Land vehicle suspension control system
First Claim
1. A land vehicle suspension system comprising:
- means for measuring forces acting between the sprung mass of the vehicle and the unsprung masses connected thereto, comprising first means for measuring steady state loads and second means for measuring dynamic loads;
means for generating signals proportional to the measured loads, comprising first means for generating signals proportional to the steady state loads and second means for generating signals proportional to the dynamic loads;
actuator means connected between the unsprung masses and the sprung mass of the vehicle;
processor means for processing the signals proportional to the measured loads and for generating control signals to control the actuator means to extend and contract to vary the position of the sprung mass relative to the unsprung masses; and
isolator means connected in series with the actuator means between the unsprung masses and the sprung mass which deforms to absorb a portion of the forces acting on the actuator means resulting from forces on the sprung mass and the unsprung masses, whereinthe processor means calculates from the measured load signals the deformation of the isolator means resulting from the steady state loads and modifies the control signals supplied to the actuator means to compensate for the deformation of the isolator means resulting from the steady state loads by causing the actuator means to either extend or contract in a sense opposite to the deformation of the isolator means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a land vehicle suspension control system comprising means (25) for measuring forces acting between the sprung mass (body) (20) of a vehicle and unsprung masses (wheel and hub assemblies) (11, 18) connected thereto, means for producing signals proportional to the measured loads and actuator means (14) operable to apply correcting forces in dependence on said signals to control the attitude of the vehicle, the actuator means being capable of stable operation to counteract loads acting on the vehicle including loads isolated from the means for measuring forces. The loads isolated from the means for measuring forces include those loads which are absorbed by passive isolators that are connected in series with the actuator means of the vehicle.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A land vehicle suspension system comprising:
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means for measuring forces acting between the sprung mass of the vehicle and the unsprung masses connected thereto, comprising first means for measuring steady state loads and second means for measuring dynamic loads; means for generating signals proportional to the measured loads, comprising first means for generating signals proportional to the steady state loads and second means for generating signals proportional to the dynamic loads; actuator means connected between the unsprung masses and the sprung mass of the vehicle; processor means for processing the signals proportional to the measured loads and for generating control signals to control the actuator means to extend and contract to vary the position of the sprung mass relative to the unsprung masses; and isolator means connected in series with the actuator means between the unsprung masses and the sprung mass which deforms to absorb a portion of the forces acting on the actuator means resulting from forces on the sprung mass and the unsprung masses, wherein the processor means calculates from the measured load signals the deformation of the isolator means resulting from the steady state loads and modifies the control signals supplied to the actuator means to compensate for the deformation of the isolator means resulting from the steady state loads by causing the actuator means to either extend or contract in a sense opposite to the deformation of the isolator means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification