SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110227425A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: SOHN, Chun Shig
• Granted Patent: US 8,513,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0157 non-fluid unit, e.g. electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/03 using magnetic or electromagnetic means F16F9/53, F16F15/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus, a system, and a method for suspension of a vehicle. An electromagnetic generator generates an electrical energy in response to a relative movement between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly. A storage device stores the electrical energy generated from the electromagnetic generator.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic generator configured to generate an electrical energy in response to a relative movement between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly of a vehicle; and

a storage device, coupled to the electromagnetic generator, configured to store the electrical energy generated from the electromagnetic generator, and configured to be instantaneously charged and discharged.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises one or more ultracapacitors, or one or more electric double layer capacitors (ELDCs).

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a DC-to-DC converter coupled between the electromagnetic generator and the storage device to convert an output voltage of the electromagnetic generator to an allowable range of an input voltage for the storage device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the allowable range of the input voltage for the storage device is between about 300V to 400V.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a controller configured to control the electromagnetic generator to operate in response to the detected relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic generator comprises a permanent magnet enclosed with a coil and an exciter to apply an exciting voltage between both ends of the coil.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the permanent magnet is interlocked with the vehicle body and the coil is interlocked with the wheel assembly.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the permanent magnet comprises a rare earth alloy magnet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic generator converts the relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly to the electrical energy.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an electromagnetic generator configured to generate an electrical energy in response to a relative movement between a first mechanical part and a second mechanical part such that the relative movement is attenuated by the generation of the electrical energy; and

one or more ultracapacitors, coupled to the electromagnetic generator in parallel, configured to store the electrical energy generated from the electromagnetic generator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the relative movement between the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to control the electromagnetic generator to operate in response to the detected relative movement.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic generator comprises a permanent magnet enclosed with a coil and an exciter to apply an exciting voltage between both ends of the coil, and wherein the permanent magnet is interlocked with the first mechanical part and the coil is interlocked with the second mechanical part.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a shock absorber or a buffer.

16. A method for suspension, comprising:

converting a relative movement between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly of a vehicle to an electrical energy; and

instantaneously storing the electrical energy, whereby the relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly of the vehicle is attenuated.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein converting the relative movement to the electrical energy comprises using an electromagnetic interaction between a magnet and a coil which are included in the vehicle such that the magnet is interlocked with the vehicle body and the coil is interlocked with the wheel assembly, in response to the relative movement;

and converting the electromagnetic interaction to the electrical energy.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting the relative movement between the vehicle body and the wheel assembly by sensing an amount of displacement of the vehicle body and/or an amount of displacement of the wheel assembly, and producing a detection value representing the detected relative movement of the vehicle body with respect to the wheel assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling the conversion of the relative movement to be initiated in response to the detection value.