An air spring, suspension system, and vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides an air spring, a suspension system and a vehicle, the air spring comprising: a mounting seat, an air bag and an adjusting assembly; the mounting seat and the air bag are connected with each other, the mounting seat is provided with a first chamber, and the air bag is provided with a second chamber; the adjusting assembly comprises a piston and a screw rod, the piston is movably connected to the first chamber and divides the first chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, the second sub-chamber is communicated with the second chamber; the screw rod is movably connected to the mounting seat and is screw transmission connected with the piston, and the screw rod is used for driving the piston to move, so that the total volume of the second sub-chamber and the second chamber is adjusted. The air spring provided by the embodiment of the application can adaptively adjust the rigidity of the air bag according to different vehicle parameters, so that the dynamic performance and the riding comfort of the vehicle are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of vehicle technology, specifically relating to an air spring, a suspension system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Air springs are the core component of the suspension system. They are usually installed between the vehicle body and the axle and are mainly used to buffer the relative movement between the vehicle body and the axle to achieve vehicle vibration reduction.

[0003] However, once an air spring is installed, its airbag stiffness is relatively fixed, making it difficult to adapt to different vehicle parameters (such as load), thus affecting the vehicle's dynamic performance and ride comfort. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to provide an air spring, suspension system, and vehicle to solve the problem that existing air springs are difficult to adapt to different vehicle parameters, thus affecting the vehicle's dynamic performance and ride comfort.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, this application discloses an air spring, including: a mounting base, an air bag, and an adjustment assembly;

[0007] The mounting base is connected to the airbag, the mounting base is provided with a first chamber, and the airbag is provided with a second chamber;

[0008] The adjusting assembly includes a piston and a screw. The piston is movably connected to the first chamber and divides the first chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. The second sub-chamber is in communication with the second chamber.

[0009] The screw is movably connected to the mounting base and is helically connected to the piston. The screw is used to drive the piston to move, so as to adjust the total volume of the second sub-chamber and the second chamber.

[0010] Optionally, the adjustment assembly further includes a drive member, which is disposed on the mounting base and connected to the screw, and is used to drive the screw to move and drive the piston to move.

[0011] Optionally, the mounting base includes: a side wall and a bottom wall connected to each other, wherein the side wall and the bottom wall enclose the first chamber;

[0012] The piston is slidably connected to the side wall. The side of the piston near the bottom wall, together with the side wall and the bottom wall, forms the first sub-chamber. The side of the piston away from the bottom wall, together with the side wall, forms the second sub-chamber.

[0013] The screw is rotatably connected to the bottom wall, and when the screw rotates, the piston slides in a direction away from or towards the bottom wall.

[0014] Optionally, the adjustment assembly further includes a drive member, which is disposed on the side of the bottom wall away from the first chamber and connected to the screw. The drive member is used to drive the screw to rotate and drive the piston to move and slide in a direction away from or towards the bottom wall.

[0015] Optionally, the screw includes: a first connecting part and a second connecting part that are connected to each other;

[0016] The first connecting part passes through the piston and is helically connected to the piston;

[0017] The second connecting part passes through the bottom wall and is connected to the driving member. Under the driving action of the driving member, the first connecting part and the second connecting part rotate and drive the piston to move and slide in a direction away from or close to the bottom wall.

[0018] Optionally, a stepped surface is formed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and the stepped surface abuts against the side of the bottom wall near the first chamber.

[0019] Optionally, the adjustment assembly further includes a first limiting member, which is connected to the second connecting portion and abuts against the side of the bottom wall opposite to the first chamber.

[0020] Optionally, the second connecting part is provided with a limiting groove at the corresponding position of the first limiting member, and the limiting groove engages with the first limiting member.

[0021] Optionally, the air spring further includes: a top cover and a buffer, the top cover being disposed at one end of the airbag away from the mounting base, and the buffer being disposed on the side of the top cover close to the airbag;

[0022] The adjustment assembly further includes a second limiting member, which is disposed at one end of the first connecting portion away from the second connecting portion and corresponds to the position of the buffer member. The second limiting member is used to abut against the buffer member to limit the degree of deformation of the airbag.

