Electronically adjustable damper and system

• US 9,027,937 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arnott T&P Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: MSI Defense Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Ryan, Jeffrey S., Holden, David J., Peterson, Jeffrey L., Wyler, James M., Holbert, Todd J., Wizorek, Andrew M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US13/913,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.5, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 280/5.512, 280/5.514, 280/5.515, 701/37
• US Class Current: 280/5.519
• 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 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/202 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit

Abstract

An electronically adjustable damper system includes at least one electronically adjustable damper. The electronically adjustable damper includes at least one electronically controlled valve, whereby, the damper is electronically adjustable. The electronically adjustable damper system also includes a controller for adjusting each of the electronically adjustable dampers independently via the electronically controlled valves, and a remote electronic device. The electronically adjustable damper system allows a user to tune the dampers by allowing a user to adjust the electronically adjustable damper system to different applications and functions for various users, conditions, or both.

Claims

1. An electronically adjustable damper system for a vehicle comprising:

an electronically adjustable damper for each suspension of the vehicle, each of said electronically adjustable dampers comprising;

at least one electronically controlled valve; and

whereby, the damper being electronically adjustable;

a controller for adjusting each of said electronically adjustable dampers independently via said electronically controlled valves;

a remote electronic device; and

a plurality of prescribed settings for the vehicle;

whereby, said electronically adjustable damper system being configured to allow a user to tune the dampers by allowing a user to select one of the plurality of prescribed settings to adjust the electronically adjustable damper system to different applications and functions for various users, conditions, locations, or combinations thereof.

2. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 1 wherein, when said electronically adjustable damper changes its lengths due to chassis or terrain inputs, said controller determining its position and altering the damping to a prescribed setting throughout its entire stroke in compression and extension, wherein said prescribed setting being looped in macros to offer a user many variations for different conditions.

3. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 1 comprising an electronically adjustable damper for each wheel of the vehicle, wherein said controller being for adjusting all of said electronically adjustable dampers independently.

4. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 3 comprising four electronically adjustable dampers, wherein said controller being for adjusting all four electronically adjustable dampers independently.

5. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 1 wherein said remote electronic device including a visual display unit with a user friendly interface,

wherein the electronically adjustable damper system can set the ideal damper settings using simple vehicle and terrain parameters,

said user friendly interface being for setting damper settings like a traditional adjustable shock where a usual knob and detent position is shown on said visual display unit, where said user may adjust each of said electronically adjustable dampers of the electronically adjustable damper system.

6. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 1 further comprising additional control features being selected from the group consisting of:

a computer being adapted for harvesting data relating to the vehicle and conditions in which it operates;

an Inertial Measurement Unit for incorporating a rollover detection warning system adapted for advising the user of impending dangerous vehicle rollover conditions based on terrain, operation, and vehicle limitations, said rollover detection warning system including a Roll Risk Estimate and a rollover display adapted for providing operators with a visual indication of the roll limits of the vehicle maximizing their ability to use the vehicle to its limits safely;

a hydraulic anti-roll bar system being adapted for allowing vehicles to operate on-road with a stiff roll rate, tunable with air pressure, to optimize performance and stability; and

combinations thereof.

7. The electronically adjustable damper system of claim 1 wherein said electronically adjustable damper further comprising:

a main piston cylinder;

an external reservoir mounted on the rebound stroke side of said main piston cylinder, or an internal reservoir inside said main piston cylinder;

an integrated manifold controlling flow through the main piston cylinder in both the rebound and compression directions comprising;

a compression electronically controlled valve associated with a compression check valve for controlling compression flow independently; and

a rebound electronically controlled valve associated with a rebound check valve for controlling rebound flow independently;

said main piston cylinder being made of;

four outer sleeves including two finned spacer tubes, a middle manifold tube, and a reservoir tube wherein, said electronically controlled compression and rebound valves being secured in said middle manifold tube, said four outer sleeves being configurable in 360°

rotation and the reservoir tube being compression or extension side fed for shaft diameter volume ingestion, or

three outer sleeves including a finned bottom tube, a top manifold tube, and a reservoir tube, wherein, said electronically controlled compression and rebound valves being secured in said top manifold tube, said three outer sleeves being configurable in 360°

rotation and the reservoir tube being compression or extension side fed for shaft diameter volume ingestion;

said electronically controlled valves being selected from the group consisting of;

