Height control system in automotive suspension system performing attitude change suppressive control and height regulating control with high response characteristics in height adjustment

• US 4,903,209 A
• Filed: 10/17/1988
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kaneko, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/258,731
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 280/707, 280/840, 280/703, 280/DIG. 1, 280/772
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/017 characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/04 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/35 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/50 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/62 Seat occupation; Passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/12 Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/14 Photo or light sensitive means, e.g. Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/15 Doppler effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/22 Magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/01 : Load responsive, leveling of vehicle

Abstract

An automotive suspension system can provide higher response characteristics in height adjustment. The height control system detects occurrence of vehicular load change, such as boarding and unboarding of passenger or passengers. The system also detects variation of vehicular height output of a predetermined range. When the vehicular height variation to be output of the predetermined range is detected at the occurrence of the load change, the system becomes active to temporarily adjust the vehicular height according to a preset schedule and maintains the vehicular height at adjusted position for a given period of time.

Claims

1. An automotive height control system comprising:

a suspension mechanism interposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member which rotatably supports a vehicular wheel and including a pressure chamber variable of a pressure of pressure medium therewithin for adjusting relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member;

a pressure source circuit connected to said pressure chamber of said suspension mechanism for increasing pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber in a first mode for increasing relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member, for decreasing the pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber in a second mode for decreasing relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member and for maintaining the pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber constant in a third mode, said pressure source circuit normally operating in a third mode;

a first sensor means for monitoring vehicle body height level to produce a first sensor signal indicative of said vehicle body height level;

a second sensor means for monitoring vehicle body attitude change to produce a second sensor signal indicative of magnitude of vehicle body attitude change;

a third detector means for detecting load change state to produce a third detector signal when load change state is detected;

a controlling means, active in a normal state mode in absence of said third detector signal, for controlling operation of said pressure source circuit on the basis of said first and second sensor signal values for adjusting the pressure in said pressure chamber for maintaining the vehicle body height level within a predetermined first height range and disabling the height adjustment when substantial attitude change is detected based on said second sensor signal, said controlling means being responsive to said third detector signal to operate in a load change transition mode, for controlling said pressure source means based on said first sensor signal value for adjusting pressure in said pressure chamber so as to adjust vehicle body height level within a predetermined second height range irrespective of vehicular attitude change represented by said second sensor signal.

2. An automotive height control system as set froth in claim 1, wherein said third detector means comprises a door switch which turns ON in response to opening of door.

3. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controlling means is active in the load change transition mode for a predetermined period as triggered by said third detector signal.

4. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controlling means derives the predetermined period on the basis of a difference between the first sensor signal value and a criterion defining the predetermined second height range.

5. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first sensor means is designed to monitor relative distance between said vehicular body and said suspension member for producing said first sensor signal indicative of the relative distance as the vehicle height level indicative data.

6. An automotive height control system comprising:

a suspension mechanism interposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member which rotatably supports a vehicular wheel and including a pressure chamber variable of a pressure of pressure medium therewithin for adjusting relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member;

a pressure source circuit connected to said pressure chamber of said suspension mechanism for increasing pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber in a first mode for increasing relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member, for decreasing the pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber in a second mode for decreasing relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member and for maintaining the pressure of said pressure medium within said pressure chamber constant in a third mode, said pressure source circuit normally operating in said third mode;

a first sensor means for monitoring relative distance between said vehicle body and said suspension member to produce a first sensor signal indicative of the monitored relative distance;

a second sensor means for monitoring vehicle body attitude change to produce a second sensor signal indicative of magnitude of vehicle body attitude change;

a third detector means for detecting the vehicle condition possibly causing change of load loaded on the vehicle, which load influences to vehicular height level, to produce a third detector signal when vehicle condition possibly causing load change is detected;

a controlling means, active in a normal state mode in absence of said third detector signal, for controlling operation of said pressure source circuit on the basis of said first and second sensor signal values for adjusting the pressure in said pressure chamber for maintaining the vehicle body height level within a predetermined first height range and disabling said height adjustment when substantial attitude change is detected based on said second sensor signal, said controlling means being responsive to said third detector signal to operate in a load change transition mode, for controlling said pressure source means based on said first sensor signal value for adjusting pressure in said pressure chamber so as to adjust vehicle body height level within a predetermined second height range irrespective of vehicular attitude change represented by said second sensor signal.

7. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said third detector means comprises a door switch which turns ON in response to opening of door.

8. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said controlling means is active in said load change transition mode for a predetermined period as triggered by said third detector signal.

9. An automotive height control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said controlling means derives said predetermined period on the basis of a difference between said first sensor signal value and a criterion defining said predetermined second height range.