[0023] Optionally, the axial direction of the mounting base is a first direction, and the adjustment assembly further includes a guide structure disposed between the piston and the side wall. The guide structure is used to guide the piston to slide along the first direction toward or away from the bottom wall.

[0024] Optionally, the guide structure includes: a guide block and a guide groove extending along the first direction;

[0025] One of the guide block and the guide groove is disposed on the side of the sidewall near the piston, and the other is disposed on the side of the piston near the sidewall. The guide block is slidably connected to the guide groove along the first direction.

[0026] Optionally, multiple guide blocks are provided, and the multiple guide blocks are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the sidewall;

[0027] The guide groove is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple guide grooves are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the piston. One guide block is slidably connected to one guide groove.

[0028] Optionally, a limiting post is provided on the side of the bottom wall near the first chamber, the limiting post being used to abut against the piston to limit the piston's stroke.

[0029] Optionally, the air spring further includes a height sensor disposed on the side of the mounting base near the first chamber, the height sensor being used to acquire the height information of the piston.

[0030] Secondly, this application also discloses a suspension system comprising the aforementioned air spring.

[0031] Optionally, the adjustment assembly further includes: a drive unit and a height sensor, the drive unit being disposed on the mounting base and connected to the screw, the drive unit being used to drive the screw to move and drive the piston to move, and the height sensor being disposed on the side of the mounting base near the first chamber, the height sensor being used to acquire the height information of the piston;

[0032] The suspension system further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the drive unit and the height sensor, respectively, and is configured to control the opening or closing of the drive unit based on the height information.

[0033] Optionally, the controller is further configured to, based on the stiffness of the air spring, control the drive member to drive the screw to move and move the piston to a first set height, provided that the air pressure of the air spring remains constant.

[0034] Optionally, the controller is further configured to control the drive member to drive the screw and move the piston to the second set height based on the air pressure of the air spring, while keeping the stiffness of the air spring constant.

[0035] Thirdly, this application also discloses a vehicle that includes the aforementioned air springs or suspension system.

[0036] In this embodiment, an adjustment component is provided, comprising a piston and a screw connected by a helical drive. The piston is movably connected to the first chamber, and the screw is movably connected to the mounting base. Thus, by applying an external force to the screw, the piston can be moved, thereby changing the volume of the second sub-chamber. This allows for adjustment of the total volume of the second sub-chamber and the second chamber (i.e., the effective volume of the air chamber). Specifically, when vehicle parameters (such as load) change, the screw can drive the piston relative to the first chamber, thereby changing the effective volume of the air chamber and achieving adaptive adjustment of the airbag stiffness, which is beneficial for improving vehicle dynamics and ride comfort.

