A method and system for controlling an air suspension of a recreational vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to vehicle suspension technology, disclose a kind of motor home air suspension control method and system, its method, by pressing control panel camping button, ECU controls front axle solenoid valve to front suspension air bag is deflated to minimum, ECU controls rear axle solenoid valve to rear suspension air bag is deflated to reduce 50mm, rear axle air bag is reduced from working air pressure 6bar to 5~4bar, while ECU controls outrigger solenoid valve to cylinder (no rod cavity) pressurization to maximum pressure, outrigger stretches and contacts ground surface.Then reduce a little rear suspension air bag air pressure, and the mechanical part of outrigger carries part of weight.The present application can realize the control of motor home camping and camping without supporting.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to vehicle suspension technology, in particular to a motor home air suspension control method and system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Air suspension is a kind of suspension system that uses air springs to replace traditional steel plate springs. Air suspension is widely used in large buses, trucks and other vehicles due to its light weight, smooth ride and other advantages such as lift.

[0003] Electrically controlled air suspension (ECAS) uses electric control technology to actively control air springs, achieving height adjustment of the vehicle body under different driving conditions. Compared with traditional mechanical air suspension, ECAS has the advantages of fast response speed, height adjustment, and greatly improved ride comfort, handling stability and driving performance, representing an important direction for the future development of air suspension. Due to the large volume of motor homes, additional support is needed when camping, especially for trucks with only one set of wheels at the rear.

[0004] As prior art CN201610986358.5, a kind of electrically controlled air suspension load disturbance delay and gas coordination control method, the mode of control of air suspension in this design is complex;When camping, additional support is needed. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a motor home air suspension control method and system to solve the problem of complex air suspension control in the prior art and the need for additional support when camping.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the present application solves the problems by the following technical solutions:

[0007] A motor home air suspension control system includes a control panel, an ECU control unit, a sensor unit, a solenoid valve and an air bag. The acquisition unit includes three height sensor units and five air pressure sensor units. After receiving the operation command, the control panel sends it to the ECU control unit through the internal CAN bus;

[0008] The ECU control unit collects the height values of the three height sensor units and determines the vehicle body state through the collected height values.

[0009] The ECU control unit collects the air pressure values of the five air pressure sensor units and identifies the air pressure state of the air bag through the collected air pressure values. The ECU control unit charges and discharges the air bag through the solenoid valve according to the air pressure state of the air bag.

[0010] Preferably, the electromagnetic valve comprises a front axle electromagnetic valve, a rear axle electromagnetic valve and a cylinder electromagnetic valve; the front axle electromagnetic valve is connected with a left front axle at one end and a right front axle at the other end; the front axle electromagnetic valve is used for controlling the front axle of the motor home; the rear axle electromagnetic valve is connected with a left rear axle at one end and a right rear axle at the other end; the rear axle electromagnetic valve is used for controlling the rear axle of the motor home; the cylinder electromagnetic valve is connected with a camping cylinder and a camping-out cylinder; the camping cylinder and the camping-out cylinder are both provided with a rod cavity and a rodless cavity.

[0011] Preferably, the five air pressure sensor units are respectively a right rear axle pressure sensor, a left rear axle pressure sensor, a front axle pressure sensor, a rodless cavity pressure sensor and a rod cavity pressure sensor; the right rear axle pressure sensor is connected with the right rear axle and used for obtaining the pressure of the right rear axle; the left rear axle pressure sensor is connected with the left rear axle and used for obtaining the pressure of the left rear axle; the front axle pressure sensor is connected with the left front axle and used for obtaining the pressure of the left front axle; the rod cavity pressure sensor is connected with the rod cavity of the camping-out cylinder and used for obtaining the pressure of the rod cavity; the rodless cavity pressure sensor is connected with the rodless cavity of the camping-out cylinder and used for obtaining the pressure of the rodless cavity.

[0012] Preferably, the three height sensor units are respectively a left rear axle height sensor, a right front axle height sensor and a right rear axle height sensor; the left rear axle height sensor is used for obtaining the height value of the left rear axle; the right front axle height sensor is used for obtaining the height value of the left rear axle; the right rear axle height sensor is used for obtaining the height value of the right rear axle.

[0013] Preferably, the control panel is provided with a lifting axle control mode indicator light, a camping mode button, a camping-out mode button, a lifting axle mode selection button, a lifting axle mode up button, a lifting axle mode down button and a lifting axle mode down pause button.

[0014] Preferably, the control panel is provided with a lifting axle control mode indicator light, a camping mode button, a camping-out mode button, a lifting axle mode selection button, a lifting axle mode up button, a lifting axle mode down button and a lifting axle mode down pause button.

[0015] To solve the above technical problems, the application further provides a motor home air suspension control method, characterized by a method for realizing the motor home air suspension control system, which comprises the following steps:

[0016] The parking state signal is sent, the parking state signal is sent through the CAN bus, and the state of the whole vehicle is determined according to the parking state signal;

[0017] The lifting axle control mode is determined, when the parking state signal of the whole vehicle is high, the parking state is determined, and the lifting axle control mode is determined;

[0018] The receiving of the camp-up signal and the camp signal, in the state of the lifting axle control mode, judges the validity of the received camp-up signal and the camp signal; when the camp signal is valid, the control of camping is performed; when the camp-up signal is valid, the control of camp-up is performed.

[0019] As preferred, the control of camping includes: the front suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum position Lmin, and the rear suspension is lowered by 50mm; the cylinder solenoid controls the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder to be discharged, when the gas pressure of the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is less than 0.2bar; the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is pressurized, when the gas pressure of the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is less than 0.2bar; the rear suspension continues to be discharged, and whether the rear suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum height is judged, and when the calibrated minimum height is reached, the discharge is stopped.

[0020] As preferred, the control of camp-up includes: the ECU control unit controls the front axle solenoid and the rear axle solenoid to inflate the front and rear suspension air bags, so that the vehicle body is restored to the driving height; the cylinder solenoid controls the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder to be discharged, when the gas pressure of the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is less than 0.2bar; the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is pressurized, when the gas pressure of the rod cavity of the camp-up cylinder is less than 0.2bar; and the pressurization is ended.

[0021] As preferred, after the rear suspension continues to be discharged, the ball angle switch is further judged, when the ball angle switch is normal, whether the rear suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum height is judged, otherwise, a fault is sent to the vehicle bus.

[0022] The present application has the following technical effects:

[0023] The present application controls the camp-up button of the control panel, the ECU control unit controls the front axle solenoid to deflate the front suspension air bag to the minimum, the ECU control unit controls the rear axle solenoid to deflate the rear suspension air bag by 50mm, the working pressure of the rear suspension air bag is reduced from 6bar to 5-4bar, the ECU control unit controls the outrigger solenoid to pressurize the cylinder (rodless cavity) to the maximum pressure, the outrigger is extended and contacts the ground, and then the pressure of the rear suspension air bag is reduced a little, and the outrigger mechanical part bears part of the weight.

[0024] The present application controls the camp-up button of the control panel, the ECU control unit controls the front axle solenoid to deflate the front suspension air bag to the minimum, the ECU control unit controls the rear axle solenoid to deflate the rear suspension air bag by 50mm, the working pressure of the rear suspension air bag is reduced from 6bar to 5-4bar, the ECU control unit controls the outrigger solenoid to pressurize the cylinder (rodless cavity) to the maximum pressure, the outrigger is extended and contacts the ground, and then the pressure of the rear suspension air bag is reduced a little, and the outrigger mechanical part bears part of the weight.

[0025] The present application can realize the control of camp-up and camp-up without supporting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is the system electrical control diagram of the present application;

[0027] Figure 2 is the camping control flow diagram of the present application;

[0028] Figure 3 is the starting control flow diagram of the present application;

[0029] Figure 4 is the schematic diagram of different heights of the vehicle body of the present application.

[0030] Wherein, X3-3 is a rod cavity pressure sensor, X3-5 is a rod cavity pressure sensor, X1-4 is a ball angle switch, X2-5 is a left rear axle height sensor, X2-6 is a left rear axle pressure sensor, X2-3 is a front axle pressure sensor, X2-9 is a right front axle height sensor, X2-2 is a right rear axle pressure sensor, and X2-8 is a right rear axle height sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present application will be further described in detail below in combination with the drawings and examples.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] The present application is a control system for air suspension of a motor home, which comprises a control panel, an ECU control unit, a sensor unit, an electromagnetic valve and an air bag. The sensor unit comprises three height sensor units and five air pressure sensor units. After receiving an operation command, the control panel sends the command to the ECU control unit through an internal CAN bus.

[0034] The ECU control unit collects the height values of the three height sensor units and determines the state of the vehicle body according to the collected height values.

[0035] The ECU control unit collects the air pressure values of the five air pressure sensor units and identifies the air pressure state of the air bag according to the collected air pressure values. The ECU control unit controls the air bag to inflate or deflate through the electromagnetic valve according to the air pressure state of the air bag.

[0036] Figure 1 The electromagnetic valve comprises a front axle electromagnetic valve, a rear axle electromagnetic valve and a cylinder electromagnetic valve. The front axle electromagnetic valve is connected with a left front axle at one end and a right front axle at the other end. The front axle electromagnetic valve is used to control the front axle of the motor home. The rear axle electromagnetic valve is connected with a left rear axle at one end and a right rear axle at the other end. The rear axle electromagnetic valve is used to control the rear axle of the motor home. The cylinder electromagnetic valve is connected with a camping cylinder and a starting cylinder. Both the camping cylinder and the starting cylinder are provided with a rod cavity and a rodless cavity.

