Vehicle height control system
First Claim
1. A height control device for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a body, at least two axles with a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably disposed near to opposite ends of each of said axles, the device comprising:
- suspension means operated by fluid pressure for generating vertical movement between said body and each of said wheels comprising a suspension device provided near each said wheel;
a fluid pressure source;
a suspension valve corresponding to each said suspension device and disposed between each said suspension device and said fluid pressure source;
an exhaust valve in pneumatic communication with each said suspension valve means and said fluid pressure source;
a height sensor for detecting a height between a rotating center of each said wheel and said body and outputting a signal representative thereof;
a speed sensor for detecting and generating an output signal representative of the speed of said vehicle; and
control means having at least a first and a second possible vehicle operating condition for controlling at least one of said suspension valve means to operate the corresponding suspension device and controlling said exhaust valve means to vary the fluid pressure presented to said suspension devices;
said first possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two height sensors is greater than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed greater than a second predetermined value;
said second possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two height sensors is greater than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed less than a second predetermined amount;
said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said first possible vehicle operating condition, permitting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to obtain a new vehicle height position; and
said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said second possible vehicle operating condition, inhibiting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to retain a current vehicle height position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to the present vehicle height control system, vehicle height adjustment does not begin unless the difference found between outputs of any two of sensors is within a predetermined range, each of which detects a height between a rotating center of a corresponding wheel and a body of the vehicle. Thus, upon the occasion of any one of the following events, the vehicle height adjustment may not be performed unnecessarily: (1) a vehicle is parking with its engine operating in such a manner that any one of its wheels is run onto the sidewalk which is considerably higher than a road surface, (2) a body of a vehicle is jacked-up at a position near any one of the wheels in a service shop, or (3) any one of the wheels has fallen into a gutter or pothole along a road and the engine is operating.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A height control device for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a body, at least two axles with a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably disposed near to opposite ends of each of said axles, the device comprising:
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suspension means operated by fluid pressure for generating vertical movement between said body and each of said wheels comprising a suspension device provided near each said wheel; a fluid pressure source; a suspension valve corresponding to each said suspension device and disposed between each said suspension device and said fluid pressure source; an exhaust valve in pneumatic communication with each said suspension valve means and said fluid pressure source; a height sensor for detecting a height between a rotating center of each said wheel and said body and outputting a signal representative thereof; a speed sensor for detecting and generating an output signal representative of the speed of said vehicle; and control means having at least a first and a second possible vehicle operating condition for controlling at least one of said suspension valve means to operate the corresponding suspension device and controlling said exhaust valve means to vary the fluid pressure presented to said suspension devices; said first possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two height sensors is greater than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed greater than a second predetermined value; said second possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two height sensors is greater than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed less than a second predetermined amount; said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said first possible vehicle operating condition, permitting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to obtain a new vehicle height position; and said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said second possible vehicle operating condition, inhibiting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to retain a current vehicle height position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A height control device for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a body, at least two axles with a first and a second wheel rotatably disposed near to opposite ends of each said axles, the device comprising:
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suspension means operated by fluid pressure for generating vertical movement between said body and each of said wheels comprising a suspension device provided near each said wheel; a fluid pressure source; a suspension valve disposed between each said suspension device and said fluid pressure source; an exhaust valve in pneumatic communication with each said suspension valve means and said fluid pressure source; a height sensor for detecting a height between a rotating center of each said wheel and said body and outputting a signal representative thereof; a speed sensor for detecting and generating an output signal representative of the speed of said vehicle; and control means having at least a first and a second possible vehicle operating condition for controlling at least one of said suspension valve means to operate the corresponding suspension device and controlling said exhaust valve means to vary the fluid pressure presented to said suspension devices; said first possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between a first summation of said height sensor outputs and a second summation of said height sensor outputs is less than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed greater than a second predetermined amount; said second possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said first summation of said height outputs and said second summation of said height outputs is less than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed less than a second predetermined amount; said first summation of outputs comprising an output of a first said height sensor of a first axle and an output of a second said height sensor of a second axle, said second height sensor being disposed on the opposite side of said vehicle from the first said height sensor; said second summation of outputs comprising an output of a third said height sensor disposed oppositely from the first said height sensor of the first said axle and an output of a said fourth said height sensor being disposed oppositely from the second said height sensor of the second said axle; said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said first possible vehicle operating condition, permitting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to obtain a new vehicle height position; and said control means, responsive to said height sensor output signals in said second possible vehicle operating condition, inhibiting control of said vertical movement between said body and said wheels to retain a current vehicle height position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a height control system for a vehicle,
the vehicle comprising a body, at least two axles with a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably disposed near to opposite ends of each of said axle; -
a suspension means operated by fluid pressure for generating vertical movement between said body and each of said wheels comprising a suspension device provided near each said wheel; a fluid pressure source; a suspension valve disposed between each said suspension device and said fluid pressure source; an exhaust valve in pneumatic communication with each said suspension valve means and said fluid pressure source; a height sensor for detecting a height between a rotating center of said wheel and said body and outputting a signal representative thereof; a speed sensor for detecting and generating an output signal representative of the speed of said vehicle; a control means having at least a first and a second possible vehicle operating conditions for controlling at least one of said suspension valve means to operate the corresponding suspension device and controlling said exhaust valve means to vary the fluid pressure presented to said suspension devices; a process for performing vehicle height control comprising the steps of; monitoring the variation of said signal representing vehicle speed; monitoring the variation of said signals representing vehicle height; determining whether a first possible vehicle operating condition or a second possible vehicle operating condition exists based on variation of said signal representing vehicle speed and said signals representing vehicle height; responding to said signals representing vehicle height if said first possible vehicle operating condition exists or ignoring said signals representing vehicle height if said second possible vehicle operating conditions exists; said first possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two said height sensors is greater than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed greater than a second predetermined amount; and said second possible vehicle operating condition being whenever the difference between said output signals of any two said height sensors is less than a first predetermined amount and the output signal from said speed sensor indicates a vehicle speed less than a second predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification