INDICATOR OF ESTIMATED SPRING LIFE AS WELL AS GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY, SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An indicator of an estimated remaining life of an associated spring device, said indicator comprising:
- at least one processor programmed to;
receive signals having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition of an associated spring device from a first timing event to a second timing event;
derive data from said received signals; and
,determine an estimated remaining life of the associated spring device using said data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of the associated spring device and said at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicator of an estimated remaining life of an associated spring device can include at least one sensor and at least one processor. The at least one sensor can be operative to generate a signal having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition of a spring device. The at least one processor can be communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor and programmed to receive signals from the at least one sensor, derive data from the received signals, and determine an estimated remaining life of at least the spring device using the data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of the spring device and at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. A gas spring and indicator assembly, a suspension system and a method are also included.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An indicator of an estimated remaining life of an associated spring device, said indicator comprising:
at least one processor programmed to; receive signals having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition of an associated spring device from a first timing event to a second timing event; derive data from said received signals; and
,determine an estimated remaining life of the associated spring device using said data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of the associated spring device and said at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gas spring and indicator assembly comprising:
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a gas spring including opposing end members and a flexible wall secured therebetween that at least partially defines a spring chamber; and
,an indicator supported on one of said opposing end members, said indicator including at least one sensor operative to generate a signal having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition of said gas spring and at least one processor communicatively coupled with said at least one sensor and programmed to; receive signals from said at least one sensor; derive data from said received signals; and
,determine an estimated remaining life of at least said gas spring using said data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of said gas spring and said at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A suspension system of an associated vehicle having an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass, said suspension system comprising:
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a gas spring operatively disposed between the associated sprung mass and the associated unsprung mass; and
,an indicator including at least one sensor operative to generate a signal having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition and at least one processor communicatively coupled with said at least one sensor and programmed to; receive signals from said at least one sensor; derive data from said received signals; and
,determine an estimated remaining life of at least said gas spring using said data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of said gas spring and said at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining an estimated remaining life of a spring device, said method comprising:
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receiving by at least one processor signals having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition from a first timing event to a second timing event; deriving data from said signals using said at least one processor; and
,determining using said at least one processor an estimated remaining life of the spring device using said data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of the spring device and at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification