VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL

• US 20170087950A1
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Brady, Louis J., Scheuerell, Alex R., Franker, Steven R., Nysse, Aaron J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,005,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/06 Characteristics of dampers , e.g. mechanical dampersB60G17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/322 Snowmobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/33 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/39 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/40 Steering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 : Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 : Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 : Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 : Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 : Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 : Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/916 : Body Vibration Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 : Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)

Abstract

A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors are also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based vehicle conditions determined by sensor output signals.

Claims

1. A damping control method for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame, a controller, a plurality of vehicle condition sensors, and a user interface, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber, the damping control method comprising:

receiving with the controller a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

receiving with the controller a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including a z-axis acceleration sensor;

determining with the controller when the vehicle is in an airborne event, the airborne event being determined when the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor indicates z-acceleration of less than a first threshold that is sustained for a time greater than a second threshold to identify the airborne event;

operating the damping control according to an airborne condition when the airborne event is determined, wherein in the airborne condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and z-axis acceleration; and

operating the damping control according to the airborne condition, wherein in the airborne condition the controller increases compression damping as a function of detected duration of the airborne event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the airborne condition the controller increases compression damping on the front right shock absorber, front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller maintains the damping increase of the airborne condition for a predetermined duration after conclusion of the airborne event giving rise to the airborne condition.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting positive vertical acceleration via the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor;

determining with the controller when the vehicle is in a landing condition, the landing condition being determined when the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor indicates z-acceleration of greater than a third threshold that is sustained for a time greater than a fourth threshold;

operating the damping control according to the landing condition when a landing condition is determined, wherein in the landing condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and z-axis acceleration; and

operating the damping control according to the landing condition, wherein in the landing condition the controller increases rebound damping.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fourth threshold is a dynamic threshold that is inversely correlated to the magnitude of the determined positive z-axis acceleration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the z-axis acceleration sensor is coupled to the vehicle frame.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining with the controller when the vehicle is not in the airborne event; and

determining when the vehicle experiences at least one of;

     1) an absolute value of a steering position is greater than a fifth threshold; and

     2) an absolute value of a steering rate is greater than a sixth threshold.

8. The method of claim 7, further including operating in a brake condition upon:

determining that the vehicle is not experiencing at least one of;

     1) an absolute value of a steering position is greater than a fifth threshold; and

     2) an absolute value of a steering rate is greater than a sixth threshold; and

determining when the brakes are activated and x-axis acceleration is greater than a seventh threshold.

9. A vehicle having:

a frame;

a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and the frame, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber

a plurality of vehicle condition sensors,

user interface,

a controller operable to control operation of the suspension, the controller including instructions thereon that when interpreted by the controller cause the controller to;

receive a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

receive a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including a z-axis acceleration sensor;

determine when the vehicle is in an airborne event, the airborne event being determined when the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor indicates z-acceleration of less than a first threshold that is sustained for a time greater than a second threshold;

operate the suspension according to an airborne condition when the airborne event is determined, wherein in the airborne condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and z-axis acceleration; and

operate the damping control according to the airborne condition, wherein in the airborne condition the controller increases compression damping as a function of detected duration of the airborne event.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein in the airborne condition the controller increases compression damping on the front right shock absorber, front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the controller to maintain the damping increase of the airborne condition for a predetermined duration after conclusion of the airborne event giving rise to the airborne condition.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

detect positive vertical acceleration via the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor;

determine when the vehicle is in a landing condition, the landing condition being determined when the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor indicates z-acceleration of greater than a third threshold that is sustained for a time greater than a fourth threshold;

operate the damping control according to the landing condition when a landing condition is determined, wherein in the landing condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and z-axis acceleration; and

operate the damping control according to the landing condition, wherein in the landing condition the controller increases rebound damping.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the fourth threshold is a dynamic threshold that is inversely correlated to the magnitude of the determined positive z-axis acceleration.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the z-axis acceleration sensor is coupled to the vehicle frame.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

determine with the controller when the vehicle is not in the airborne event; and

determine when the vehicle experiences at least one of;

     1) an absolute value of a steering position is greater than a fifth threshold; and

     2) an absolute value of a steering rate is greater than a sixth threshold.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the controller to operate in a brake condition upon:

determining that the vehicle is not experiencing at least one of;

     1) an absolute value of a steering position is greater than a fifth threshold; and

     2) an absolute value of a steering rate is greater than a sixth threshold; and

determining when the brakes are activated and x-axis acceleration is greater than a seventh threshold.

17. A vehicle having:

a frame;

a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and the frame, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber

plurality of vehicle condition sensors,

a user interface,

a controller operable to control operation of the suspension, the controller including instructions thereon that when interpreted by the controller cause the controller to;

receive a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

receive a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including a z-axis acceleration sensor;

detect positive vertical acceleration via the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor;

determine when the vehicle is in a landing condition, the landing condition being determined when the input from the z-axis acceleration sensor indicates z-acceleration of greater than a first threshold that is sustained for a time greater than a second threshold;

operate the damping control according to the landing condition when a landing condition is determined, wherein in the landing condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and z-axis acceleration; and

operate the damping control according to the landing condition, wherein in the landing condition the controller increases rebound damping.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the second threshold is a dynamic threshold that is inversely correlated to the magnitude of the determined positive z-axis acceleration.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein in the landing condition the controller increases rebound damping on the front right shock absorber, front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the z-axis acceleration sensor is mounted on the vehicle frame.