[0037] 5 pressure sensor units are right rear axle pressure sensor, left rear axle pressure sensor X2-6, front axle pressure sensor X2-3, rodless cavity pressure sensor X3-5 and rod cavity pressure sensor X3-3; the right rear axle pressure sensor is connected with the right rear axle, and is used for obtaining the pressure of the right rear axle; the left rear axle pressure sensor X2-6 is connected with the left rear axle, and is used for obtaining the pressure of the left rear axle; the front axle pressure sensor X2-3 is connected with the left front axle, and is used for obtaining the pressure of the left front axle; the rod cavity pressure sensor X3-3 is connected with the rod cavity of the camping cylinder and the camping cylinder, and is used for obtaining the pressure of the rod cavity; the rodless cavity pressure sensor X3-5 is connected with the rodless cavity of the camping cylinder and the camping cylinder, and is used for obtaining the pressure of the rodless cavity.

[0038] 3 height sensor units are left rear axle height sensor X2-5, right front axle height sensor X2-9 and right rear axle height sensor X2-8; the left rear axle height sensor X2-5 is used for obtaining the height value of the left rear axle, and the right front axle height sensor X2-9 is used for obtaining the height value of the left rear axle; the right rear axle height sensor X2-8 is used for obtaining the height value of the right rear axle.

[0039] The control panel is provided with a lifting axle control mode indicator light, a camping mode button, a camping mode button, a lifting axle mode selection button, a lifting axle mode up button, a lifting axle mode down button and a lifting axle mode down pause button.

[0040] Embodiment 2

[0041] On the basis of embodiment 1, the embodiment further includes a ball angle switch X1-4, the ball angle switch X1-4 is connected in series with the cylinder electromagnetic valve, the ECU control unit receives the inclination angle of the ball angle switch X1-4, and controls the cylinder electromagnetic valve through the state of the ball angle switch X1-4. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the ball angle switch X1-4 is connected in series at the common end 7.4 of the cylinder electromagnetic valve, when the inclination angle is too large, the ball angle switch X1-4 is disconnected, even if the control end 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 of the cylinder electromagnetic valve has control signal output, it cannot charge and discharge because it cannot form a loop. One end of the common end 7.4 of the cylinder electromagnetic valve is connected to the X1-4 port of the ECU for the ECU to detect the state of the ball angle switch X1-4, and the other end is connected to the A end of the ball angle switch X1-4. The B end of the ball angle switch X1-4 is connected to the X2-4 electromagnetic valve common end of the ECU, and the common end of the cylinder electromagnetic valve is grounded inside the ECU control unit. Therefore, when the ball angle switch X1-4 is normally closed, the voltage detected by the X1-4 port of the ECU control unit is 0V, and when the ball angle switch X1-4 is disconnected, if any one or several of the control end 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 of the cylinder electromagnetic valve has control signal output, the voltage detected by the X1-4 port of the ECU control unit is high level.

[0042] Embodiment 3

[0043] On the basis of the above embodiment, the embodiment is a motor home air suspension control method, which realizes the method of the motor home air suspension control system, and includes the following steps:

[0044] The parking state signal is sent through the CAN bus, and the state of the whole vehicle is determined according to the parking state signal; when the parking state signal of the whole vehicle is high, the parking state is determined, so that the determination of the lifting axle control mode is performed.

[0045] The camping signal and the camping signal are received, and the effectiveness of the received camping signal and the camping signal is judged in the state of the lifting axle control mode; when the camping signal is effective, the control of camping is performed; when the camping signal is effective, the control of camping is performed.

[0046] Figure 2 The control of camping includes: the front suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum position Lmin, and the rear suspension is lowered by 50 mm; the cylinder solenoid valve controls the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity to bleed air, when the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity air pressure is less than 0.2 bar; the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity is pressurized, when the whole vehicle air pressure minus the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity air pressure is less than 0.2 bar; the rear suspension continues to bleed air and judges whether the rear suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum height, and when the calibrated minimum height is reached, the bleeding is stopped.

[0047] Figure 3 The control of camping includes: the ECU control unit controls the front axle solenoid valve and the rear axle solenoid valve to inflate the front and rear suspension air bags, so that the vehicle body is restored to the driving height; the cylinder solenoid valve controls the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity to bleed air, when the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity air pressure is less than 0.2 bar, the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity is pressurized, when the whole vehicle air pressure minus the camping and camping cylinder rod cavity air pressure is less than 0.2 bar; then the pressurization is finished.

