Integrated control unit for an active roll control system for a vehicle suspension system

• US 20050146098A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Co. (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Hunnicutt, Harry, Green, Steve J., Campau, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.508
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/056 Regulating distributors or valves for hydropneumatic systemsB60G17/044 - B60G17/048, B60G17/0416 take precedence; Fluid interconnection systems to control vehicle inclination B60G21/06, B60G21/10; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0555 including an actuator inducing vehicle roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/06 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/414 using electrohydraulic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1224 End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/02 Supply or exhaust flow rates; Pump operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/07 Supply of pressurised fluid for steering also supplying other consumers ; control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 Sectional block structure

Abstract

An Active Roll Control System for a motor vehicle that utilizes small valves to control large flows. Flow is supplied by a hydraulic pump which is powered in some fashion by the motor vehicle. Flow is directed to the actuators by a three-position-four-way valve that is controlled by two pairs of small ABS style solenoid valves. This allows for a minimum of power to be supplied by the vehicle to operate the system. Also, this valve arrangement allows a desirable failure mode whereby hydraulic fluid is locked into the hydraulic actuators, there by locking in the anti-roll bar in case of a system failure.

Claims

1. A control unit for a roll control system for a vehicle suspension system, the control unit comprising:

a valve body that is adapted to be connected to a roll control actuator device;

a plurality of valves mounted upon said valve body, said valves operable to control said roll control actuator device;

a housing removeably attached to said valve body; and

electronic components disposed within said housing, said electronic components operable to selectively actuate said valves.

2. The control unit according to claim 1 further including a circuit substrate mounted within said housing, said circuit substrate carrying said electronic components.

3. The control unit according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said valves is a solenoid valve and further wherein at least one solenoid coil associated with said solenoid valve is carried by said circuit substrate, said solenoid coil being selectively energized by said electronic components to actuate said corresponding solenoid valve.

4. The control unit according to claim 3 further including a three-position four-way valve mounted upon said valve body, said three-position four-way valve adapted to be connected said roll control actuator device and operable to selectively actuate said roll control actuator device to counter vehicle roll.

5. The control unit according to claim 4 further including two pairs of digital solenoid valves mounted upon said valve body, each of said valve pairs including a normally open valve and a normally valve, each of said valve pairs associated with one position of said three-position four-way valve and selectively operable to change the position of said three-position four-way valve.

6. The control unit according to claim 5 further including a two stage pressure relief valve mounted upon said valve body, said pressure relief valve operable to control the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to said three-position four-way valve for operation of said roll control actuator device.

7. The control unit according to claim 6 wherein said two stage pressure relief valve includes a spool valve as a main stage and a balanced poppet solenoid valve, said spool valve communicating with said balanced poppet solenoid valve, said balanced poppet solenoid valve operatble to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through said spool valve whereby the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to said three-position four-way valve is controlled.

8. The control unit according to claim 7 further including a lateral accelerometer, said pressure relief valve being responsive to signals generated by said lateral accelerometer to control the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplied to said three-position four-way valve for operation of said roll control actuator device as a function of vehicle lateral acceleration.

9. The control unit according to claim 7 further including a priority valve mounted upon said valve block, said priority valve adapted to be connected to a hydraulic fluid pump and operable to divide a flow of hydraulic fluid between a primary hydraulic circuit and said the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to said three-position four-way valve for operation of said roll control actuator device.

10. The control unit according to claim 9 wherein said hydraulic fluid pump is a power steering pump and further wherein said primary hydraulic circuit is a power steering system.

11. The control unit according to claim 8 further including an electrical connector mounted upon said housing, said connector adapted to provide an electrical connection between said electronic components and at least one sensor for the roll control system.

12. The control unit according to claim 8 wherein said electronic components include a microprocessor, said microprocessor electrically connected a plurality of vehicle sensors and responsive to signals generated by said sensors to selectively operate said valves mounted in said valve body to correct vehicle roll about a fore to aft axis.

13. The control unit according to claim 12 wherein said sensors include said lateral accelerometer and at least one wheel speed sensor and a steering angle detector.

14. The control unit according to claim 13 wherein said plurality of sensors includes at least one angular rate sensor.

15. The control unit according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of said valves mounted upon said valve body are normally open solenoid valves, said normally open valves adapted to be connected to said roll control device and selectively operable to control said roll control device and further wherein a plurality of solenoid coils are carried by said circuit substrate, each of said coils corresponding to one of said normally open solenoid valves, said coils being selectively energized by said electronic components to actuate said corresponding normally open solenoid valves.

16. The control unit according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of said valves mounted upon said valve body are normally closed solenoid valves, said normally closed valves adapted to be connected to said roll control device and selectively operable to control said roll control device and further wherein a plurality of solenoid coils are carried by said circuit substrate, each of said coils corresponding to one of said normally closed solenoid valves, said coils being selectively energized by said electronic components to actuate said corresponding normally closed solenoid valves.

17. The control unit according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of said valves mounted upon said valve body include both normally open and normally closed solenoid valves, said normally open and normally closed solenoid valves adapted to be connected to said roll control device and selectively operable to control said roll control device and further wherein a plurality of solenoid coils are carried by said circuit substrate, each of said coils corresponding to one of said normally open and normally closed solenoid valves, said coils being selectively energized by said electronic components to actuate said corresponding normally open and normally closed solenoid valves.

18. A method for controlling the roll of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a roll control system the includes a valve body that is adapted to be connected to a roll control actuator device, said valve body having a plurality of valves mounted thereon, said valves operable to control said roll control actuator device, and a housing removeably attached to said valve body, said housing having electronic components disposed therein, said electronic components being electrically connected to at least one sensor for detecting roll of the vehicle about a fore to aft axis and also being operable to selectively actuate the valves;

(b) selectively actuating the valves upon detecting vehicle roll to counteract the vehicle roll; and

(c) deactuating the valves upon detecting that the vehicle roll has ended.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein a three-position four-way valve is mounted upon the valve body, the three-position four-way valve adapted to be connected the roll control actuator device and operable to selectively actuate the roll control actuator device to counter vehicle roll.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein two pairs of digital solenoid valves are mounted upon the valve body, each of the valve pairs including a normally open valve and a normally closed valve, each of the valve pairs associated with one position of the three-position four-way valve and operable to change the position of the three-position four-way valve.