SUSPENSION SYSTEM

• US 20110301804A1
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Horstman Defence Systems Limited (Wintergreen Management Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Horstman Defence Systems Limited (Wintergreen Management Ltd.)
• Inventors: Holman, Tim, D'Aubyn, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/114,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/145 the arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/24 Detecting or preventing malfunction, e.g. fail safe
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/065 Expansion chamber provided on the upper or lower end of a damper, separately there from or laterally on the damper
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3292 Sensor arrangements

Abstract

A suspension system comprises a suspension unit having a chamber arranged to contain a fluid; a piston slidably disposed within the chamber so as to act on the fluid; and a sensor arranged to measure load data relating to the load through the suspension unit. The suspension system also comprises a diagnostics processor which is arranged to receive the load data measured by the sensor of the suspension unit, and diagnose the suspension unit as abnormal if the load data received is determined to be abnormal. There is further provided a display arranged to display if the suspension unit is diagnosed as abnormal.

Claims

1. A suspension system comprising:

a suspension unit comprising;

a chamber arranged to contain a fluid;

a piston slidably disposed within the chamber so as to act on the fluid; and

a sensor arranged to measure load data relating to the load through the suspension unit;

a diagnostics processor which is arranged to receive the load data measured by the sensor of the suspension unit, and diagnose the suspension unit as abnormal if the load data received is determined to be abnormal; and

a display arranged to display if the suspension unit is diagnosed as abnormal.

2. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostics processor is arranged to diagnose the suspension unit as abnormal if the load data deviates from reference data by more than a pre-determined tolerance.

3. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of suspension units, each comprising:

a chamber arranged to contain a fluid;

a piston slidably disposed within the chamber so as to act on the fluid; and

a sensor arranged to measure load data relating to the load through the suspension unit;

wherein the diagnostics processor is arranged to receive the load data measured by the sensor of each of the suspension units, and diagnose one or more of the plurality of suspension units as abnormal if the load data received for that or those particular suspension unit(s) is determined to be abnormal; and

a display arranged to display if any of the suspension units are diagnosed as abnormal.

4. A suspension system according to claim 6, wherein the diagnostics processor is arranged to diagnose a particular suspension unit as abnormal if the load data for that suspension unit deviates from reference data by more than a pre-determined tolerance.

5. A suspension system according to claim 2, wherein the reference data is pre-stored data.

6. A suspension system according to claim 5, wherein the pre-stored data is calibration data.

7. A suspension unit according to claim 4, wherein the reference data relates to the load data of other suspension units.

8. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the suspension unit comprises a rod for driving the piston, wherein the sensor is arranged to measure data relating to the load acting on the rod.

9. A suspension system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge bonded to the rod for measuring a strain of the rod.

10. A suspension system according to claim 9 wherein the strain gauge is a multi-axis strain gauge.

11. A suspension system according to claim 9, wherein the strain gauge measures the lengthwise strain of the rod.

12. A suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged to measure data relating to a load reacted by the fluid.

13. A vehicle comprising a suspension system in accordance with claim 1.

14. A method of determining whether a suspension unit is abnormal, comprising the steps:

measuring load data relating to a load through the suspension unit;

receiving the load data relating to the suspension unit,

diagnosing the suspension unit as abnormal if the load data received is determined to be abnormal; and

displaying if the suspension unit is diagnosed as abnormal.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the suspension unit is diagnosed as abnormal if the load data deviates from reference data by more than a pre-determined tolerance.

16. A method according to claim 14, comprising:

for a plurality of suspension units, measuring load data relating to a load through the suspension unit;

receiving the load data relating to each of the suspension units;

diagnosing one or more of the plurality of suspension units as abnormal if the load data received for that or those particular suspension unit(s) is determined to be abnormal; and

displaying if any of the suspension units are diagnosed as abnormal.

17. A method according to claim 14, a particular suspension unit is diagnosed as abnormal if the load data for that suspension unit deviates from reference data by more than a pre-determined tolerance.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the reference data is pre-stored data,

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the reference data is calibration data.

20. A suspension unit according to claim 17, wherein the reference data relates to the load data relating to other suspension units.

21. (canceled)