Control system for three way variable shock absorber device for suspension with highest shock absorber effectiveness not selected in manual mode
First Claim
1. For a variable damping effectiveness type shock absorber, comprising an actuator, for a suspension of a vehicle, said shock absorber by selective actuation of said actuator to respectively a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition, wherein said first conditionprovides a minimum amount of damping effect, said second condition provides a medium amount of damping effect, and said third condition provides a maximum amount of damping effect:
- a suspension control system, comprising;
a means for detecting one or more parameters relating to the operational condition of the vehicle and for outputting information signals representative thereof;
a manually controlled selecting means for permitting an operator to manually select between a first manual operational mode, a second manual operational mode, a first auto operational mode and a second auto operational mode; and
a control means for;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said first manual operational mode, actuating said actuator to its said first condition;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said second manual operational mode, actuating said actuator to its said second condition;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said first auto operational mode, actuating said actuator to one of a set of its said conditions including its said first condition and its said third condition, according to said information signals representing the operational condition of the vehicle outputted by said detecting means; and
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said second auto operational mode, actuating said actuator to either its said second condition or its said third condition, according to said information signals representing the operational condition of the vehicle outputted by said detecting means.
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Abstract
A vehicle suspension includes a variable damping effectiveness type shock absorber, which has an actuator and according to selective actuation thereof can be set to first, second, or third conditions which respectively cause the shock absorber to provide minimum, medium, or maximum damping effect. A control system for this suspension includes: a means for detecting one or more parameters relating to the operational condition of the vehicle and for outputting information signals representative thereof; a means for being manually controlled by an operator and for selecting between first manual, second manual, and auto operational modes; and a control means for: when the manual selecting means is selecting the first manual mode, actuating the actuator to its first condition; when the manual selecting means is selecting the second manual mode, actuating the actuator to its second condition; and, when the manual selecting means is selecting the auto operational mode, actuating the actuator to one of a set of its conditions including its first condition and its third condition according to the information signals outputted by the detecting means. The vehicle operational parameters may include steering angle and vehicle speed which can cause body roll, jerk and sharp acceleration which can cause vehicle squat, braking which can cause vehicle nose diving, and vehicle shift-offable state which can cause starting squat and tail lift; and this selective increase of shock absorber damping effect when these parameters take on troublesome values prevents these problems.
43 Citations
10 Claims
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1. For a variable damping effectiveness type shock absorber, comprising an actuator, for a suspension of a vehicle, said shock absorber by selective actuation of said actuator to respectively a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition, wherein said first condition
provides a minimum amount of damping effect, said second condition provides a medium amount of damping effect, and said third condition provides a maximum amount of damping effect: - a suspension control system, comprising;
a means for detecting one or more parameters relating to the operational condition of the vehicle and for outputting information signals representative thereof; a manually controlled selecting means for permitting an operator to manually select between a first manual operational mode, a second manual operational mode, a first auto operational mode and a second auto operational mode; and a control means for;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said first manual operational mode, actuating said actuator to its said first condition;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said second manual operational mode, actuating said actuator to its said second condition;
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said first auto operational mode, actuating said actuator to one of a set of its said conditions including its said first condition and its said third condition, according to said information signals representing the operational condition of the vehicle outputted by said detecting means; and
when said manually controlled selecting means is selecting said second auto operational mode, actuating said actuator to either its said second condition or its said third condition, according to said information signals representing the operational condition of the vehicle outputted by said detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a suspension control system, comprising;
Specification