Attitude change suppressive vehicular height regulation system

• US 5,053,965 A
• Filed: 08/25/1989
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujimura, Itaru, Fukushima, Naoto, Sato, Masaharu, Fukunaga, Yukio, Akatsu, Yohsuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Application Number:
  US07/398,556
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.05, 364/424.01, 280/707, 180/79.1
• US Class Current: 701/37
• 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 2202/41 Fluid actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/80 Interactive suspensions; arrangement affecting more than one suspension unit
• 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 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/12 Sampling or average detecting; Addition or substraction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/14 Differentiating means, i.e. differential control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/16 Integrating means, i.e. integral control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive

Abstract

A vehicular height regulation system performs attitude change suppressive suspension control for equalized magnitude at respective of front and rear wheels. For performing equalized magnitude not only for the front suspension systems, the vehicular height control system includes a pair of actuator means associated with respective of rear-left and rear-right wheels, which actuator means are operable independently of each of other.

Claims

1. A vehicular height regulation system comprising:

a first fluid actuator provided in a first suspension system disposed between a first side of a vehicular body and a first road wheel, said first actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel;

a second fluid actuator provided in a second suspension system disposed between a second side of the vehicular body opposite to said first side and a second road wheel, said second fluid actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said second side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel;

a fluid pressure source circuit connected to said first and second actuators, said fluid pressure source circuit incorporating a first valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said first fluid actuator and a second valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said second fluid actuator;

a sensor means for monitoring a preselected parameter affected by vehicular attitude and variable depending upon magnitude and direction of vehicular body attitude change for producing an attitude change representative signal;

means for processing said attitude change representative signal for deriving vehicular body attitude change representative data;

a target attitude change magnitude setting means for setting a target attitude change magnitude and generating reference data representative of said target attitude change magnitude;

means for comparing said vehicular attitude change representative data and said reference data for deriving difference data representative of a difference therebetween; and

a controlling means, responsive to said difference data, for deriving first and second control signals which have opposite polarity to each other, for controlling said first and second valve means for reducing the difference between said vehicular attitude change representative data and said reference data to zero.

2. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said controlling means has first and second coefficient circuits respectively providing first and second coefficients determining response characteristics of fluid pressure control for said first and second fluid actuators, and said controlling means derives said first and second control signals on the basis of said difference data and said first and second coefficients.

3. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said controlling means further comprises a function circuit providing a transfer function including at least an integral element, said function circuit processing said difference data with said transfer function for generating a processed difference data, and said first and second coefficient circuits derive said first and second control signals on the basis of said processed difference data and said first and second coefficients.

4. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises a first stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel for producing a first stroke indicative signal as a first attitude change representative signal and a second stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel for producing a second stroke indicative signal as a second attitude change representative signal, and said attitude change representative signal processing means derives said attitude change representative data on the basis of said first and second strike indicative signals.

5. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said target attitude change magnitude setting means sets a first target stroke between said first side of said vehicular body and said first road wheel and a second target stroke between said second side of said vehicular body and said second road wheel, and said target attitude change magnitude setting means derives said target attitude change magnitude on the basis of said first and second target strokes.

6. An anti-rolling control system for a vehicular height regulation system comprising:

a first fluid actuator provided in a first suspension system disposed between a first side of a vehicular body and a first road wheel, said first actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel;

a second fluid actuator provided in a second suspension system disposed between a second side of the vehicular body transversely oriented opposite to said first side and a second road wheel, said second fluid actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said second side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel;

a fluid pressure source circuit connected to said first and second actuators, said fluid pressure source circuit incorporating a first valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said first fluid actuator and a second valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said second fluid actuator;

a sensor means for monitoring a preselected parameter affected by vehicular attitude and variable depending upon magnitude and direction of vehicular body rolling for producing a rolling representative signal;

means for processing said rolling representative signal for deriving vehicular rolling representative data;

a target rolling magnitude setting means for setting a target rolling magnitude and generating reference data representative of said target rolling magnitude;

means for comparing said vehicular rolling representative data and said reference data for deriving difference data representative of a difference therebetween; and

a controlling means, responsive to said difference data, for deriving first and second control signals which have opposite polarity to each other, for controlling said first and second valve means for reducing the difference between said vehicular rolling representative data and said reference data to zero.

7. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said controlling means has first and second coefficient circuits respectively providing first and second coefficients determining response characteristics of fluid pressure control for said first and second fluid actuators, and said controlling means derives said first and second control signals on the basis of said difference data and said first and second coefficients.

8. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said controlling means further comprises a function circuit providing a transfer function including at least an integral element, said function circuit processing said difference data with said transfer function for generating a processed difference data, and said first and second coefficient circuits derive said first and second control signals on the basis of said processed difference data and said first and second coefficients.

9. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said sensor means comprises a first stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel for producing a first stroke indicative signal as a first rolling representative signal and a second stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel for producing a second stroke indicative signal as a second rolling representative signal, and said rolling representative signal processing means derives said rolling representative data on the basis of said first and second strike indicative signals.

10. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said target rolling magnitude setting means sets a first target stroke between said first side of said vehicular body and said first road wheel and a second target stroke between said second side of said vehicular body and said second road wheel, and said target rolling magnitude setting means derives said target rolling magnitude on the basis of said first and second target strokes.

11. An anti-pitching control system for a vehicular height regulation system comprising:

a first fluid actuator provided in a first suspension system disposed between a first side of a vehicular body and a first road wheel, said first actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel;

a second fluid actuator provided in a second suspension system disposed between a second side of the vehicular body transversely oriented opposite to said first side and a second road wheel, said second fluid actuator being variable of fluid pressure for adjusting relative distance between said second side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel;

a fluid pressure source circuit connected to said first and second actuators, said fluid pressure source circuit incorporating a first valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said first fluid actuator and a second valve means for adjusting fluid pressure in said second fluid actuator;

a sensor means for monitoring a preselected parameter affected by vehicular attitude and variable depending upon magnitude and direction of vehicular body pitching for producing a pitching representative signal;

means for processing said pitching representative signal for deriving vehicular pitching representative data;

a target pitching magnitude setting means for setting a target pitching magnitude and generating reference data representative of said target pitching magnitude;

means for comparing said vehicular pitching representative data and said reference data for deriving difference data representative of a difference therebetween; and

a controlling means, responsive to said difference data, for deriving first and second control signals which have opposite polarity to each other, for controlling said first and second valve means for reducing the difference between said vehicular pitching representative data and said reference data to zero.

12. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said controlling means has first and second coefficient circuits respectively providing first and second coefficients determining response characteristics of fluid pressure control for said first and second fluid actuators, and said controlling means derives said first and second control signals on the basis of said difference data and said first and second coefficients.

13. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said controlling means further comprises a function circuit providing a transfer function including at least an integral element, said function circuit processing said difference data with said transfer function for generating a processed difference data, and said first and second coefficient circuits derive said first and second control signals on the basis of said processed difference data and said first and second coefficients.

14. A vehicular height regulation systems as set forth in claim 11, wherein said sensor means comprises a first stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said first road wheel for producing a first stroke indicative signal as a first pitching representative signal and a second stroke sensor monitoring relative distance between said first side of the vehicular body and said second road wheel for producing a second stroke indicative signal as a second pitching representative signal, and said pitching representative signal processing means derives said pitching representative data on the basis of said first and second strike indicative signals.

15. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said target pitching magnitude setting means sets a first target stroke between said first side of said vehicular body and said first road wheel and a second target stroke between said second side of said vehicular body and said second road wheel, and said target pitching magnitude setting means derives said target pitching magnitude on the basis of said first and second target strokes.

