Vehicle stability system: using active tilting mechanism as a counter measure to natural tilt
First Claim
1. A vehicle control system comprising:
- a tilt control processing unit;
a plurality of sensors for determining and communicating vehicle conditions to the tilt control processing unit;
a lifting mechanism for lifting a designated side of the vehicle in response to a judging by the tilt control processing unit that an active tilt condition is necessary wherein the lifting mechanism compensates for a natural tilt of the vehicle by lifting the designated side of the vehicle so that a natural tilt force vector is approximately at a right angle with a horizontal line of the vehicle.
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Abstract
The present invention is a vehicle stability system that affords safe turn with higher speed as well as maximum brake performance and resists rollover by using one or more electrical and mechanical modes to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle into a more stable position in the event of a turn condition. A preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes an active tilt control to tilt the vehicle in the opposite direction to the vehicle'"'"'s natural inclination to tilt. A second preferred embodiment utilizes a shifting weight, that is a ballast or any heavy part of the vehicle to move the center of gravity toward to side of the vehicle tending to lift up during a tilt condition. The first and second preferred embodiments can be used alone or in a combination to create a more dynamic stable condition for the vehicle in turn mode.
48 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system comprising:
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a tilt control processing unit;
a plurality of sensors for determining and communicating vehicle conditions to the tilt control processing unit;
a lifting mechanism for lifting a designated side of the vehicle in response to a judging by the tilt control processing unit that an active tilt condition is necessary wherein the lifting mechanism compensates for a natural tilt of the vehicle by lifting the designated side of the vehicle so that a natural tilt force vector is approximately at a right angle with a horizontal line of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle stability system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for determining and communicating vehicle conditions; and
a processing unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processing unit configured to;
determine when a vehicle is turning, determine a natural tilt force of the vehicle as it is turning, and generate an output signal that causes a designated side of the vehicle to either lift or lower so that the natural tilt force is approximately at a right angle with a horizontal line of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle comprising:
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a steering wheel to permit the vehicle to turn in a particular turn direction D;
a height adjustment mechanism for lowering and lifting a designated side of the vehicle in response to movement of the steering wheel;
a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the height adjustment mechanism, wherein turning of the steering wheel causes the height adjustment mechanism to either raise or lower a designated side of the vehicle; and
a dynamic stability control system communicatively coupled to the height adjustment mechanism, the vehicle stability system configured to adjust the height adjustment mechanism to compensate for a natural tilt of the vehicle during a turning maneuver so that a natural tilt force of the vehicle is approximately at a right angle with a horizontal plane of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A vehicle control system that actively tilts a vehicle chassis in response to a natural tilt force, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors;
a tilt control processing unit that processes information from the plurality of sensors, calculates the natural tilt force, and issues commands based on the calculation; and
a lifting mechanism that responds to the commands by the tilt control processing unit by asymmetrically lifting or lowering the vehicle chassis until the vehicle is perpendicular to the natural tilt force. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A smart vehicle system that reduces lateral forces in a vehicle chassis, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors that gather information about vehicle speed and turning radius for processing;
a tilt control processing unit that processes the information from the plurality of sensors, calculates an active tilt angle and issues commands based on the active tilt angle;
a lifting mechanism that responds to the commands of the tilt control processing unit by lifting or lowering a first side or a second side of the vehicle chassis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification