×

Method and apparatus for maintaining vehicular ride height

  • US 5,430,647 A
  • Filed: 12/07/1992
  • Issued: 07/04/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for controlling vehicle ride height for use with a vehicle travelling on a road surface, the vehicle having a body, front and rear wheels and an air suspension, the method comprising:

  • (a) sensing vehicle body height relative to the wheels to obtain front and rear vehicle height signals, and sensing vehicle speed to obtain a vehicle speed signal;

    (b) determining a natural lean of the vehicle based on the front height signals, natural lean of the vehicle representative of one side of the vehicle being higher or lower than the other side of the vehicle;

    (c) processing the front height signals to obtain a vehicle roll signal that has been compensated for the natural lean of the vehicle, the vehicle roll signal indicating vehicle roll due to steering adjustments by the vehicle operator;

    (d) processing the vehicle speed signal to obtain a vehicle pitch offset signal, the vehicle pitch offset signal indicating vehicle height change due to longitudinal vehicle accelerations; and

    (e) adjusting the height of the vehicle toward a predetermined target ride height based on the height signals, the vehicle roll signal and the vehicle pitch offset signal.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×