16. An attitude change suppressive vehicular height regulation system comprising:

a first actuator disposed in a first suspension system provided between a front portion of a vehicular body and a first road wheel, said first actuator being variable of fluid pressure so as to adjust a relative distance between said vehicular body and said first road wheel;

a second actuator disposed in a second suspension system provided between the front portion of the vehicular body and a second road wheel, said second actuator being variable of fluid pressure so as to adjust a relative distance between said vehicular body and said second road wheel;

a third actuator disposed in a third suspension system provided between a rear portion of a vehicular body at a transverse side to said first actuator and a third road wheel, said third actuator being variable of fluid pressure so as to adjust a relative distance between said vehicular body and said third road wheel;

a fourth actuator disposed in a fourth suspension system provided between the rear portion of the vehicular body at the same transverse side to said second actuator and a fourth road wheel, said fourth actuator being variable of fluid pressure so as to adjust a relative distance between said vehicular body and said fourth road wheel;

an anti-pitching control means monitoring a magnitude of vehicular pitching, comparing the monitored pitching magnitude with a target pitching magnitude for producing pitching control signals for adjusting fluid pressure in respective ones of said first, second, third and fourth actuators so as to reduce to zero a difference between the monitored pitching magnitude and said target pitching magnitude, wherein pitching control signals for adjusting fluid pressures of said first and second actuators have opposite polarity to that of pitching control signals for adjusting fluid pressure of said third and fourth actuators;

an anti-rolling control means monitoring a magnitude of vehicular rolling, comparing the monitored rolling magnitude with a target rolling magnitude for producing rolling control signals for adjusting fluid pressure in respective ones of said first, second, third and fourth actuators for reducing to zero a difference between the monitored rolling magnitude and said target rolling magnitude, wherein rolling control signals for adjusting fluid pressures of said first and third actuators have opposite polarity to that of rolling control signals for adjusting fluid pressure of said second and fourth actuators; and

a lifting control means monitoring a lifting magnitude at respective ones of said first, second, third and fourth suspension systems, comparing the monitored lifting magnitude at each of said first, second, third and fourth suspension systems with a target lifting magnitude and obtaining a difference therebetween, and deriving a lifting control signal on the basis of said difference so that said difference at each of said suspension systems is reduced to zero.

17. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises first, second, third and fourth stroke sensors respectively associated with said first, second, third and fourth suspension systems for monitoring a relative distance between the vehicular body and an associated one of said first, second, third and fourth road wheels, and wherein said stroke sensors provide attitude indicative data for enabling said anti-pitching control means, said anti-rolling control means and said lifting control means to derive said pitching, rolling and lifting magnitudes.

18. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises first and second stroke sensors respectively associated with said first and second suspension systems for monitoring a relative distance between the vehicular body and an associated one of said first and second road wheels, and a third stroke sensor for monitoring an average relative distance between the vehicular body and said third and fourth road wheels, said stroke sensors providing attitude indicative data for enabling said anti-pitching control means, said anti-rolling control means and said lifting control means to derive said pitching, rolling and lifting magnitudes.

19. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said lifting control means sets said target lifting magnitude for each of said suspension systems, and said anti-pitching and said anti-rolling control means derive said target pitching magnitude and said target rolling magnitude on the basis of said target lifting magnitudes.

20. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said anti-pitching, said anti-rolling and said lifting control means has a transfer function including at least an integral element, and processes said difference with said transfer function for deriving said control signal.

21. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said anti-pitching, said anti-rolling and said lifting control means has a transfer function including at least a differentiation element, and processes said difference with said transfer function for deriving said control signal.

22. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said anti-pitching, said anti-rolling and said lifting control means has a transfer function including at least a proportional element, and processes said difference with said transfer function for deriving said control signal.

23. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said anti-pitching, said anti-rolling and said lifting control means has a transfer function including an integral element, a differentiation element and a proportional element, and processes said difference with said transfer function for deriving said control signal.

24. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 23, wherein said transfer function further includes an ON/OFF element.

25. A vehicular height regulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said anti-pitching, said anti-rolling and said lifting control means has a control gain which can be set with respect to each of said first, second, third and fourth suspension systems independently of each other.