[0037] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this utility model will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0039] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of an air spring provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the structure of an air spring provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 3 This is the third schematic diagram of an air spring provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the screw structure provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the piston structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0044] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the side wall structure of the mounting base provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0045] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom wall structure of the mounting base provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 8 This is a control flowchart of a stiffness adjustment mode provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 9This is a control flowchart of another stiffness adjustment mode provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0048] Reference numerals: 1. Mounting base, 11. First chamber, 111. First sub-chamber, 112. Second sub-chamber, 12. Side wall, 121. Guide block, 13. Bottom wall, 131. First through hole, 132. Limiting post, 2. Airbag, 21. Second chamber, 3. Adjustment assembly, 31. Piston, 311. Second through hole, 312. Guide groove, 32. Screw, 321. First connecting part, 322. Second connecting part, 3221. Limiting groove, 33. Driving component, 34. First limiting component, 35. Second limiting component, 4. Top cover, 5. Buffer component, 6. Height sensor, 7. Inlet bolt, 8. Connecting bolt, X. First direction. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0050] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0051] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0052] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0053] This application provides an air spring, which will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0054] Reference Figures 1 to 3 The diagram shows a structural schematic of an air spring provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 4 The diagram shows a schematic representation of the screw provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 The diagram shows a schematic representation of the piston provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 The diagram shows a structural schematic of the side wall of the mounting base provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 7 The diagram shows a structural schematic of the bottom wall of the mounting base provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 8 This document illustrates a control flowchart of a stiffness adjustment mode provided in an embodiment of this application. (Refer to...) Figure 9 The diagram shows a control flowchart of another stiffness adjustment mode provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0055] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this application provides an air spring, including: a mounting base 1, an airbag 2, and an adjustment assembly 3; the mounting base 1 and the airbag 2 are interconnected, the mounting base 1 is provided with a first chamber 11, and the airbag 2 is provided with a second chamber 21; the adjustment assembly 3 includes a piston 31 and a screw 32, the piston 31 is movably connected to the first chamber 11 and divides the first chamber 11 into a first sub-chamber 111 and a second sub-chamber 112, the second sub-chamber 112 being connected to the second chamber 21; the screw 32 is movably connected to the mounting base 1 and is helically driven to the piston 31, the screw 32 being used to drive the piston 31 to move, so as to adjust the total volume of the second sub-chamber 112 and the second chamber 21.

[0056] Generally, the air spring stiffness is related to the effective volume of its internal air chamber; specifically, the air spring stiffness is inversely proportional to the effective volume of the air chamber. In this embodiment, an adjustment component 3 is provided, comprising a piston 31 and a screw 32 connected by a helical drive. The piston 31 is movably connected to the first chamber 11, and the screw 32 is movably connected to the mounting base 1. Thus, by applying an external force to the screw 32, the piston 31 can be moved, thereby changing the volume of the second sub-chamber 112, and consequently, adjusting the total volume (i.e., the effective volume of the air chamber) of the second sub-chamber 112 and the second chamber 21. That is, when vehicle parameters (such as load) change, the screw 32 can drive the piston 31 to move relative to the first chamber 11, thereby changing the effective volume of the air chamber and achieving adaptive adjustment of the air spring stiffness, which is beneficial for improving vehicle dynamics and ride comfort.

[0057] It should be noted that air springs have nonlinear characteristics, and their airbag stiffness varies with the load. After installation, the airbag stiffness is relatively fixed; to change the airbag stiffness, the air spring must be replaced. By employing the air springs of this application embodiment, the airbag stiffness can be adjusted according to actual needs, thereby adapting to different vehicle parameters. Specifically, in one scenario, when the vehicle load remains constant (such as during vehicle development and tuning), the air springs of this application embodiment can be adjusted to a suitable stiffness, thus solving the problem of difficult stiffness matching and improving the vehicle's dynamic performance. In another scenario, when the vehicle load changes, the air springs of this application embodiment can adjust the stiffness to adapt to different loads, thus solving the problem of poor stiffness consistency under different loads and improving ride comfort. Furthermore, the air springs of this application embodiment include, but are not limited to, constrained diaphragm air springs.

[0058] Understandably, the air spring's stiffness is inversely proportional to the effective volume of the air chamber. When the piston 31 moves upward, the volume of the first sub-chamber 111 increases, and the volume of the second sub-chamber 112 decreases, thus reducing the effective volume of the air chamber and increasing the air spring's stiffness. Conversely, when the piston 31 moves downward, the volume of the first sub-chamber 111 decreases, and the volume of the second sub-chamber 112 increases, thus increasing the effective volume of the air chamber and decreasing the air spring's stiffness.

