Semi-active suspension system with anti-roll for a vehicle

• US 7,751,959 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Incorporated (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boon, Peter, Reybrouck, Koen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peche; Jorge O
• Application Number:
  US11/471,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/38, 701/48, 701/91, 267/64.11, 267/64.13, 267/64.15, 267/64.16, 267/218, 267/274, 280/5.5, 280/5.504, 280/5.505, 280/5.507, 280/5.514, 280/5.512, 280/5.515, 280/6.159, 280/124.1, 280/124.106, 280/124.157, 280/124.161, 248/562, 137/613, 137/614, 137/614.19, 137/614.2, 914/46, 914/49, 914/53, 251/14, 251/15, 251/30.01, 251/62, 251/68, 251/73, 251/74
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/073 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/106 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88046 Biased valve with external operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88054 Direct response normally closed valve limits direction of flow

Abstract

A suspension system includes four electronically controlled actuators, one at each of the four wheels. The actuators are each controlled by an electronic control unit. The left front and right front actuators are mechanically connected with each other. The left rear and the right rear actuators are also mechanically connected with each other. The only connection between the front two actuators and the rear two actuators is an electronic communication through the electronic control unit.

Claims

1. A suspension system comprising:

a first shock absorber;

a second shock absorber;

a first communication line extending between said first and second shock absorber;

a second communication line extending between said first and second shock absorber;

a first variable valve controlling fluid flow from an upper working chamber of said first shock absorber to a first accumulator through a first check valve associated with said first shock absorber, said first variable valve and said first communication line;

a second variable valve controlling fluid flow from a lower working chamber of said second shock absorber to said first accumulator through a first check valve associated with said second shock absorber and said second variable valve;

a second accumulator from which fluid flows to an upper working chamber of said second shock absorber through said second communication line and a second check valve associated with said second shock absorber and from which fluid flows to a lower working chamber of said first shock absorber through a second check valve associated with said first shock absorber; and

a control unit in communication with said first and second shock absorbers and in communication with said first and second variable valves.

2. The suspension system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third variable valve controlling fluid flow from the upper working chamber to the lower working chamber of said second shock absorber, said third variable valve controlling damping forces for said second shock absorber; and

a fourth variable valve controlling fluid flow from the lower working chamber to the upper working chamber of said first shock absorber, said fourth variable valve controlling damping forces for said first shock absorber;

wherein

said control unit is in communication with the third and fourth variable valves.

3. The suspension system according to claim 2, wherein:

said first communication line extends between said first and second variable valves; and

said second communication line extends between said fourth and third variable valves.

4. The suspension system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third shock absorber;

a fourth shock absorber;

a third communication line extending between said third and fourth shock absorber;

a fourth communication line extending between said third and fourth shock absorber;

wherein

said control unit is in communication with said third and fourth shock absorbers.

5. The suspension system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third variable valve controlling fluid flow between an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber of said second shock absorber, said third variable valve controlling damping forces for said second shock absorber; and

a fourth variable valve controlling fluid flow between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber of said second shock absorber, said fourth variable valve controlling damping forces for said second shock absorber;

wherein

said control unit is in communication with the third and fourth variable valves.

6. The suspension system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a fifth variable valve controlling fluid flow between an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber of said third shock absorber, said fifth variable valve controlling damping forces for said third shock absorber;

a sixth variable valve controlling fluid flow between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber of said third shock absorber, said sixth variable valve defining damping forces for said third shock absorber;

a seventh variable valve controlling fluid flow between an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber of said fourth shock absorber, said seventh variable valve defining damping forces for said fourth shock absorber; and

an eighth variable valve controlling fluid flow between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber of said fourth shock absorber, said eighth variable valve controlling damping forces for said fourth shock absorber;

wherein

said control unit is in communication with the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth variable valves.

7. The suspension system according to claim 6, wherein:

said first communication line extends between said first and second variable valves; and

said second communication line extends between said fourth and third variable valves.

8. The suspension system according to claim 7, wherein:

said third communication line extends between said fifth and eighth variable valves; and

said fourth communication line extends between said sixth and seventh variable valves.

9. The suspension system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third accumulator in communication with said third communication line; and

a fourth accumulator in communication with said fourth communication line.

10. The suspension system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third accumulator in communication with said third communication line; and

a fourth accumulator in communication with said fourth communication line.