piezo valves, pressure relief valves, solenoid valves, pressure speed spool valve, electric spool valve, proportional valve, servo controlled valve, direct drive valve, and combinations thereof;

said electronically adjustable damper not including any external tubes;

said main piston cylinder having a deflective disc style piston for both compression and extension;

an integral linear velocity displacement transducer sensor for altering damping using shock velocity as an input over displacement;

said integral linear velocity displacement transducer sensor being housed in a shaft and being activated by a magnet, wherein said magnet being housed in the seal head of said shaft, whereby the stroke or shaft extension can vary infinitely and said electronically adjustable damper being adapted to vary damping at different positions in the stroke of the shaft;

a plurality of additional sensors to harvest and collect damper and chassis data being selected from the group consisting of;

pressure sensors, temperature sensors, quick disconnects, load cells, stroke sensors, linear velocity sensors, acceleration sensors, digital &

analog controller, wiring harnesses, and combinations thereof;

a body cap including said load cell; and

said manifold tube accepting said pressure sensors, said temperature sensors, and said quick disconnects sensors.

8. An electronically adjustable damper comprising:

at least one electronically controlled valve; and

a linear velocity displacement transducer sensor for altering damping using shock velocity as an input over displacement;

whereby, the damper being electronically adjustable.

9. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 further comprising:

a main piston cylinder;

an external reservoir mounted on the rebound stroke side of said main piston cylinder or an internal reservoir inside said main piston cylinder;

an integrated manifold controlling flow through the main piston cylinder in both the rebound and compression directions.

10. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 9 wherein said integrated manifold comprising:

a compression electronically controlled valve associated with a compression check valve for controlling compression flow independently; and

a rebound electronically controlled valve associated with a rebound check valve for controlling rebound flow independently.

11. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 9 wherein said main piston cylinder being made of:

four outer sleeves including two finned spacer tubes, a middle manifold tube, and a reservoir tube wherein, said electronically controlled compression and rebound valves being secured in said middle manifold tube, or

three outer sleeves including a finned bottom tube, a top manifold tube, and a reservoir tube, wherein, said electronically controlled compression and rebound valves being secured in said top manifold tube.

12. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 11 wherein said four outer sleeves or said three outer sleeves being configurable in 360°

rotation and the reservoir tube being compression or extension side fed for shaft diameter volume ingestion.

13. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 wherein said electronically controlled valves being selected from the group consisting of:

piezo valves, pressure relief valves, solenoid valves, pressure speed spool valve, electric spool valve, proportional valve, servo controlled valve, direct drive valve, and combinations thereof.

14. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 wherein said electronically adjustable damper not including any external tubes.

15. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 wherein said main piston cylinder having a deflective disc style piston for both compression and extension.

16. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 wherein said linear velocity displacement transducer sensor being integrally built into the damper, where said linear velocity displacement transducer being housed in a shaft and being activated by a magnet,

wherein said magnet being housed in the seal head of said shaft;

whereby the stroke or shaft extension can vary infinitely and said electronically adjustable damper being adapted to vary damping at different positions in the stroke of the shaft.

17. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of additional sensors to harvest and collect damper and chassis data.

18. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 17 wherein said plurality of sensors being selected from the group consisting of:

pressure sensors, temperature sensors, quick disconnects, load cells, stroke sensors, linear velocity sensors, acceleration sensors, digital &

analog controller, wiring harnesses, and various combinations thereof.

19. The electronically adjustable damper of claim 18 further comprising:

a body cap including said load cell; and

said manifold tube accepting said pressure sensors, said temperature sensors, and said quick disconnects sensors.

20. A method of remotely optimizing the suspension system of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

installing an electronically adjustable damper system on a vehicle;

said electronically adjustable damper system comprising;

an electronically adjustable damper for each suspension of the vehicle, each of said electronically adjustable dampers comprising;

at least one electronically controlled valve; and

whereby, the damper being electronically adjustable;

a controller for adjusting each of said electronically adjustable dampers independently via said electronically controlled valve or valves;

a remote electronic device; and

a plurality of prescribed settings for the vehicle;

whereby, said electronically adjustable damper system being configured to allow a user to select one of the plurality of prescribed settings to fine tune the dampers to extract maximum performance from the vehicle by allowing a user to adjust the electronically adjustable damper system to different applications and functions for various users, conditions, or both; and

optimizing the suspension of the vehicle by adjusting at least one of said electronically adjustable dampers via said electronically adjustable damper system.