Vehicle stability system using active tilting mechanism

• US 7,063,334 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard Tak Su Lim
• Original Assignee: Howard Tak Su Lim
• Inventors: Lim, Howard Tak Su
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/120,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.502, 280/5.51, 280/5.508, 280/124.103, 280/124.106, 280/124.107, 280/755, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 280/6.15, 280/6.154, 280/14.106
• US Class Current: 280/5.506
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/067 characterised by the mounting on the vehicle body or chassis of the spring and damper unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take 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 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0511 Roll angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0523 Yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/20 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/326 only left or right side
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0124 Roll-over conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0194 transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/224 automatically, based on dangerous living style
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 : Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 : Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17554 : specially adapted for enhancing stability around the vehicles longitudinal axle, i.e. roll-over prevention road vehicle drive control systems for roll-over prevention otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/04

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle stability system that affords safe turn with higher speed as well as maximum brake performance and resists rollover by using one or more electrical and mechanical modes to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle into a more stable position in the event of a turn condition. A preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes an active tilt control to tilt the vehicle in the opposite direction to the vehicle'"'"'s natural inclination to tilt. A second preferred embodiment utilizes a shifting weight, that is a ballast or any heavy part of the vehicle to move the center of gravity toward to side of the vehicle tending to lift up during a tilt condition. The first and second preferred embodiments can be used alone or in combination to create a more dynamic stable condition for the vehicle in turn mode.

Claims

1. A vehicle stability control system that does active tilt as a counter measure of natural tilt comprising:

a tilt control processing unit;

a plurality of sensors for determining and communicating vehicle conditions to the tilt control processing unit;

a lifting mechanism for lifting a designated side of the vehicle in response to a judging by the tilt control processing unit that an active tilt condition is necessary; and

a mechanism for shifting a ballast or any heavy part of the vehicle from a neutral position to a laterally biased position based on a judging by the tilt control processing unit that an active tilt condition is necessary.

2. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein at least one sensor measures the velocity of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle control system of claim 2 wherein at least one sensor measures the instantaneous turning radius of the vehicle during a turning maneuver.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 3 wherein the tilt control processing unit also factors into the judging the location of the center of gravity of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 3 wherein at least one sensor measures the force generated by a crosswind on the vehicle.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 3 wherein at least one sensor measures current vehicle tilt status.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a vehicle suspension system and controller, and a secondary suspension support unit and controller.

8. A vehicle stability system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for determining and communicating vehicle conditions;

a processing unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processing unit configured to;

determine when a vehicle is turning;

determining a natural tilt force of the vehicle as it is turning;

generating an output signal that causes a designated side of the vehicle to either lift or lower; and

a mechanism for shifting a ballast or any heavy part of the vehicle from a neutral position to a laterally biased position.

9. The vehicle stability system of claim 8 further comprising:

a lifting mechanism for lifting the designated side of the vehicle in response to the output signal from the processing unit.

10. The vehicle stability system of claim 8 wherein the natural tilt force vector of the vehicle is determined from a centrifugal force for the vehicle and weight gravity force for the vehicle.

11. The vehicle stability system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine a turning direction of the vehicle,

determine an absolute natural tilt angle formed between the natural tilt force vector and a vector corresponding to the weight gravity force for the vehicle, and

determine an ideal tilting angle so that, when the vehicle is at a dynamic stable state, the natural tilt force vector is at approximately ninety degrees with the horizontal line of the vehicle, wherein the output signal causes the vehicle to be placed at the ideal tilting angle and in the dynamic stable state less lateral force is perceived within the vehicle than in a static stable state.