Method for monitoring and controlling a pneumatic ride-height control system of a chassis system

• US 9,259,987 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Nettelmann, Marc, Schnemann, Werner, Knig, Oliver, Hoinkhaus, Hermann, Tepe, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, ANA D
• Application Number:
  US14/122,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.16, 280/707
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System

Abstract

A method for monitoring and controlling a chassis pneumatic ride-height control system. Repeatedly measuring a current height of the chassis; detecting when the current height of the chassis exceeds at least one predefined height threshold. A time interval threshold is associated with the height threshold; repeatedly measuring a time interval in which the current height of the chassis exceeds the predefined height threshold; detecting when the measured lime interval exceeds the predefined time interval threshold associated with the predefined height threshold; repeatedly checking whether both the height threshold and the associated time interval threshold are exceeded, and if so, preventing the current height of the chassis from rising further and/or increasing stability of the chassis; deactivating the measures when the repeated check shows that the current height of the chassis is below the at least one height threshold and the associated time interval threshold.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and controlling a pneumatic ride height control system of a chassis system, wherein the method comprises the steps:

repeatedly measuring, by sensors, a current ride height of the chassis system,

detecting, by a processor, when a first predefined ride height threshold value is exceeded by the current ride height of the chassis system,

detecting, by the processor, when a second predefined ride height threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, is exceeded by the current ride height of the chassis system,

wherein a first time interval threshold value is associated with the first ride height threshold value and a second time interval threshold value is associated with the second ride height threshold value,

repeatedly measuring, by the processor, a time interval in which the current ride height of the chassis system exceeds at least one of the first predefined ride height threshold value and the second predefined ride height threshold value,

detecting, by the processor, when the first predefined time interval threshold value associated with the first predefined ride height threshold value is exceeded by the measured time interval,

detecting, by the processor, when the second ride height threshold value is exceeded by the measured time interval,

repeatedly checking, by the processor;

whether both the first ride height threshold value and the associated first time interval threshold value are exceeded, and when both the first ride height threshold value and the associated first time interval threshold value are exceeded, automatically activating a first predefined technical measure that is suitable for at least one of preventing further raising of the current ride height of the chassis system and for increasing a stability of the chassis system, and

whether the second ride height threshold value and the associated second time interval threshold value are exceeded, and when the second ride height threshold value and the associated second time interval threshold value are exceeded, automatically activating a second predefined technical measure that is suitable for at least one of preventing further raising of the current ride height of the chassis system and for increasing the stability of the chassis system,

deactivating, by the processor, the automatically activated measures when the repeated checking, by the processor, reveals that the current ride height of the chassis system is below the first ride height threshold value minus a hysteresis and beyond an associated time interval threshold value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the repeated measurement of the current ride height of the chassis system a frequency assessment of measured height signals is performed, wherein the influence of vehicle dynamic variables for different driving maneuvers is assessed and/or a degree of weight loading of the chassis system is taken into account.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method also comprises the repeated monitoring and identification of processes and components of a pneumatic actuator system of the pneumatic ride height control system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined technical measures are further suitable for lowering the current ride height of the chassis system below at least one of the first and second ride height threshold value and/or to increase a stability of the chassis system.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the technical measures, in cases in which the current ride height of the chassis system exceeds at least one of the first and second ride height threshold value and at least one of the associated first and second time interval threshold value, comprise:

controlling the processes and components of the pneumatic actuator system of the pneumatic ride height control system,

activating the auxiliary systems ensuring the stability of the chassis system, especially electronic stability programs, and/or

a control adjustment of vehicle components for reduction of a speed of the chassis system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method also comprises an assessment of the activated technical measures.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein on exceeding at least one of the first and second ride height threshold value and at least one of the associated first and second time interval threshold value, predefined fault entries are set for logging and/or for fault diagnosis.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein on exceeding at least one of the first and second ride height threshold value and at least one of the associated first and second time interval threshold value, predefined warning levels are set for classification of said exceeding event, wherein depending on the warning levels at least one of the predefined technical measures is activated that is suitable for lowering the current ride height of the chassis system below the at least one first and second ride height threshold value and/or for increasing a stability of the chassis system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein on exceeding at least one of the first and second ride height threshold value and at least one of the associated first and second time interval threshold value, at least one information signal and/or at least one command, which are suitable for activating measures for lowering the current ride height and/or for increasing the stability of the chassis system, are sent to further interfaces that can be defined.

10. A computer program product with instructions that can be executed by a processor for performing process steps according to claim 1.

11. A control device for monitoring and controlling a pneumatic ride height control system of a chassis system comprising:

sensors for repeatedly measuring a current ride height of the chassis system,

processor for;

detecting when a first predefined ride height threshold value is exceeded by the current ride height of the chassis system, and for detecting when a second predefined ride height threshold value, which is greater than the first threshold value, is exceeded by the current ride height of the chassis system,

wherein a first time interval threshold value is associated with the first ride height threshold value, and a second time interval threshold value is associated with the second ride height threshold value,

repeatedly measuring a time interval in which the current ride height of the chassis system exceeds at least one of the first predefined ride height threshold value and the second predefined ride height threshold value,

detecting when the first predefined time interval threshold value associated with the first predefined ride height threshold value is exceeded by the measured time interval,

detecting when the second predefined time interval threshold value associated with the second predefined ride height threshold value is exceeded by the measured time interval,

repeatedly checking;

whether both the first ride height threshold value and the associated first time interval threshold value are exceeded, and when both the first ride height threshold value and the associated first time interval threshold value are exceeded, automatically activating a first predefined technical measure that is suitable for at least one of preventing further raising of the current ride height of the chassis system and for increasing a stability of the chassis system, and

whether the second ride height threshold value and the associated second time interval threshold value are exceeded, and when the second ride height threshold value and the associated second time interval threshold value are exceeded, automatically activating a second predefined technical measure that is suitable for at least one of preventing further raising of the current ride height of the chassis system and for increasing the stability of the chassis system,

deactivating the automatically activated measures if the when the checking reveals that the current ride height of the chassis system is below the first ride height threshold value minus a hysteresis and beyond an associated time interval threshold value.