[0059] In some optional embodiments of this application, the adjusting component 3 further includes a driving member 33, which is disposed on the mounting base 1 and connected to the screw 32. The driving member 33 is used to drive the screw 32 to move and drive the piston 31 to move. Thus, when the driving member 33 is activated, it can drive the screw 32 to move and drive the piston 31 to move, causing the volume of the air chamber to decrease or increase, thereby increasing or decreasing the stiffness of the air spring. When the driving member 33 is deactivated, the screw 32 stops moving, allowing the piston 31 to remain in a suitable position, thus maintaining the appropriate stiffness of the air spring. Furthermore, by providing the driving member 33, automatic adjustment of the air spring stiffness can be achieved.

[0060] In some optional embodiments of this application, the mounting base 1 includes: a side wall 12 and a bottom wall 13 connected to each other, the side wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 forming a first chamber 11; a piston 31 slidably connected to the side wall 12, the side of the piston 31 near the bottom wall 13 forming a first sub-chamber 111 with the side wall 12 and the bottom wall 13, and the side of the piston 31 away from the bottom wall 13 forming a second sub-chamber 112 with the side wall 12; a screw 32 rotatably connected to the bottom wall 13, and when the screw 32 rotates, the piston 31 slides in a direction away from or near the bottom wall 13. The axial direction of the mounting base 1 is a first direction X, the side wall 12 extends along the first direction X, the bottom wall 13 is perpendicular to the first direction X, and the side wall 12 and the bottom wall 13 can be connected together by welding.

[0061] In this embodiment, the piston 31 is slidably connected to the side wall 12, and the screw 32 is rotatably connected to the bottom wall 13. Thus, when the air spring stiffness needs adjustment, an external force can be applied to the screw 32 to rotate relative to the bottom wall 13, causing the piston 31 to slide relative to the side wall 12 in a direction away from or towards the bottom wall 13. This changes the volume of the second sub-chamber 112, thereby changing the total volume of the second sub-chamber 112 and the second chamber 21 (i.e., the effective volume of the air chamber), achieving adaptive adjustment of the air spring stiffness, which is beneficial for improving vehicle dynamics and ride comfort.

[0062] Understandably, compared to telescopic reciprocating motion, this helical drive structure is more compact and occupies less space, while still achieving the movement of piston 31. Furthermore, its continuous, uniform, and shock-free operation improves the reliability of the air spring's airbag stiffness adjustment. In addition, the piston 31 is sealed to the side wall 12, reliably separating the first sub-chamber 111 and the second sub-chamber 112, meaning that the gas in the first sub-chamber 111 and the second sub-chamber 112 does not flow between them.

[0063] In some optional embodiments of this application, the adjustment assembly 3 further includes a drive member 33, which is disposed on the side of the bottom wall 13 away from the first chamber 11 and connected to the screw 32. The drive member 33 is used to drive the screw 32 to rotate and drive the piston 31 to slide in a direction away from or near the bottom wall 13. Thus, when the drive member 33 is activated, it drives the screw 32 to rotate, thereby driving the piston 31 to slide in a direction away from or near the bottom wall 13, increasing or decreasing the stiffness of the air spring. When the drive member 33 is deactivated, the screw 32 stops rotating, allowing the piston 31 to remain in a suitable position, thus maintaining the appropriate stiffness of the air spring. Furthermore, by disposing of the drive member 33 on the side of the bottom wall 13 away from the first chamber 11, the space occupied by the first sub-chamber 111 can be avoided, increasing the volume variation range of the first sub-chamber 111, thereby appropriately expanding the range of stiffness adjustment.

[0064] It should be noted that the type of driving component 33 is not limited in the embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to actual needs. In one embodiment, the driving component 33 can be a motor, with the output shaft of the motor connected to the screw 32. On the one hand, the motor has a compact structure and occupies less space, which is beneficial for the miniaturization design of the air spring; on the other hand, the motor has a fast response speed, which is beneficial for improving the accuracy of the air spring's airbag stiffness adjustment.

