DEVICE COMPRISING A SUSPENSION SYSTEM

• US 20150001771A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Grammer AG (Ningbo Jifeng Auto Parts Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: LOREY, Konstantin
• Granted Patent: US 9,377,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/126
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/501 actively controlled suspension, e.g. electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/525 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/02 using gas only or vacuum F16F9/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0218 Mono-tubular units F16F9/0227, F16F9/0236, F16F9/0245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0281 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/049 multi-chamber units F16F9/0472, F16F9/05 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a suspension system, which suspension system comprises a first part to which a mass is applied, a second part and an air spring arranged between said first part and said second part, at least one additional volume means for air being provided, the volume of which can be connected in a controlled manner, and a control means for connecting the volume of the additional volume means, wherein, via the control means, a pressure accumulator and the additional volume means are in fluid communication with the air spring such that a force/displacement characteristic line of the air spring can itself be modified depending on a deflection displacement and/or rebound displacement and/or speed and/or acceleration of the first part in a presettable manner, by connecting the additional volume and/or the pressure accumulator by means of the control means during the deflection and/or rebound of the first part.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a suspension system which comprises a first part to which a mass is applied, a second part and at least one air spring arranged between said first part and said second part, at least one additional volume means for air being provided, the volume of which can be connected to a volume of the air spring in a controlled manner, and a control means for connecting the volume of the additional volume means,

wherein via the control means, a pressure accumulator and the additional volume means are in fluid communication with the air spring such that a force/displacement characteristic line of the air spring can be modified depending on a deflection displacement and/or rebound displacement and/or deflection or rebound speed and/or deflection or rebound acceleration of the first part relative to the second part in a presettable manner, by connecting the additional volume means and/or the pressure accumulator by means of the control means during the deflection and/or rebound of the first part relative to the second part.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the control means comprises a cylinder inside which a movable piston is arranged, it being possible to connect the additional volume means and/or the pressure accumulator via a movement and/or a presettable position of the piston inside the cylinder.

3. The device according to claim 2,

wherein

the control means comprises at least one valve means, via which the position of the piston inside the cylinder can be modified and/or set in a presettable manner, the additional volume means and/or the pressure accumulator being brought into fluid communication with the air spring in an open position of the valve means.

4. The device according to claim 3,

wherein

the valve means is in the form of a flapper valve, which is arranged on the piston over the air opening thereof, via which the additional volume means can be brought into fluid communication with the air spring.

5. The device according to claim 3,

wherein

the valve means can be operated in the open position if an internal pressure (P3) of the pressure accumulator is greater than an inner pressure (P1) of the air spring, it being possible for the piston to be displaced inside the cylinder via the open position of the valve means such that the additional volume means can be connected.

6. The device according to claim 3,

wherein

the valve means can be operated in the closed position if an internal pressure (P3) of the pressure accumulator is equal to an internal pressure (P1) of the air spring, an internal pressure (P2) of the additional volume means being less than one of the two other internal pressures (P1, P3).

7. The device according to claim 4,

wherein

depending on the deflection displacement and/or rebound displacement and/or speed and/or acceleration of the first part relative to the second part and on the internal pressure (P1) of the air spring which is dependent thereon, the flapper valve opens or closes automatically.

8. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

after the deflection and/or rebound of the first part, a pressure compensation can be carried out by the control means, the internal pressures (P1, P2, P3) of the air spring, of the additional volume means and of the pressure accumulator, respectively, being equal in the pressure compensation.

9. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the air spring is also coupled to the additional volume means via a fluid connection of the piston, the fluid connection of the piston being in the form of a fluid duct inside the piston, and it being possible for the additional volume means to be connected via the fluid connection of the piston, via a movement of the piston in the cylinder.

10. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the first part is an oscillating part and in that the second part is a stationary part.

11. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the first part is coupled to the second part via a guide means, more particularly a scissor-action frame.