Chassis controller for a human-powered two-wheeled vehicle

• US 9,902,460 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Inventors: Walthert, Martin, Wendel, Valentin, Elsensohn, Gernot, Poesel, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/158,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20160339989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 280 55, 280 5512, 280 5514, 701 37
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/044 Suspensions with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/30 pivoted on pedal crank shelf B62K25/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0208 Alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0241 Fibre-reinforced plastics [FRP]
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/46 allowing control from a distance , i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall attachment of valve units to cylinders F16F9/325
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/50 Special means providing automatic damping adjustment, i.e. self-adjustment of damping by particular sliding movements of a valve element, other than flexions or displacement of valve discsF16F9/53 takes precedence; Special means providing self-adjustment of spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/53 Means for adjusting damping characteristics by varying fluid viscosity, e.g. electromagnetically F16F13/30 takes precedence; brakes comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled friction F16D57/002; electrorheological fluids per se C10M171/001; magnetorheological fluids per se H01F1/447
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/535 Magnetorheological [MR] fluid dampers springs comprising magnetorheological [MR] elastomers F16F1/361

Abstract

A chassis controller controls a shock absorber of a bicycle for spring-assisted damping of a relative movement between a first and a second connecting unit. A damper device and a spring device absorb shocks between the connecting units. A sensor device acquires measurement data relating to a relative movement of the connecting units. A control device controls the shock absorber. The sensor device has a scaling device connected to one of the connecting units and the sensor device extends over a measuring section in a direction of movement of the relative movement. The scaling device has a structure with magnetic properties that repeat periodically over the measuring section. The sensor device has a detector head which interacts with the scaling device, is connected to the other of the connecting units and determines a position of the shock absorber.

Claims

1. A chassis controller for an at least partially human-powered two-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

at least one controllable shock absorber having two connecting units configured to move relative to one another, at least one damper device with a damper housing and at least one spring device with a spring housing disposed for absorbing shocks between said two connecting units;

a control device for controlling said shock absorber;

at least one sensor device disposed for acquiring measurement data relating to a relative movement of said connecting units with respect to one another;

said sensor device including at least one scaling device connected to a first of said two connecting units of said shock absorber, and said sensor device extending over a measuring section in a direction of the relative movement;

said scaling device having a structure with magnetic properties that repeat periodically over said measuring section; and

said sensor device including a detector head connected to a second of said two connecting units and disposed to interact with said scaling device and to determine a position of said shock absorber.

2. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said damper device has a first damper chamber, at least one second damper chamber, and at least one damping valve coupling said first damper chamber and said at least one second damper chamber to one another.

3. The chassis controller according to claim 2, wherein said at least one damping valve is assigned at least one magnetic field-generating device which serves to generate and control a magnetic field in at least one damping duct of said damping valve, and said damping duct contains a magneto-rheological medium.

4. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said detector head is disposed adjacent said scaling device.

5. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein each sensor section has a length of at least 0.25 mm in the direction of movement.

6. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein the measuring section of said scaling device in the direction of movement corresponds substantially to a damper stroke.

7. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said detector head comprises a multiplicity of detectors whose detector signals can be evaluated.

8. The chassis controller according to claim 7, wherein said detector head comprises a multiplicity of detectors that are arranged offset in the direction of movement and whose detector signals can be evaluated.

9. The chassis controller according to claim 7, wherein a signal strength of the individual detector signals is evaluated in order to permit a position to be determined with a spatial resolution which is less than a length of a respective sensor section.

10. The chassis controller according to claim 9, wherein a ratio of a length of a sensor section to a spatial resolution of the determination of the position is greater than 100 or greater than 1000.

11. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said sensor device is configured to evaluate the signals of at least one detector such that variables selected from the group consisting of an absolute position, a relative position, a speed, a direction, an acceleration and a jolt which are dependent on the position or movement of the shock absorber can be output via an interface.

12. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device comprises a multiplicity of field-generating units.

13. The chassis controller according to claim 12, wherein said scaling device comprises a multiplicity of permanent magnets being magnetic field-generating units.

14. The chassis controller according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of mutually adjacent magnet units have a different polarity.

15. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device is at least partially ferromagnetic and said scaling device has a periodic and ferromagnetically embodied structure.

16. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device has a ladder structure or toothed structure.

17. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one magnetic field-generating device is disposed on said detector head.

18. The chassis controller according to claim 17, wherein said detector head configured to generate a magnetic alternating field with said magnetic field-generating device, and wherein said detector head is configured to detect a field strength of the magnetic alternating field which is influenced by said scaling device, in order to derive the position of the shock absorber from the field strength.

19. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said spring housing at least partially surrounds said damper device.

20. The chassis controller according to claim 18, wherein said detector head is arranged at least partially within said spring housing.

21. The chassis controller according to claim 18, wherein said damper device is connected to a suspension piston which divides an air chamber into a positive chamber and a negative chamber.

22. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said detector head is attached to said suspension piston.

23. The chassis controller according to claim 18, wherein at least a substantial portion of said spring housing is composed of a light metal.

24. The chassis controller according to claim 18, wherein at least a substantial portion of said spring housing is composed of a composite fiber material.

25. The chassis controller according to claim 18, wherein said scaling device is attached to said spring housing or is integrated therein.

26. The chassis controller according to claim 25, wherein said scaling device is attached to an outside of said spring housing.

27. The chassis controller according to claim 25, wherein said scaling device is integrated into said spring housing.

28. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device and said detector head are attached to an outside of said shock absorber.

29. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device has additional absolute position marks.

30. The chassis controller according to claim 1, wherein said scaling device can be divided physically or virtually into at least two paths which are parallel in the direction of movement, by way of different magnetic encoding.