Air spring distance indicating system and method

• US 7,420,462 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products
• Original Assignee: BFS Diversified Products LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Nordmeyer, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAU, HOI CHING
• Application Number:
  US11/337,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20070171036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 3406861-6866, 340/679, 340/425.5, 340/440, 702/150, 702/158, 702/159, 342/118, 342/385
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01933 Velocity, e.g. relative velocity-displacement sensors
• 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 2204/111 on pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/174 Radar
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/176 Radio or audio sensitive means, e.g. Ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/08 Sensor arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/05 the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/825 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder

Abstract

A distance indicating system includes a transmitting portion, a transceiver spaced a distance from the transmitting portion, and a receiving portion supported in spaced relation to the transceiver. The transmitting portion broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave. The transceiver receiving the first electromagnetic wave and transmitting a second electromagnetic wave to the receiving portion. The transceiver is operative to modulate the second electromagnetic wave in relation to an input to communicate a signal, data or information, such as the distance between the transmitting portion and the transceiver, an acceleration input, a pressure level or a temperature reading.

Claims

1. An air spring assembly comprising:

a first end member;

a second end member spaced from said first end member;

a flexible spring wall supported between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a fluid chamber therebetween;

a first transceiver supported on said first end member, said first transceiver including a first antenna operative to transmit a first electromagnetic wave and a second antenna operative to receive a second electromagnetic wave; and

,

a second transceiver supported on said second end member at a distance from said first transceiver, said second transceiver including a first antenna operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave, a second antenna operative to transmit said second electromagnetic wave, a processing device in electrical communication between said first and second antennae, said processing device receiving an electrical signal having a relation to said distance from said first antenna of said second transceiver and modulating a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said electrical signal, and a sensor in electrical communication with said processing device, said sensor operative to output a sensor signal to said processing device indicative of an input acting on one of said second transceiver and said second end member.

2. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said modulated characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave is one of amplitude and frequency.

3. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitting portion supported on said first end member and a receiving portion supported adjacent said first end member.

4. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said first antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 30 kHz to about 300 MHz.

5. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first transceiver includes a receiver in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said distance.

6. An air spring assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device in electrical communication with said receiver, said processing device receiving said output signal and determining said distance based on said output signal.

7. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 300 kHz to 6 GHz.

8. An air spring assembly according to claim 7, wherein said second transceiver is inductively coupled to said first transceiver, and said second transceiver includes a power circuit in electrical communication with said first antenna thereof and operative to collect electrical energy due to said inductive coupling with said first transceiver.

9. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is one of an accelerometer, a thermocouple and a pressure transducer.

10. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said processing device is operative to modulate a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said sensor signal.

11. An air spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said processing device includes one of a voltage-to-frequency converter, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a microcomputer.

12. A method of determining a distance between first and second end members of an air spring, said method comprising:

a) providing a transmitter supported adjacent the first end member and broadcasting a first electromagnetic wave;

b) providing a transceiver supported in spaced relation to said transmitter adjacent said second end member and transmitting a second electromagnetic wave, wherein the transceiver includes a sensor outputting a sensor signal related to an input level;

c) inducing an electrical signal in said transceiver using said first electromagnetic wave;

d) modulating said second electromagnetic wave in relation to a distance between said transmitter and said transceiver and said sensor signal; and

,

e) determining said distance between said transmitter and said transceiver based on said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein d) includes modulating said second electromagnetic wave using a modulating signal based upon one of amplitude modulation and frequency modulation to generate said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein modulating said second electromagnetic wave includes generating said modulating signal based upon said induced electrical signal.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising providing a receiver in spaced relation to said transceiver, said receiver receiving said modulated second electromagnetic wave and recovering said modulating signal therefrom.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein e) includes determining said distance and said input level based on said modulated second electromagnetic wave.

17. An air spring assembly comprising:

a first end member;

a second end member spaced from said first end member;

a flexible spring wall supported between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a fluid chamber therebetween;

a first transceiver supported on said first end member, said first transceiver including a first antenna operative to transmit a first electromagnetic wave and a second antenna operative to receive a second electromagnetic wave; and

a second transceiver supported on said second end member at a distance from said first transceiver, said second transceiver including a first antenna operative to receive said first electromagnetic wave, a second antenna operative to transmit said second electromagnetic wave, a processing device in electrical communication between said first and second antennae of said second transceiver, said processing device receiving an electrical signal having a relation to said distance from said first antenna of said second transceiver and modulating a characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave in relation to said electrical signal, and an accelerometer in electrical communication with said processing device, said accelerometer operative to output a signal to said processing device indicative of an input acting on one of said second transceiver and said second end member.

18. The air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said modulated characteristic of said second electromagnetic wave is one of amplitude and frequency.

19. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitting portion supported on said first end member and a receiving portion supported adjacent said first end member.

20. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said first transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said first antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 30 kHz to 300 MHz.

21. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said first transceiver includes a receiver in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and operative to generate an output signal having a relation to said distance.

22. An air spring assembly according to claim 21, wherein said first transceiver includes a processing device in electrical communication with said receiver, said processing device receiving said output signal and determining said distance based on said output signal.

23. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said second transceiver includes a transmitter in electrical communication with said second antenna thereof and said transmitter operates at a frequency of from 300 kHz to 6 GHz.

24. An air spring assembly according to claim 23, wherein said second transceiver is inductively coupled to said first transceiver, and said second transceiver includes a power circuit in electrical communication with said first antenna thereof and operative to collect electrical energy due to said inductive coupling with said first transceiver.

25. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said processing device is operative to modulate a characteristic of said electromagnetic wave in relation to said distance and said accelerometer signal.

26. An air spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said processing device includes one of a voltage-to-frequency converter, a microprocessor, a microcontroller or a microcomputer.