Tire contact load control system

• US 6,036,199 A
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Izawa, Masaki, Oshida, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/083,718
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.504, 280/5.52
• US Class Current: 280/5.504
• 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 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/21 Traction, slip, skid or slide control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17616 Microprocessor-based systems

Abstract

An active actuator is interposed between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass of a vehicle, and a controller selectively extends and retracts the actuator at a prescribed acceleration so as to selectively apply an additional contact load to the wheel by making use of the inertial force of the sprung mass and/or the unsprung mass of the vehicle. A particularly advantageous result can be achieved by increasing the tire contact load according to the judgment of the vehicle operator who would, for example, actuate a switch at a desired or appropriate time such as when braking the vehicle, turning a curve or accelerating on a slippery road surface.

Claims

1. A tire contact load control system, comprising:

a wheel suspension system for supporting an unsprung mass including a wheel to a sprung mass including a vehicle body;

an active actuator interposed between said unsprung mass and said sprung mass;

a controller for extending said actuator at a prescribed acceleration so as to selectively apply an additional contact load to said wheel; and

a switch unit for activating said controller;

said switch unit being disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle body for being actuated by an operator.

2. A vehicle tire contact load control system according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for delaying activation of said controller from a time when said switch unit is operated.

3. A vehicle tire contact load control system according to claim 1, further comprising a stroke sensor for detecting a stroke of said actuator, and stopping operation of said controller when a stroke end of said actuator is detected by said stroke sensor.

4. A vehicle tire contact load control system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is adapted to cyclically operate said actuator so as to increase a contact load in a cyclic manner for a relatively long period of time.

5. A vehicle tire contact load control system according to claim 4, further comprising a timer for stopping operation of said actuator after elapsing of a prescribed time period from a start of operation of said actuator.