[0048] Embodiment 4

[0049] On the basis of embodiment 3, the embodiment further includes the judgment of the ball angle switch X1-4 after the rear suspension continues to bleed air, when the ball angle switch X1-4 is normal, the judgment of whether the rear suspension is lowered to the calibrated minimum height is performed, otherwise, the fault is sent to the whole vehicle bus.

Claims

1. A method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome, characterized in that, The system includes a motorhome air suspension control system, comprising: a control panel, an ECU control unit, sensor units, solenoid valves, and airbags; the data acquisition unit includes three height sensor units and five air pressure sensor units; characterized in that... After receiving the operation command, the control panel sends it to the ECU control unit via the internal CAN bus; The ECU control unit collects the height values ​​from three height sensor units and determines the vehicle's status based on the collected height values; The ECU control unit collects the air pressure values ​​from five air pressure sensor units and identifies the air pressure status of the airbag based on the collected air pressure values; the ECU control unit inflates and deflates the airbag through a solenoid valve according to the air pressure status of the airbag. Suspension control methods include: The parking status signal is sent via the CAN bus, and the status of the entire vehicle is determined based on the parking status signal. The lifting shaft control mode is determined when the vehicle's parking status signal is high. The system receives camping and encampment signals. In the lifting axis control mode, it determines the validity of the received camping and encampment signals. If the encampment signal is valid, encampment control is initiated. If the camping signal is valid, camping control is initiated. Encampment control includes: The front suspension airbags deflate, and the front suspension descends to the calibrated lowest position Lmin. The rear suspension airbags deflate, and the rear suspension descends by 50mm. The cylinder solenoid valve controls the release of air from the rod chamber of the camping start-up cylinder when the air pressure in the rod chamber of the camping start-up cylinder is less than 0.2 bar. Then the rodless chamber of the camping start cylinder is pressurized, and the total vehicle air pressure minus the air pressure in the rodless chamber of the camping start cylinder is less than 0.2 bar; The rear suspension airbags deflate, and the vehicle continues to descend, checking whether the rear suspension has reached the calibrated minimum height. Deflating stops once the calibrated minimum height is reached. Start-up control includes: The ECU control unit controls the front axle solenoid valve and the rear axle solenoid valve to inflate the front and rear suspension airbags, so that the vehicle body returns to the driving height; The cylinder solenoid valve controls the release of air from the rodless chamber of the camping start-up cylinder. When the air pressure in the rodless chamber of the camping start-up cylinder is less than 0.2 bar, The rod chamber of the stationary starting cylinder is pressurized. When the total vehicle air pressure minus the air pressure in the rod chamber of the stationary starting cylinder is less than 0.2 bar, the pressurization ends.

2. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solenoid valves include a front axle solenoid valve, a rear axle solenoid valve, and a cylinder solenoid valve. One end of the front axle solenoid valve is connected to the left front axle, and the other end is connected to the right front axle. The front axle solenoid valve controls the front axle of the RV. One end of the rear axle solenoid valve is connected to the left rear axle, and the other end is connected to the right rear axle. The cylinder solenoid valve is connected to the left camping cylinder and the right camping cylinder. The camping cylinder has a rod chamber and a rodless chamber.

3. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 1, characterized in that, The five pressure sensor units are: right rear axle pressure sensor, left rear axle pressure sensor, front axle pressure sensor, rodless chamber pressure sensor, and rod chamber pressure sensor. The right rear axle pressure sensor is connected to the right rear axle to obtain the pressure of the right rear axle; the left rear axle pressure sensor is connected to the left rear axle to obtain the pressure of the left rear axle; the front axle pressure sensor is connected to the left front axle to obtain the pressure of the left front axle; the rod chamber pressure sensor is connected to the rod chamber of the camping cylinder to obtain the pressure of the rod chamber; and the rodless chamber pressure sensor is connected to the rodless chamber of the camping cylinder to obtain the pressure of the rodless chamber.

4. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 1, characterized in that, The three height sensor units are the left rear axle height sensor, the right front axle height sensor, and the right rear axle height sensor; the left rear axle height sensor is used to obtain the height value of the left rear axle, the right front axle height sensor is used to obtain the height value of the right front axle, and the right rear axle height sensor is used to obtain the height value of the right rear axle.

5. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a ball angle switch, which is connected in series with the cylinder solenoid valve. The ECU control unit receives the tilt angle of the ball angle switch and controls the cylinder solenoid valve based on the state of the ball angle switch.

6. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control panel features an indicator light for the lifting axis control mode, a camping mode button, a camping mode button, a lifting axis mode selection button, a lifting axis mode up button, a lifting axis mode down button, and a lifting axis mode down pause button.

7. The method for controlling air suspension in a motorhome according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the rear suspension airbag deflates and continues to descend, the ball bearing angle switch is checked. If the ball bearing angle switch is normal, the rear suspension is checked to see if it has descended to the calibrated minimum height. Otherwise, a fault is sent to the vehicle bus.

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