Vehicle having suspension with continuous damping control

• US 9,527,362 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Brady, Louis J., Scheuerell, Alex R., Franker, Steven R., Nysse, Aaron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/935,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20160059660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.504, 280/5.512, 280/5.514, 280/5.519, 280/6.154, 701/37, 701/38, 701/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/06 Characteristics of dampers , e.g. mechanical dampersB60G17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/322 Snowmobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/33 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/39 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/40 Steering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 : Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• 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 2600/70 : Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 : Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 : Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/916 : Body Vibration Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 : Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)

Abstract

A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors are also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based vehicle conditions determined by sensor output signals.

Claims

1. A damping control method for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame, a controller, a plurality of vehicle condition sensors, and a user interface, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber, the damping control method comprising:

receiving with the controller a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

with the controller a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including a brake sensor, a throttle sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor;

determining with the controller whether vehicle brakes are actuated based on an input from the brake sensor;

with the controller a throttle position based on an input from the throttle sensor;

determining with the controller a speed of the vehicle based on an input from the vehicle speed sensor;

the damping control according to a brake condition when the brakes are actuated, wherein in the brake condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed;

operating the damping control according to a first ride condition when the brakes are not actuated and a throttle position is less than a threshold Y, wherein in the first ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed; and

operating the damping control according to a second ride condition when the brakes are not actuated, the throttle position is greater than the threshold Y, and the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold value Z, wherein in the second ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the brake condition the controller increases compression damping on the front right and front left shock absorbers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the brake condition the controller also increases rebound damping on the at least one rear shock absorber.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving with the controller inputs from additional vehicle condition sensors including a steering position sensor;

determining with the controller a steering position based on an input from the steering position sensor; and

operating the damping control in a roll/cornering condition when the steering position is greater than a threshold X, in the roll/cornering condition the controller defining damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode, the vehicle speed, and the steering position.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving with the controller a steering rate based on an input from one of a steering rate sensor and the steering position sensor;

determining with the controller a steering rate based on an input from the one of the steering rate sensor and the steering position sensor; and

operating the damping control in a roll/cornering condition when either the steering position is greater than a threshold X or the steering rate is greater than a threshold B, in the roll/cornering condition the controller adjusting damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and at least one of the vehicle speed and the steering rate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases compression damping on outside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the one of the steering rate sensor and the steering position sensor, the “

outside”

being defined as the side opposite of a turn direction.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases compression damping on outside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the steering sensor, the “

outside”

being defined as the side opposite of a turn direction.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases rebound damping on inside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the steering sensor, the “

inside”

being defined as the same side of a turn direction.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs and the plurality of shock absorbers are coupled between the vehicle frame and the ground engaging members through a linkage of the suspension.

10. A damping control method for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame, a controller, a plurality of vehicle condition sensors, and a user interface, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber, the damping control method comprising:

receiving with the controller a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

receiving with the controller a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including a steering sensor, a vehicle speed sensor; and

a brake sensor;

determining with the controller whether vehicle brakes are actuated based on an input from the brake sensor;

determining with the controller a steering sensor position based on an input from the steering sensor;

determining with the controller a speed of the vehicle based on an input from the vehicle speed sensor;

operating the damping control in a brake condition when the brakes are actuated, wherein in the brake condition the controller adjusts damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed;

operating the damping control in a modified brake condition when the brakes are actuated and either the steering position is greater than a threshold X or a steering rate is greater than a threshold B, in the modified brake condition controller adjusting damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode, the vehicle speed, and at least one of the steering position and the steering rate; and

operating the damping control in a roll/cornering condition when either the steering position is greater than a threshold X or the steering rate is greater than a threshold B, and the brakes are not actuated, in the roll/cornering condition the controller adjusting damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and at least one of the steering position and the steering rate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases compression damping on outside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the steering sensor, the “

outside”

being defined as the side opposite of a turn direction.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases rebound damping on inside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the steering sensor, the “

inside”

being defined as the same side of a turn direction.

13. The method of claim 10, further including operating the damping control in a roll/cornering condition when a lateral acceleration sensor provides a signal greater than a threshold and the brakes are not actuated.

14. The method of claim 10, further including operating the damping control according to a first ride condition when the brakes are not actuated and a throttle position, determined via a throttle sensor, is less than a threshold Y, wherein in the first ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed;

and

operating the damping control according to a second ride condition when the brakes are not actuated, the throttle position is greater than the threshold Y, and the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold value Z, wherein in the second ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the damping characteristics of at least one shock absorber in the first ride condition have decreased damping relative to the characteristics of the second ride condition.

16. A damping control method for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame, a controller, a plurality of vehicle condition sensors, and a user interface, the suspension including a plurality of adjustable shock absorbers including a front right shock absorber, a front left shock absorber, and at least one rear shock absorber, the damping control method comprising:

receiving with the controller a user input from the user interface to provide a user selected mode of damping operation for the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers during operation of the vehicle;

receiving with the controller a plurality of inputs from the plurality of vehicle condition sensors including, a throttle sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a steering sensor;

determining with the controller a throttle position based on an input from the throttle sensor;

determining with the controller a speed of the vehicle based on an input from the vehicle speed sensor;

determining with the controller a steering sensor position based on an input from the steering sensor;

operating the damping control in a roll/cornering condition when either the steering position is greater than a threshold X or a steering rate is greater than a threshold B, in the roll/cornering condition the controller adjusting damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and at least one of the steering position and the steering rate;

operating the damping control according to a first ride condition when the brakes are not actuated and a throttle position is less than a threshold Y, wherein in the first ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed; and

operating the damping control according to a second ride condition when the brakes are not actuated, the throttle position is greater than the threshold Y, and the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold value Z, wherein in the second ride condition the controller defines damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers including the user selected mode and the vehicle speed.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

determining with the controller a lateral acceleration based on an input from a lateral acceleration sensor; and

operating the damping control in the roll/cornering condition by adjusting damping characteristics of the plurality of adjustable shock absorbers based on condition modifiers further including the lateral acceleration.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first ride mode and second ride mode are two modes that are part of a continuum of ride modes wherein the damping characteristics of the adjustable shock absorbers are variable based upon the vehicle speed.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein in the roll/cornering condition the controller increases compression damping on outside shock absorbers when a turn event is detected via the steering sensor, the “

outside”

being defined as the side opposite of a turn direction.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the damping characteristics of at least one shock absorber in the first ride condition have decreased damping relative to the characteristics of the second ride condition.