RIDE-HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090033044A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Linsmeier, Catherine R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.514
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption

Abstract

In some embodiments, a land vehicle includes sensors that provide information relating to a ride height of the land vehicle. A processing circuit monitors data from the sensors and controls adjustment of one or more vehicle systems that affect the vehicle'"'"'s ride height based on the data from the sensors. In some embodiments, the processing circuit controls a suspension system and can control the suspension system to have any of a multiplicity of height settings. In some embodiments, the processing circuit controls the ride height based on a user selection of a pre-configured ride height setting. In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to maintain a ride height of the vehicle at a consistent ride height when the suspension is unlocked after a load is removed where the suspension was locked after the load was added.

Claims

1. A land vehicle comprising:

sensors configured to provide information relating to a ride height of the land vehicle;

a processing circuit configured to monitor data from the sensors and to output a signal configured to cause adjustment of one or more vehicle systems that affect the vehicle'"'"'s ride height based on the data from the sensors.

2. The land vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a suspension and a suspension control system, wherein the processing circuit is configured to output a signal to the suspension control system based on the data from the sensors.

3. The land vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to monitor the data from the sensors in order to maintain the ride height of the vehicle at substantially the same height, and is configured to output the signal to cause adjustment in response to a change in vehicle ride height.

4. The land vehicle of claim 3, wherein the ride height at which the processing circuit is configured to maintain the vehicle is a height based on an input from a user interface.

5. The land vehicle of claim 3, wherein the ride height at which the processing circuit is configured to maintain the vehicle is adjustable.

6. A land vehicle comprising:

a suspension system connected to at least one wheel of a vehicle; and

a processing circuit configured to control the suspension system, wherein the processing circuit can control the suspension system to have any of a multiplicity of height settings.

7. The land vehicle of claim 6, wherein the processing circuit is configured such that it can control the suspension system to have any of a substantially infinite number of height settings.

8. The land vehicle of claim 6, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the height setting of the suspension system by outputting a control signal configured to control a hydraulic system to adjust the height setting of the suspension system.

9. The land vehicle of claim 6, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the height settings of the suspension system in response to a user input.

10. The land vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processing circuit is configured to maintain the suspension at a height setting that is set in response to a user input based on data from sensors configured to monitor data relating to the height of the suspension.

11. The land vehicle of claim 6, wherein

the suspension system is a first suspension system;

the land vehicle further comprises a second suspension system; and

the processing circuit is further configured to control a height of the second suspension system.

12. The land vehicle of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is configured such that the first suspension system and the second suspension system may have different height settings.

13. The land vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a third suspension system and a fourth suspension system.

14. The land vehicle of claim 13, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the first suspension and the second suspension based on a first height setting, and is configured to control the third suspension and the fourth suspension based on a second height setting.

15. The land vehicle of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit is configured to always control the first suspension based on the same height setting used to control the second suspension.

16. A land vehicle comprising:

a ride height control system configured to adjust a ride height of the land vehicle; and

a processing circuit configured to output a signal configured to control the ride height control system, the processing circuit configured to control the ride height control system based on receipt of a user input corresponding to one of a multiplicity of pre-configured ride height settings stored by the processing circuit.

17. The land vehicle of claim 16, wherein the multiplicity of pre-configured ride height settings correspond to functional height settings.

18. The land vehicle of claim 16, wherein the user input is an input of non-height information.

19. The land vehicle of claim 16, wherein the processing circuit configured to control the ride height control system based on receipt of a user input corresponding to a function requested by a user.

20. The land vehicle of claim 16, wherein the processing circuit configured to control the ride height control system based on receipt of a user input of a vehicle mode.

21. A land vehicle comprising a processing circuit configured to continuously monitor data from a sensor coupled to a system of the land vehicle that is connected to the wheels of the vehicle;

and automatically adjust the system based on the data.

22. A land vehicle comprising a processing circuit configured to continuously monitor data from a sensor that provides information related to a ride height of the vehicle, and to automatically control adjustment of a system of the land vehicle that is configured to adjust ride height based on the data.

23. The land vehicle of claim 22, wherein the system is a suspension system.

24. The land vehicle of claim 22, wherein the processing circuit is configured automatically control adjustment of the system in order to maintain a consistent ride height.

25. A land vehicle configured to carry a load such that the load can be unloaded, the land vehicle comprising a processing circuit configured to control one or more vehicle systems such that the processing circuit can maintain a ride height of the vehicle at a consistent ride height when the suspension is unlocked after a load is removed where the suspension was locked after the load was added.

26. The land vehicle of claim 25, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the suspension such that the suspension does not move.

27. The land vehicle of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be controlled by the processing circuit.

28. A land vehicle comprising a processing circuit configured to monitor data and provide output signals such that the land vehicle is maintained at a ride height at a pre-selected level using an active feedback system.

29. The land vehicle of claim 28, wherein the active feedback system comprises,

a sensor configured to provide information relating to the ride height of the vehicle, and

a processing circuit configured to receive data representative of the pre-selected ride height and data from the sensor, configured to determine whether the ride height of the vehicle is at the pre-determined ride height based on the data received, and configured to output a control signal to adjust the ride height of the vehicle if the ride height of the vehicle is not at the pre-determined ride height.