DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING THE HORIZONTAL RIDE LEVEL OF A UTILITY VEHICLE

• US 20110046848A1
• Filed: 07/26/2008
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stender, Axel
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/082 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0521 Roll rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0194 transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9122 ARS - Anti-Roll System Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9124 Roll-over protection systems, e.g. for warning or control

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (8) and a method for improved automatic ride level control of utility vehicles on an inclined underlying surface. In particular, the invention relates to the use of a lateral acceleration sensor (15) for sensing the inclination of a utility vehicle in the stationary state or with a reduced speed in conjunction with a chassis (4) of adjustable height.

Claims

1. A device (8) for automatically adjusting the horizontal ride level of a utility vehicle (1) which has a vehicle body (2), in particular with an element (3) which can pivot about a longitudinal axis or a transverse axis, with a ride-level-control system (8′

) which has spring elements (6) of adjustable length and a control unit (9),

characterized in that the device (8) has sensor means (15) for sensing an angle between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal, and in that the sensor means (15) can be connected to the control unit (9) in order to trigger the ride-level-control process as a function of the sensed angle.

2. The device (8) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the sensor means (15) are embodied as a transverse acceleration sensor.

3. The device (8) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the sensor means (15) are designed to output a signal which is assigned to the angle, sensed by the sensor means (15), between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal, and are connected to the control unit (9) via data transmission means (13).

4. The device (8) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the control unit (9) is designed to bring about length adjustment of the spring elements (6) as a function of the received signal of the sensor means (15).

5. The device (8) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the spring elements (6) are embodied by means of air spring bellows.

6. The device (8) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the spring elements (6) have an infinitely variable adjustment range between a minimum length and a maximum length.

7. The device (8) according to claim 6,

characterized in that the sensor means (15) also cooperate with an electronic brake system (EBS) and/or a stability system (RSS) while the utility vehicle (1) is travelling.

8. The device (8) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the control unit (9) is designed to output a warning signal if a state is present in which, despite the length adjustment of the spring elements (6) being used up, the sensor means (15) transmit a signal which is to be assigned to an angle, which exceeds a limiting value, between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal.

9. The device (8) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the ride-level-control system (8′

) is embodied as an ECAS 2-point controller.

10. The device (8) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the pivoting element (3) is embodied, in particular, by means of a side-type or rear-type dumper trough.

18. A utility vehicle (1) having a vehicle body (2) which has, in particular, an element (3) which can pivot about a longitudinal axis or a transverse axis, and a device (8) for automatically adjusting the horizontal ride level,

characterized in that the device (8) is embodied, in particular, according to one of claims 1 to 10.

19. The utility vehicle (1) according to claim 18,

characterized in that the utility vehicle (1) is embodied as a side-type or rear-type dumper truck, an agricultural machine or a military vehicle.

11. A method for automatically adjusting the horizontal ride level of a utility vehicle (1) which has a vehicle body (2), in particular with an element (3) which can pivot about a longitudinal axis or a transverse axis, and has a ride-level-control system (8′

) comprising spring elements (6) of adjustable length and a control unit (9), characterized by the steps;

sensing of an angle between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal by sensor means (15), and

triggering of the ride-level-control process by the control unit (9) as a function of the sensed angle.

12. The method according to claim 11,

characterized in that, after the angle between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal has been sensed, the sensor means (15) output a signal which is assigned to the sensed angle, and transfer the signal to the control unit (9) by means of data transmission.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12,

characterized in that the control unit (9) brings about length adjustment of the spring elements (6) as a function of the received signal of the sensor means (15).

14. The method according to one of claims 11 to 13,

characterized in that the control unit (9) outputs a warning signal if, despite the fact that the entire adjustment travel of the spring elements (6) is used up, the sensor means (15) transmit a signal which is to be assigned to an angle, which exceeds a limiting value, between the vehicle body (2) and the horizontal.

15. The method according to one of claims 11 to 14,

characterized in that, before a pivoting process, in particular a side-type or rear-type dumping process, starts, the control unit (9) brings about maximum shortening of the spring elements (6) in order to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle body (2).

16. The method according to one of claims 11 to 15,

characterized in that the ride-level-control operation takes place while the utility vehicle (1) is travelling at less than a limiting speed.

17. The method according to one of claims 11 to 16,

characterized in that, as soon as a limiting speed is exceeded, the control unit (9) brings about adjustment of the spring elements (6) to a normal length which is suitable for the travel mode of the utility vehicle (1).