Vehicle suspension control system

• US 6,418,363 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nartron Corporation
• Inventors: Washeleski, John, Cochofel, Helder, Shank, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARC-COLEMAN, MARTHE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/752,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/91, 280/5.515, 280/5.514, 280/5.513, 280/5.508, 180/41
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/111 on pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51 in suspension unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles

Abstract

A motor vehicle having at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member having first and second separable components. Apparatus includes an integrated vehicle ride height system control system. The control system includes an electronic output drive signal circuit and input signal interpretation circuit to electronically interface with at least one position sensor. The position sensor provides output signals related to extent of separation of said first and second separable components of the fluid pressurized height adjusting member.

Claims

1. For use with a motor vehicle having at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member having first and second separable components, an integrated vehicle ride height system controller apparatus comprising:

a) electronic output drive signal circuitry and input signal interpretation circuitry to electronically interface with at least one position sensor which provides output signals related to extent of separation of said first and second separable components of said at least one fluid pressurized height adjusting member;

b) electronic input and/or output circuitry to interface with at least one fluid pressure sensor which provides output signals related to said at least one fluid-pressurized height-adjusting member;

c) electronic output circuitry to actuate one or more fluid flow valves which apply pressure to said at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member to actuate raising thereof and wherein said one or more fluid flow valves release pressure from said at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member to actuate lowering thereof;

d) electronic output circuitry to drive output power control for said at least one fluid pressure pump to provide system fluid power; and

e) electronic circuitry incorporating control instructions for vehicle height control output functions in response to vehicle input signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one suspension position sensor for each height-adjusting member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one suspension position sensor for each vehicle axle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one fluid pressure sensor for each height-adjusting member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one fluid pressure sensor for each vehicle axle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one fluid flow valve for each height-adjusting member to apply pressure to and to actuate raising of the fluid pressurized height-adjusting member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with at least one fluid flow valve for each height-adjusting member to release pressure from and to actuate lowering of the fluid-pressurized height-adjusting member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with pressure-actuated height-adjustment springs and/or shock absorber damping-adjustment means including pneumatic actuation, hydraulic actuation, electric actuation and/or combinations thereof based upon sensed operation parameters.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with manual control inputs for particular operational functions of raising and/or lowering the vehicle height.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising algorithm control to raise system accumulator pressure above a specified value in anticipation of the need for additional pressure subsequent to manual control operation of a vehicle height lowering.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle lateral acceleration sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one forward acceleration and/or deceleration sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle pitch sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle yaw sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle roll sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle steering position sensor having at least one output signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with at least one vehicle speed sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with manual control inputs for particular operational functions such as increasing and/or decreasing fluid spring stiffness characteristics of the vehicle suspension.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with manual control inputs for particular operational functions such as increasing and/or decreasing fluid damping characteristics of the vehicle suspension.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry to interface with a vehicle engine to modify engine intake air/fuel ratio to modify the torque curve to adapt to changes in load, speed, and/or road condition.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic output circuitry to drive output control for at least one fluid flow valve to actuate lowering of the pressure in at least one pressure accumulator tank.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic output circuitry to drive output control for at least one condensate blowdown valve for at least one system pressure reservoir.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising analog and digital electronic circuitry, memory, communications interface, indicator, annunciator, and/or system diagnostics or fault detection.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 additionally comprising short circuit protection for inputs and/or outputs.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said memory and communications interface provide for reprogramability of the controller.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said memory and communications interface provide for determination of fault status and/or operation history information to be communicated to other vehicle components and/or systems.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said analog and digital electronic circuitry includes hardware and/or software filters.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control algorithms include dead zones from input signals to output drive actuators.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control algorithms include hysteresis from output signals to output drive to actuators.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said control algorithms include time delays from input signal changes to output drive to actuators.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising electronic circuitry for system inputs and outputs to determine a system fault and indicate a fault status including short circuit, open circuit, incorrect impedance, incorrect signal, and/or function failure.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault includes a pump fault.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault status includes a sensor fault.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault status includes a raising valve fault.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault status includes a lowering valve fault.

36. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault status includes a fluid leak fault.

37. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said system fault status includes a position sensor fault.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said fault status is reset by a specific sequence of manual switches.

39. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said fault status includes communication of system failure to achieve the desired control position within a specified time from initiation of output actuation.

40. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising environmentally-sealed construction.

41. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising circuitry for interfacing with manual control inputs for particular operational control of enabling and disabling system functions.

42. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally compromising an automatic component function diagnostics mode that evaluates input signals, output electrical loads, and control response to determine functionally of input and output components.

43. The automatic diagnostics mode of claim 42 whereby automatic component function diagnostics occurs in a timed sequence for human observation of the actuation sequence to aid in diagnostics and/or troubleshooting system component performance.

44. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally compromising a manual diagnostics mode that evaluates specific component input signals, specific output electrical loads, and control response to determine functionality.

45. For use with a motor vehicle having at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member having first and second separable components, a vehicle ride height control method comprising:

a) monitoring an output from at least one position sensor which provides output signals related to extent of separation of said first and second separable components of at least one fluid pressurized height adjusting member;

b) monitoring an output from at least one fluid pressure sensor which provides output signals related to said at least one fluid-pressurized height-adjusting member;

c) actuating one or more fluid flow valves which apply pressure to said at least one fluid-pressurized height adjusting member to actuate raising and lowering of a portion of the motor vehicle with respect to a road surface; and

d) controlling at least one fluid pressure pump to provide system fluid power for pressurizing the height adjusting member.

46. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising monitoring manual control inputs for particular operational functions of raising and/or lowering the vehicle height.

47. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising providing a system accumulator to provide system pressure above a specified value in anticipation of the need for additional pressure subsequent to manual control operation of vehicle height lowering.

48. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising controlling a condensate blowdown valve for at least one system pressure reservoir.

49. The method of claim 45 additionally providing a programmable controller for monitoring and controlling a raising and lowering of the motor vehicle and wherein the controller includes a controller memory and a communications interface and additionally comprising reprogramming the controller by downloading information to the controller memory.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein in a diagnostics mode the programmable controller automatically sends diagnostics to a display in a timed sequence for human observation of a component actuation sequence to aid in diagnostics and/or troubleshooting system component performance.

51. The method of claim 45 additionally comprising indicating a system fault status including short circuit, open circuit, incorrect impedance, incorrect signal, and/or function failure.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said system fault includes a pump fault.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said system fault status includes a position sensor fault.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein said system fault status includes a raising valve fault.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein said system fault status includes a lowering valve fault.

56. The method of claim 51 wherein said system fault status includes a fluid leak fault.

57. The method of claim 51 wherein said memory and communications interface provide fault status and/or operation history information to other vehicle components and/or systems.