[0065] In some alternative embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the screw 32 includes: a first connecting part 321 and a second connecting part 322 connected to each other; the first connecting part 321 passes through the piston 31 and is screw-driven to the piston 31; the second connecting part 322 passes through the bottom wall 13 and is connected to the driving member 33. Under the driving action of the driving member 33, the first connecting part 321 and the second connecting part 322 rotate and drive the piston 31 to move and slide in a direction away from or close to the bottom wall 13.

[0066] In this embodiment, a first connecting part 321 and a second connecting part 322 are provided. The first connecting part 321 is connected to the piston 31 via a helical transmission, and the second connecting part 322 is connected to the driving member 33. Thus, under the driving action of the driving member 33, the second connecting part 322 and the first connecting part 321 can rotate relative to the bottom wall 13, and drive the piston 31 to slide relative to the side wall 12 in a direction away from or towards the bottom wall 13, thereby realizing the adjustment of the effective volume of the air chamber.

[0067] Furthermore, such as Figures 3 to 5As shown, the piston 31 is provided with a second through hole 311, the wall of the second through hole 311 is provided with internal threads, and at least a portion of the first connecting part 321 is provided with external threads. The piston 31 and the screw 32 are connected by a helical drive through the threaded engagement of the external and internal threads. The bottom wall 13 is provided with a first through hole 131, and the second connecting part 322 passes through the first through hole 131 and is connected to the driving member 33. Furthermore, since the mounting base 1 is generally cylindrical, the screw 32 and piston 31 in this embodiment are both circular in cross-sectional shape along the direction perpendicular to the first direction X, thereby allowing for better fit between the mounting base 1 and piston 31, and between piston 31 and screw 32. Further, the mounting base 1, piston 31, and screw 32 can be coaxially arranged.

[0068] In some alternative embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a stepped surface is formed between the first connecting portion 321 and the second connecting portion 322, and the stepped surface abuts against the side of the bottom wall 13 near the first chamber 11. Furthermore, the adjusting assembly 3 also includes a first limiting member 34, which is connected to the second connecting portion 322 and abuts against the side of the bottom wall 13 opposite to the first chamber 11. This allows for effective limiting of the screw 32 from both vertical and horizontal directions, not only restricting the vertical movement of the screw 32 but also preventing problems such as obstructed piston 31 movement or reduced sealing between the piston 31 and the side wall 12 due to screw 32 tilting. This further improves the reliability of the air spring's airbag stiffness adjustment.

[0069] In some optional embodiments of this application, the second connecting portion 322 is provided with a limiting groove 3221 at a corresponding position of the first limiting member 34, and the limiting groove 3221 engages with the first limiting member 34. Thus, by engaging the limiting groove 3221 with the first limiting member 34, the first limiting member 34 can be limited, ensuring reliable contact between the first limiting member 34 and the bottom wall 13, thereby achieving reliable limiting of the screw 32. In one embodiment, the limiting groove 3221 can be an annular groove extending circumferentially along the second connecting portion 322, and the first limiting member 34 can be an annular gasket, which engages with the annular groove.

[0070] In some alternative embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the air spring also includes: an upper cover 4 and a buffer 5. The upper cover 4 is disposed at one end of the airbag 2 away from the mounting base 1, and the buffer 5 is disposed on the side of the upper cover 4 close to the airbag 2. The adjustment assembly 3 also includes a second limiting member 35. The second limiting member 35 is disposed at one end of the first connecting part 321 away from the second connecting part 322 and corresponds to the position of the buffer 5. The second limiting member 35 is used to abut against the buffer 5 to limit the degree of deformation of the airbag 2.

[0071] In this embodiment, since the airbag 2 is typically deformable, the compression stroke of the airbag 2 can be limited by the cooperation of the buffer 5 and the second limiting member 35, thus preventing damage to the airbag 2 due to excessive deformation. The buffer 5 can be made of rubber. Furthermore, this embodiment does not limit the specific location of the second limiting member 35; those skilled in the art can adjust it according to actual needs.

