therethrough.

11. The damper system of claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic system is bounded on at least two sides by the rod guide assembly.

12. A damper system for a vehicle, the damper system comprising:

an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber including a piston, a piston rod for supporting the piston for reciprocating linear movement, a rod guide for guiding axial movement of the piston rod, and a plurality of electromechanical valves;

the plurality of electromechanical valves being disposed in a corresponding plurality of valve cavities within the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber; and

an integrated electronic system having power drive electronics;

wherein the power drive electronics is electrically coupled to the plurality of electromechanical valves;

the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.

13. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber.

14. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed in a housing that prevents hydraulic fluid from contacting the integrated electronic system.

15. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the integrated electronic system is disposed in a housing that protects the integrated electronic system from environmental elements.

16. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electromechanical valves comprise a plurality of digital valves.

17. The damper system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of digital valves are arranged circumferentially and radially outwardly from the piston rod.

18. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the integrated electronic system comprises a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of the piston rod to pass therethrough.

19. The damper system of claim 12, wherein the integrated electronic system is bounded on at least two sides by the rod guide.

20. An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, the electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber comprising:

a piston rod;

a piston supported from the piston rod;

a rod guide assembly;

a plurality of digital valves;

a printed circuit board assembly having power drive electronics and electrically coupled to the plurality of digital valves;

wherein the printed circuit board assembly has a ring-shaped structure which enables a portion of the piston rod to pass therethrough, the rod guide including a hollow cylindrical wall through which the rod extends, the cylindrical wall being positioned between the integrated electronic system and the rod.