Vehicle suspension systems

• US 8,770,593 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Moore, Joseph K, Serbu, Liviu, Lyscio, Anthony L., Ostan, Terry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US13/835,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20140131961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.514, 280/5.515, 280/6.157, 280/124.145, 280/124.154, 280/124.158
• US Class Current: 280/5.515
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/062 the spring being arranged around the damper B60G15/061, B60G15/067, B60G15/07 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/063 characterised by the mounting of the spring on the damper B60G15/065, B60G15/066 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/065 characterised by the use of a combination of springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/00 Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045
• 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 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/12422 anchoring the end coils on the spring support plate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45 Stops limiting travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/26 Electromagnets; Solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/121 adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics

Abstract

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper having a central longitudinal axis, and a jack assembly attached to the damper. The jack assembly includes a seat abutting and rotatable about the damper, a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat, a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the damper, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the damper, a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the damper, a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat, and a second clutch coiled about the damper and coupled to the ball nut. The seat is translatable along the damper to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:

a damper interconnecting a body and a wheel of the vehicle and having a central longitudinal axis; and

a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes;

a seat abutting and rotatable about the damper;

a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat;

wherein the seat is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a first direction as the resilient member extends and lengthens along the central longitudinal axis, and is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a second direction that is opposite the first direction as the resilient member compresses and shortens along the central longitudinal axis;

a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the damper, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the damper;

a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the damper;

a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat;

a second clutch coiled about the damper and coupled to the ball nut;

wherein the seat is translatable along the damper to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle;

a first solenoid configured for engaging the first clutch; and

a second solenoid configured for engaging the second clutch, wherein each of the first solenoid and the second solenoid is transitionable between an energized state and a de-energized state.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first solenoid and the second solenoid are disposed in the de-energized state so that the ball nut is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in the first direction with respect to the ball screw to thereby raise the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel.

3. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first solenoid and the second solenoid are disposed in the de-energized state so that the ball nut is stationary with respect to the ball screw in the second direction and the seat is rotatable with respect to the ball nut about the central longitudinal axis in the second direction.

4. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the ball screw includes a first extension and a second extension spaced apart from the first extension along the central longitudinal axis, and further wherein the ball nut includes:

a helical portion having a third extension abuttable with the first extension to thereby restrict rotation of the ball nut with respect to the ball screw in the second direction; and

a casing portion mated to the helical portion and having a fourth extension abuttable with the second extension to thereby restrict rotation of the ball nut with respect to the ball screw in the first direction.

5. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the second solenoid is disposed in the de-energized state and the fourth extension abuts the second extension so that the ball nut is not rotatable with respect to the ball screw in the second direction.

6. The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the first solenoid is disposed in the de-energized state.

7. The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the first solenoid is disposed in the energized state.

8. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first solenoid and the second solenoid are disposed in the energized state so that the ball nut is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in the second direction with respect to the ball screw to thereby lower the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel.

9. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the first solenoid is disposed in the energized state and the second solenoid is disposed in the de-energized state and the third extension abuts the first extension so that the ball nut is not rotatable with respect to the ball screw in the first direction.

10. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the jack assembly further includes a plurality of ball bearings sandwiched between the seat and the ball nut.

11. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the jack assembly further includes a spring coiled about the ball nut.

18. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the damper includes:

a first end attached to the body;

a second end spaced apart from the first end and attached to the wheel;

a first tube defining a first cavity therein;

a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube; and

a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis.

12. A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:

a damper interconnecting a body and a wheel of the vehicle and having a central longitudinal axis, wherein the damper includes;

a first end attached to the body;

a second end spaced apart from the first end and attached to the wheel;

a first tube defining a first cavity therein;

a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube; and

a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis; and

a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes;

a seat abutting and rotatable about the first tube, wherein the seat is translatable with respect to the first tube along the central longitudinal axis;

wherein the seat is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a first direction as the resilient member extends and lengthens along the central longitudinal axis, and is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a second direction that is opposite the first direction as the resilient member compresses and shortens along the central longitudinal axis;

a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat;

a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the first tube, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the first tube and has a first extension and a second extension spaced apart from the first extension along the central longitudinal axis;

a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the first tube, wherein the ball nut includes;

a helical portion having a third extension abuttable with the first extension to thereby restrict rotation of the ball nut with respect to the ball screw in the second direction; and

a casing portion mated to the helical portion and having a fourth extension abuttable with the second extension to thereby restrict rotation of the ball nut with respect to the ball screw in the first direction;

a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat, wherein the first clutch is disposed between the first end and the ball screw along the central longitudinal axis; and

a second clutch coiled about the first tube and coupled to the ball nut, wherein the second clutch is disposed between the first clutch and the second end along the central longitudinal axis;

wherein the seat is translatable along the first tube to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle as the resilient member alternately elongates and compresses along the central longitudinal axis.

13. The suspension system of claim 12, wherein the jack assembly further includes a first solenoid configured for engaging the first clutch and a second solenoid configured for engaging the second clutch, wherein each of the first solenoid and the second solenoid is transitionable between an energized state and a de-energized state.

14. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the first solenoid and the second solenoid are disposed in the de-energized state so that the first clutch abuts the ball nut to thereby raise the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel.

15. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the first solenoid and the second solenoid are disposed in the de-energized state so that the second clutch abuts the first tube to thereby raise the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel.

16. A vehicle including:

a body;

a wheel configured for translating the body across a surface; and

a suspension system interconnecting the body and the wheel and including;

a damper interconnecting the body and the wheel and having a central longitudinal axis; and

a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes;

a seat abutting and rotatable about the damper;

a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat;

a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the damper, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the damper;

a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the damper;

a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat; and

a second clutch coiled about the first tube and coupled to the ball nut;

wherein the seat is translatable along the damper to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the damper includes a first end attached to the body and a second end spaced apart from the first end and attached to the wheel, and further wherein the suspension system further includes a mount disposed between and attached to the body and the first end, and a steering component attached to the wheel and the second end.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the damper includes:

a first tube defining a first cavity therein;

a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube; and

a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the seat is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a first direction as the resilient member extends and lengthens along the central longitudinal axis, and is rotatable about the central longitudinal axis in a second direction that is opposite the first direction as the resilient member compresses and shortens along the central longitudinal axis.