Vehicle suspension system
First Claim
1. A vehicle suspension system comprising a set of front wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the front wheels of a vehicle, a set of rear wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the rear wheels of the vehicle, at least one of said set of front wheel suspension assemblies and said set of rear wheel suspension assemblies having a variable suspension characteristic, an adjusting means for changing the suspension characteristic of the at least one of said sets of wheel suspension assemblies, a steering angle sensor operable to detect the angle of steering for generating a steering signal upon detection of a steering angle exceeding a predetermined level, and a controller adapted to send out, upon receipt of the steering signal from said steering angle sensor, a control signal to said adjusting means so as to change the suspension characteristic of the at least one of said sets of wheel suspension assemblies in a manner such that the steering characteristic of the vehicle during steering operation is changed in a direction toward an oversteer characteristic as compared with the steering characteristic during non-steering operation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved vehicle suspension system capable of providing at all times a desirable maneuvering characteristic variable in response to changes in the angle of steering. The suspension system includes front wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the front wheels of the vehicle and rear wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the rear wheels of the vehicle. The front wheel suspension assemblies and/or the rear wheel suspension assemblies have a variable suspension characteristic which is controlled to vary in response to a steering angle exceeding a predetermined level in a manner such that the steering characteristic of the vehicle during steering operation is changed in a direction toward an oversteer characteristic as compared with the steering characteristic during non-steering operation. Specifically, the suspension characteristic of the front wheel suspension assemblies and/or the rear wheel suspension assemblies is changed to make the ratio of the suspension rate of each front wheel suspension assembly to that of each rear wheel suspension assembly smaller during steering operation than during non-steering operation. Also, the steering characteristic of the vehicle may be further controlled such that the understeer characteristic of the vehicle is stronger at high speed than at low speed.
-
Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A vehicle suspension system comprising a set of front wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the front wheels of a vehicle, a set of rear wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the rear wheels of the vehicle, at least one of said set of front wheel suspension assemblies and said set of rear wheel suspension assemblies having a variable suspension characteristic, an adjusting means for changing the suspension characteristic of the at least one of said sets of wheel suspension assemblies, a steering angle sensor operable to detect the angle of steering for generating a steering signal upon detection of a steering angle exceeding a predetermined level, and a controller adapted to send out, upon receipt of the steering signal from said steering angle sensor, a control signal to said adjusting means so as to change the suspension characteristic of the at least one of said sets of wheel suspension assemblies in a manner such that the steering characteristic of the vehicle during steering operation is changed in a direction toward an oversteer characteristic as compared with the steering characteristic during non-steering operation.
Specification