Air spring assembly with localized signal processing, system and method utilizing same, as well as operating module therefor

• US 20060267297A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Co LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BFS Diversified Products LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Brookes, Graham R., Nordmeyer, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.515
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0408 details, e.g. antifreeze for suspension fluid, pumps, retarding means per se
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0521 the spring having a flexible wall
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/314 The spring being a pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/111 on pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/112 on dampers, e.g. fluid dampers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/40 Constructional features of dampers and/or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/10 Acceleration; Deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/1042 using at least two sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/1062 using at least two sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/202 Piston speed; Relative velocity between vehicle body and wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/206 Body oscillation speed; Body vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 : Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 : Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/7162 : Fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 : Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/187 : Digital Controller Details and Signal Treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/71 : Distributed control; Master - slave controllers; Remote control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/77 : A/D, D/A signal converters

Abstract

An operating module for localized signal processing at a corner of a vehicle includes a housing, a valve assembly or a sensor, and a signal processing device. The operating module can be used in operative association with an air spring assembly. The operating module can be in communication with other components and/or systems. A vehicle suspension system and method are also discussed.

Claims

1. An operating module for use on an associated air spring at an associated corner of an associated vehicle having an associated suspension controller, the associated air spring undergoing a first associated input condition and including an associated end member having an associated opening therethrough, said operating module comprising:

a housing including a fluid passage extending therethrough, said housing adapted for securement on the associated end member such that said fluid passage is in communication with the associated opening thereof;

at least one of;

a valve assembly supported on said housing along said fluid passage and selectively operable between an open passage condition and a closed passage condition;

or,

a first sensor supported on said housing and outputting a signal indicative of the first associated input condition; and

,

a processing device supported on said housing and in electrical communication with the associated suspension controller and at least one of said valve assembly or said first sensor.

2. An operating module according to claim 1, wherein said valve assembly includes a valve body supported on said housing along said fluid passage and an actuator in operative association with said valve body, said actuator operative to displace said valve body between an open passage condition and a closed passage condition.

4. An operating module according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor is one of an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a distance sensor.

5. An operating module according to claim 1 further comprising a second sensor in communication with said processing device and outputting a signal indicative of a second associated input.

9. An operating module according to claim 1 further comprising an operating device supported on said housing and in communication with said valve assembly and said first sensor, said operating device including said processing device.

10. An operating module according to claim 9, wherein said operating device includes at least one of a power connection interface or a communication interface in communication with said processing device.

11. An operating module according to claim 9, wherein said operating device includes a driver circuit in electrical communication with said processing device and said valve assembly.

12. An operating module according to claim 9, wherein said operating device includes a voltage regulator in electrical communication with said processing device and said first sensor.

13. An operating module according to claim 9, wherein said operating device includes a sensor input interface in electrical communication with said first sensor.

14. An operating module according to claim 13, wherein said operating device includes an analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication between said sensor input interface and said processing device.

3. (canceled)

6-8. -8. (canceled)

15-23. -23. (canceled)

24. An air spring assembly for use on an associated vehicle including an associated suspension control unit, said air spring assembly comprising:

a first end member having a first opening extending therethrough;

a second end member spaced from said first end member;

a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber therebetween;

at least one of;

a valve assembly supported on said first end member in communication with said spring chamber through said first opening;

or,

a sensor supported on one of said first end member or said second end member and adapted to output a sensor signal; and

,

a signal processing device supported on said first end member in electrical communication with the associated suspension control unit and at least one of said valve assembly or said sensor.

25. An air spring assembly according to claim 24 further comprising a housing supported on said first end member and including a housing wall and a fluid passage extending through said housing wall.

26. An air spring assembly according to claim 25, wherein said housing is positioned on said first end member such that said fluid passage is in communication with said first opening.

28. An air spring assembly according to claim 25, wherein said valve assembly includes a valve body supported on said housing along said fluid passage and an actuator in operative association with said valve body, said actuator operative to displace said valve body between an open passage condition and a closed passage condition.

29. An air spring assembly according to claim 28, wherein said housing includes a valve chamber disposed along said fluid passage and said valve body is at least partially received within said valve chamber.

31. An air spring assembly according to claim 24, wherein said sensor is a first sensor and said air spring assembly includes a second sensor in communication with said signal processing device.

32. An air spring assembly according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said first sensor or said second sensor is one of an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a distance sensor.

34. An air spring assembly according to claim 24 further comprising an operating device supported on said first end member and in communication with said valve assembly and said sensor, said operating device including said signal processing device and a memory in communication with said signal processing device.

39. An air spring assembly according to claim 34, wherein said operating device includes a memory in operative association with said signal processing device.

40. An air spring assembly according to claim 32, wherein said first sensor is a distance sensor broadcasting one of ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic waves.

27. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

35-38. -38. (canceled)

41-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A vehicle suspension system comprising:

a supervisory suspension control unit;

an air spring including a first end member, a second end member spaced from said first end member, and a flexible wall secured therebetween and at least partially defining a spring chamber;

a signal processing device supported on one of said first end member and said second end member and in electrical communication with said supervisory suspension control unit; and

,

at least one of;

a sensor supported on one of said first end member and said second end member, said sensor in communication with said signal processing device and adapted to output a sensor signal indicative of an associated input condition to said signal processing device;

or,

a valve assembly in communication with said signal processing device and operatively associated with said air spring;

said signal processing device operative to at least one of communicate said sensor signal to said supervisory suspension control unit or receive a valve actuation signal from said supervisory control unit for actuating said valve assembly.

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. A method of operating a vehicle suspension system comprising:

a) providing a vehicle suspension system including a supervisory suspension controller, an air spring assembly including an air spring, a sensor and a signal processing device, and a communication network extending between said supervisory suspension controller and said signal processing device;

b) generating a sensor output signal using said sensor and communicating said sensor output signal to said signal processing device;

c) generating a first communication signal corresponding to said sensor output signal using said signal processing device;

d) communicating said first communication signal to said supervisory suspension controller;

e) processing said first communication signal using said supervisory suspension controller;

f) making a determination having a relation to said vehicle suspension system based at least partially upon said first communication signal using said supervisory suspension controller and generating a second communication signal corresponding to said determination using said supervisory suspension controller; and

,

g) communicating said second communication signal to said signal processing device.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein a) includes providing a valve assembly supported along said air spring assembly and in operative communication with said signal processing device, and said method further comprises generating a valve actuation signal corresponding to said second communication signal and communicating said valve actuation signal to said valve assembly for actuation thereof.