Suspension device having a trim corrector

• US 6,619,672 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conception ET Developpement Michelin S.A.
• Original Assignee: Conception ET Developpement Michelin S.A.
• Inventors: Linda, Jean-Louis, Laurent, Daniel, Varenne, Pierre, Charaudeau, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/975,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/38, 280/5.504, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 280/5.508, 280/5.513, 280/5.51, 280/5.512, 280/5.515
• US Class Current: 280/5.512
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0157 non-fluid unit, e.g. electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/422 Linear motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means

Abstract

A vehicle suspension device having, for each suspension system, a suspension including a spring and a reversible electric actuator acting in parallel with the spring. The device includes provision for controlling the electric actuators of each of the suspension systems so that they each develop a force having two components: a damping component opposing the deflection speed and a trim correction component, the said trim correction components applying a trim correction torque to the suspended mass.

Claims

1. A vehicle suspension device having at least two suspension systems, each connecting a non-suspended mass comprising a wheel to a suspended mass, with possible vertical deflection, each suspension system comprising a vertical suspension reacting to the variations of distance between the suspended mass and the non-suspended mass, the said vertical suspension comprising a spring and a reversible electric actuator acting in parallel with the spring, the device comprising means for controlling a trim correction, the device comprising means for controlling the electric actuators of each of the said suspension systems so that they each develop a force made up of the addition of two components:

a damping component opposing the deflection speed and a trim correction component, the said trim correction components applying a trim correction to the suspended mass.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the means for controlling a trim correction comprise means for evaluating a non-vertical stress applied to the suspended mass and likely to bring about a trim variation of the suspended mass, and in that the said trim correction components apply a trim correction torque to the suspended mass.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the said at least two suspension systems form an axle, the said suspension systems being mounted on either side of the median plane of symmetry of the vehicle, so that the said trim correction torque opposes the roll.

4. A device according to claim 2, in which the said at least two suspension systems comprise a front suspension system and a rear suspension system, so that the said trim correction torque opposes pitch.

5. A device according to claim 2, for a vehicle comprising at least four suspension systems forming a front axle and a rear axle, in which the said trim correction torque opposes both roll and pitch.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which the damping component is controlled in accordance with parameters indicating vehicle driving conditions.

7. A device according to claim 1, in which the electric actuator comprises a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the control means determine the variation of the relative position between suspended point and non-suspended point entirely from a measurement of the variation of position delivered by sensors integrated in the electric motor.

9. A device according to claim 1, including means for evaluating a non-vertical stress comprising at least one sensor chosen from the group consisting essentially of a sensor for the transverse acceleration of the said suspended mass, a yaw rate sensor, and a sensor for the longitudinal acceleration of the said suspended mass.

10. A device according to claim 1, for a vehicle comprising at least one front axle and one rear axle each having two suspension systems mounted on either side of the median plane of symmetry of the vehicle, the said control means controlling the distribution between the front axle and the rear axle of the said trim correction components opposing the roll in real time.

11. A device according to claim 1, for a vehicle comprising at least one front axle and one rear axle, each having two suspension systems mounted on either side of the median plane of symmetry of the vehicle, the said control means controlling the distribution on either side of the median plane of symmetry of the vehicle of the said correction components acting on the pitch in real time.