Apparatus comprising a suspension system and method for adjusting a suspension system

• US 7,997,600 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kolb, Jens, Haller, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/275,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.157, 280/124.158, 280/124.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 280/124.162, 280/124.164, 280/124.177, 280/6.15, 280/6.153, 280/6.155, 280/6.157, 267/64.16, 267/64.17, 267/276
• US Class Current: 280/124.157
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0416 regulated by varying the resiliency of hydropneumatic suspensions B60G17/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0521 the spring having a flexible wall
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/02 Trucks; Load vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/08 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2014 Closed systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2022 with valve seat actuation for selectively adjusting neutral height
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2041 for variable volume air springs, e.g. using accumulators as expansion chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2042 Air filling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2044 Air exhausting valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2046 Pressure equalising valves between two units
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/22 Spring constant
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/502 : attached to the base of the seat B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/505 : Adjustable suspension including height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/508 : Scissors-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 : using gas
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0608 : pneumatic or hydraulic suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 : comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus having a suspension system with a first part which is acted upon by a mass, a second part, and also an air spring arranged between this first part and this second part. At least one supplementary volume device for air is provided, the volume of which can be varied in a controlled manner, and also a first control device for adjusting the volume of the supplementary volume device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a suspension system, the suspension system comprising:

a first part which is acted upon by a mass;

a second part;

an air spring arranged between the first part and the second part;

at least one supplementary volume device, the volume of which is varied in a controlled manner;

a position sensor for detecting the position of the at least one supplementary volume device, thereby determining the volume of the at least one supplementary volume device; and

a first control device for automatically adjusting the volume of the supplementary volume device based on at least the determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device,

wherein the supplementary volume device is configured as a piston/cylinder unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air spring is coupled to the supplementary volume device via a fluid connector so that a fluid exchange is possible.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supplementary volume device is configured as a bellows.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a vibrating part, and the second part is a stationary part.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part is coupled to the second part via a guide device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first part is coupled to the second part via a scissors-type frame.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a damper connected between the first part and the second part.

8. A method for adjusting a suspension system of an apparatus, which the suspension system comprises a first part which is acted upon by a mass, a second part, and also an air spring arranged between this first part and this second part, and at least one supplementary volume device which is coupled to the air spring via a fluid connection and the volume of which can be adjusted, in particular for adjusting a suspension system of an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps:

determining at least one operating value of at least one of the apparatus or the suspension system;

sensing acceleration of the second part;

sensing position of the first part relative to the second part;

determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device; and

automatically adjusting the volume of the supplementary volume device as a function of the at least one determined operating value, the sensed acceleration, the sensed position of the first part and the determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a first determined operating value is acceleration of the first part relative to the second part, and a second determined operating value is the relative position of the first part relative to the second part, adjusting the volume of the at least one supplementary volume device as one of a function of the determined acceleration or as a function of the determined relative position.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one supplementary volume device comprises:

a controllable actuator; and

a control valve for controlling at least one of intake or discharge of air from an air source into an air chamber of the at least one supplementary volume device,

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a position sensor for determining position of the first part relative to the second part;

an acceleration sensor for determining acceleration of the second part; and

an electronic control unit, in signal communication with the position sensors, the acceleration sensor, the controllable actuator and the control valve, for automatically controlling operation of the controllable actuator and the control valve based on signals received from the position sensors and the acceleration sensor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device comprises a nominal value of a pre-selected volume size that is registered at the electronic control unit as a null value for active adjustment.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controllable actuator upon receiving control signals from the electronic control unit actively adjusts the volume of the supplementary volume device starting from the null value based on at least one of the determined acceleration or the determined position of the first part relative to the second part.

13. An apparatus comprising a suspension system, the suspension system comprising:

a first part which is acted upon by a mass;

a second part;

a damper connected between the first part and the second part;

an air spring arranged between the first part and the second part;

at least one supplementary volume device, the volume of which is varied in a controlled manner;

a position sensor for detecting the position of the at least one supplementary volume device, thereby determining the volume of the at least one supplementary volume device;

a first control device for automatically adjusting the volume of the supplementary volume device based on at least the determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device, wherein the at least one supplementary volume device comprises;

a controllable actuator; and

a control valve for controlling at least one of intake or discharge of air from an air source into an air chamber of the at least one supplementary volume device;

a position sensor for determining position of the first part relative to the second part;

an acceleration sensor for determining acceleration of the second part; and

an electronic control unit, in signal communication with the position sensors, the acceleration sensor, the controllable actuator and the control valve, for automatically controlling operation of the controllable actuator and the control valve based on signals received from the position sensors and the acceleration sensor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the determined volume of the at least one supplementary volume device comprises a nominal value of a pre-selected volume size that is registered at the electronic control unit as a null value for active adjustment.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controllable actuator upon receiving control signals from the electronic control unit actively adjusts the volume of the supplementary volume device starting from the null value based on at least one of the determined acceleration or the determined position of the first part relative to the second part.