DEVICE FOR SPRINGING A MASS, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AND/OR OPERATING A FLUID SPRING

• US 20100181708A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kolb, Jens, Haller, Erwin
• Granted Patent: US 9,115,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0416 regulated by varying the resiliency of hydropneumatic suspensions B60G17/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/162 Cabins, e.g. for trucks, tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/08 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/206 Variable pressure accumulators for hydropneumatic suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/002 Suspension details of the suspension of the vehicle body on the vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/52 using fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/522 characterised by dampening means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/04 in a chamber with a flexible wall producing hollow articles of plastics, e.g. air bellows, B29D22/00

Abstract

A device for springing a mass including a fluid spring and a frame, in which the fluid spring is arranged between the mass and the frame in such a way that the mass is mounted on the frame in a sprung and/or damped manner. An add-on-fluid volume device for providing an additional fluid volume for the fluid spring includes at least two fluid volume chambers that can be fluidically connected to one another and which have a common, displaceable chamber wall.

Claims

1. An apparatus for springing a mass, comprising:

a fluid spring and a frame, wherein the fluid spring is arranged between the mass and the frame in such a way that the mass is mounted on the frame in at least one of a sprung or damped manner; and

a fluid volume controller configured to modify the fluid volume to the fluid spring, wherein the fluid volume controller comprises at least two fluid volume chambers configured to be fluidically connected to one another and which have at least one common, displaceable chamber wall.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the fluid volume controller are arranged such that they can be fluidically connected to one another via a pressure equalizing valve.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the fluid volume controller are adjustable with regard to their fluid volume.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the fluid volume controller are separated by a piston which forms a common, displaceable chamber wall of the fluid volume chambers.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid volume controller comprises a two-chamber cylinder with a controllable piston.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid volume controller comprises an actuator for adjusting a fluid volume of a fluid volume chamber.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid volume controller comprises an actuator for displacing a common, displaceably arranged chamber wall of two fluid volume chambers of the fluid volume controller.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the fluid volume controller are separated by a piston;

and

further comprising a means for reducing a required movement force for moving the piston of the fluid volume controller.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mass comprises a body component of a vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mass comprises a movable part of a seat.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid spring is coupled to a scissors-type control arm of a seat.

12. An apparatus for springing a mass, comprising:

a fluid spring and a frame, wherein the fluid spring is arranged between the mass and the frame in such a way that the mass is mounted on the frame in at least one of a sprung or damped manner; and

add-on-fluid volume means for providing an additional fluid volume for the fluid spring, wherein the add-on-fluid volume means comprises at least two fluid volume chambers that can be fluidically connected to one another and which have at least one common, displaceable chamber wall.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means are arranged such that they can be fluidically connected to one another via a pressure equalizing valve.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means are adjustable with regard to their fluid volume.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means are separated by a piston which forms a common, displaceable chamber wall of the fluid volume chambers.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the add-on-fluid volume means comprises a two-chamber cylinder with a controllable piston.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the add-on-fluid volume means comprises an actuator for adjusting a fluid volume of a fluid volume chamber.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the add-on-fluid volume means comprises an actuator for displacing a common, displaceably arranged chamber wall of two fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the at least two fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means are separated by a piston;

and

further comprising a means for reducing a required movement force for moving the piston of the add-on-fluid volume means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mass comprises a body component of a vehicle.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the mass comprises a movable part of a seat.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fluid spring is coupled to a scissors-type control arm of a seat.

23. A method for manipulating a fluid spring connected to a fluid volume chamber of an add-on-fluid volume means for springing a mass relative to a frame, comprising:

fluidically connecting the fluid spring to the fluid volume chamber using a plurality of fluid volume chambers; and

manipulating the fluid spring by selectively connecting to each other and separating from each other at least two of the plurality of fluid volume chambers.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining at least one characteristic operating value on a suspension system associated with the fluid spring; and

modifying the fluid volume in at least one of the plurality of fluid volume chambers based on the determined at least one characteristic operating value.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the add-on-fluid volume means comprises a piston, further comprising modifying the movement force of the piston of the add-on-fluid volume means by reducing pressure equalization within the fluid volume chambers of the add-on-fluid volume means.