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Vehicle suspension control

  • US 5,852,787 A
  • Filed: 09/03/1996
  • Issued: 12/22/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for improving steering stability in a vehicle in which steering stability is a function of tire deflection, the vehicle including a plurality of wheels, each wheel having a tire, a hub, and an adjustable damper, and the vehicle having a center of gravity and a brake steer controller which provides a desired torque, the method comprising:

  • a) estimating lateral force acting on one of the tires;

    b) estimating longitudinal force acting on said one tire;

    c) determining total torque generated about the center of gravity based upon the estimated lateral and longitudinal forces on said one tire;

    d) measuring relative velocity of the respective hub with respect to the vehicle body, wherein hub movement toward the body is positive and away from the body is negative;

    e) determining the sign of the product of the desired torque, the determined total torque and the measured relative velocity;

    f) setting the respective damper to its highest damping rate if the determined sign is positive;

    g) setting the respective damper to its lowest damping rate if said sign is negative; and

    h) repeating steps a) through g) for the remainder of said plurality of tires.

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