Vehicle roll control system

• US 5,630,623 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kelsey Hayes
• Original Assignee: Kelsey Hayes
• Inventors: Ganzel, Blaise J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Matthew C.
• Application Number:
  US08/627,384
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 280/704, 280/707, 280/714, 280/772, 280/773, 188/299, 207/64.28
• US Class Current: 280/124.106
• 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 21/055 Stabiliser bars
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0555 including an actuator inducing vehicle roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1224 End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0122 Roll rigidity ratio; Warping

Abstract

A passive system is disclosed for controlling the roll of a motor vehicle. The system comprises an actuator connected between an unsprung portion of the vehicle and a sprung portion of the vehicle, first and second pressure control valves, and first and second check valves. The first pressure control valve is in communication with a first port of the actuator and has a first position where flow away from the first port is prevented up to a predetermined pressure. The first check valve is in parallel with the first pressure control valve. The second pressure control valve is in communication with a second port of the actuator and has a first position where flow away from the second port is prevented up to a predetermined pressure. The second check valve is in parallel with the second pressure control valve.

Claims

1. A semi-active system for controlling the roll of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an accumulator;

an actuator connected between an unsprung portion of the vehicle and a sprung portion of the vehicle, the actuator having first and second ports;

a first check valve in communication with the accumulator and the first port of the actuator preventing flow from the first port to the accumulator;

a second check valve in communication with the accumulator and the second port of the actuator preventing flow from the second port to the accumulator;

a first pressure control valve in parallel with the first check valve and having a first position where flow from the first port to the accumulator is prevented up to a predetermined pressure so that the first pressure control valve and the first check valve completely isolate the first port from the accumulator at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure; and

a second pressure control valve in parallel with the second check valve and having a first position where flow from the second port to the accumulator is prevented up to a predetermined pressure so that the second pressure control valve and the second check valve completely isolate the second port from the accumulator at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is connected between the unsprung portion of the vehicle and an anti-roll bar.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second pressure control valves each comprise a solenoid.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the solenoids energize the first and second pressure control valves toward the first positions with a force proportional to an electric signal applied thereto.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second actuator connected between the unsprung portion of the vehicle and the sprung portion of the vehicle, the second actuator having first and second ports;

a third pressure control valve in communication with the first port of the second actuator and having a first position where flow away from the first port of the second actuator is prevented up to a predetermined pressure;

a third check valve in parallel with the third pressure control valve;

a fourth pressure control valve in communication with the second port of the second actuator and having a first position where flow away from the second port of the second actuator is prevented up to a predetermined presure; and

a fourth check valve in parallel with the fourth pressure control valve.

7. A system for controlling the roll of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

an anti-roll bar;

an actuator connected between the anti-roll bar and an unsprung portion of the vehicle, the actuator having first and second ports;

an accumulator;

a first check valve in communication with the accumulator and the first port of the actuator preventing flow from the first port to the accumulator;

a second check valve in communication with the accumulator and the second port of the actuator preventing flow from the second port to the accumulator;

a first pressure control valve in parallel with the first check valve and having a first position where flow from the first port to the accumulator is prevented up to a predetermined pressure so that the first pressure control valve and the first check valve completely isolate the first port from the accumulator at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure; and

a second pressure control valve in parallel with the second check valve and having a first position where flow from the second port to the accumulator is prevented up to a predetermined pressure so that the second pressure control valve and the second check valve completely isolate the second port from the accumulator at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second pressure control valves each comprise a solenoid.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the solenoids energize the first and second pressure control valves toward the first positions with a force proportional to an electric signal applied thereto.