Vehicle suspension control system
First Claim
1. A suspension control system for controlling a response of a suspension cylinder configured to support a main body of a vehicle in relation to a ground-contacting portion of the vehicle, the suspension control system comprising:
- a main accumulator configured to contain a main compressible gas volume, the main accumulator fluidly connected with the suspension cylinder such that compressing the suspension cylinder compresses the main compressible gas volume;
an auxiliary accumulator configured to contain an auxiliary compressible gas volume;
a valve configured to selectively fluidly connect the auxiliary accumulator to the suspension cylinder, wherein;
when the valve is in an open position, compressing the suspension cylinder compresses both the main compressible gas volume and the auxiliary compressible gas volume; and
when the valve is in a closed position, the auxiliary accumulator is fluidly isolated from the suspension cylinder;
a solenoid actuator configured to open and close the valve; and
a processor configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the vehicle and automatically open or close the valve using the solenoid actuator based on the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle suspension control system is disclosed for use in load-carrying vehicles. The system controls a response of a suspension cylinder configured to support a main body of a vehicle in relation to a ground-contacting portion of the vehicle. A main accumulator is configured to contain a main compressible gas volume and is fluidly connected with the suspension cylinder. An auxiliary accumulator is configured to contain an auxiliary compressible gas volume. A valve is configured to selectively fluidly connect the auxiliary accumulator to the suspension cylinder. When the valve is open, compressing the suspension cylinder compresses both the main compressible gas volume and the auxiliary compressible gas volume. When the valve is closed, the auxiliary accumulator is fluidly isolated from the suspension cylinder. A processor is configured to automatically open or close the valve using a solenoid actuator based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suspension control system for controlling a response of a suspension cylinder configured to support a main body of a vehicle in relation to a ground-contacting portion of the vehicle, the suspension control system comprising:
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a main accumulator configured to contain a main compressible gas volume, the main accumulator fluidly connected with the suspension cylinder such that compressing the suspension cylinder compresses the main compressible gas volume; an auxiliary accumulator configured to contain an auxiliary compressible gas volume; a valve configured to selectively fluidly connect the auxiliary accumulator to the suspension cylinder, wherein; when the valve is in an open position, compressing the suspension cylinder compresses both the main compressible gas volume and the auxiliary compressible gas volume; and when the valve is in a closed position, the auxiliary accumulator is fluidly isolated from the suspension cylinder; a solenoid actuator configured to open and close the valve; and a processor configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the vehicle and automatically open or close the valve using the solenoid actuator based on the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a response of a suspension cylinder of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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monitoring one or more operating parameters of the vehicle; and automatically switching between a first mode and a second mode based on one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, wherein; a first mode includes a first spring stiffness and a first damping rate; and a second mode includes at least one of a second spring stiffness lower than the first spring stiffness and a second damping rate lower than the first damping rate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A control system for a suspension cylinder, the control system comprising:
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a main accumulator tank configured to contain a main compressible gas volume, the main accumulator tank fluidly connected with the suspension cylinder such that compressing the suspension cylinder compresses the main compressible gas volume; an auxiliary accumulator tank configured to contain an auxiliary compressible gas volume; a valve configured to selectively fluidly connect the auxiliary accumulator tank to the suspension cylinder such that, when the valve is in an open position, compressing the suspension cylinder compresses both the main compressible gas volume and the auxiliary compressible gas volume, and when the valve is in a closed position, the valve fluidly disconnects the auxiliary compressible gas volume from the suspension cylinder; an actuator configured to open and close the valve; and a processor configured to monitor one or more operating parameters of the vehicle and automatically open or close the valve using the actuator based on the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle.
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Specification