[0072] In practical applications, the air spring is installed between the vehicle body and the axle. The upper cover 4 is fixedly connected to the vehicle body, and the mounting base 1 is fixedly connected to the axle. The airbag 2 is sealed to both the upper cover 4 and the mounting base 1, forming a sealed space capable of containing gas. Furthermore, the air spring includes an intake bolt 7, which is located on the upper cover 4 and communicates with the second chamber 21. The intake bolt 7 is connected to an external intake pipe, which contains a pressure sensor. Because the intake pipe is always in communication with the interior of the airbag 2, the pressure sensor can obtain the air pressure value inside the airbag 2, i.e., the second chamber 21, in real time.

[0073] Since the screw 32 and piston 31 are connected by a helical drive, the piston 31 will also rotate around its axial direction during its movement along the first direction X. Based on this, in some optional embodiments of this application, such as... Figures 5 to 6 As shown, the adjustment assembly 3 also includes a guide structure disposed between the piston 31 and the side wall 12. The guide structure guides the piston 31 to slide along the first direction X toward or away from the bottom wall 13. In this way, the rotational freedom of the piston 31 can be effectively constrained, so that the piston 31 only moves in a straight line along the first direction X, thereby reducing the shaking caused by the rotation of the piston 31, thus improving the motion stability of the piston 31, and helping to further improve the reliability of the air spring stiffness adjustment.

[0074] In some optional embodiments of this application, the guiding structure includes a guide block 121 and a guide groove 312 extending along a first direction X; one of the guide block 121 and the guide groove 312 is disposed on the side of the sidewall 12 near the piston 31, and the other is disposed on the side of the piston 31 near the sidewall 12; the guide block 121 is slidably connected to the guide groove 312 along the first direction X. Thus, through the slidable connection between the guide block 121 and the guide groove 312 along the first direction X, the piston 31 can be guided to move linearly only along the first direction X. Furthermore, the simple structure of the guide block 121 and the guide groove 312 reduces the processing difficulty of the air spring.

[0075] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings of this application only show the case where the side wall 12 is provided with a guide block 121 and the piston 31 is provided with a guide groove 312. However, in practical applications, those skilled in the art can also provide a guide groove 312 on the side wall 12 and a guide block 121 on the piston 31, or provide both a guide groove 312 and a guide block 121 on the side wall 12 and a guide block 121 on the piston 31. This is not limited here, and those skilled in the art can make adjustments according to actual needs.

[0076] Furthermore, the embodiments of this application do not limit the number of guide blocks 121 and guide grooves 312, and those skilled in the art can adjust them according to actual needs. Taking the guide block 121 disposed on the side wall 12 and the guide groove 312 disposed on the piston 31 as an example, in one embodiment, there is one guide block 121 and one guide groove 312. The guide block 121 is slidably connected to the guide groove 312, thereby achieving reliable guidance of the piston 31. In another embodiment, there are multiple guide blocks 121, which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the side wall 12; there are multiple guide grooves 312, which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the piston 31. The guide block 121 is slidably connected to one guide groove 312, which can further improve the reliability of guidance.

[0077] In some alternative embodiments of this application, such as Figure 3 As shown, a limiting post 132 is provided on the side of the bottom wall 13 near the first chamber 11. The limiting post 132 is used to abut against the piston 31 to limit the movement stroke of the piston 31. In this way, on the one hand, by providing the limiting post 132, the movement stroke of the piston 31 can be limited, so that the piston 31 can be prevented from being damaged by collision with the bottom wall 13. On the other hand, when the base is equipped with a height sensor 6, it can also protect the height sensor 6, so that the height sensor 6 can be prevented from being damaged by collision with the piston 31.

[0078] It should be noted that the number of limiting posts 132 is not limited in this application embodiment, and those skilled in the art can adjust it according to actual needs. In one embodiment, two limiting posts 132 are provided, and the two limiting posts 132 are provided on opposite sides of the first through hole 131. In addition, the air spring also includes a connecting bolt 8, which can penetrate at least a portion of the axle and the bottom wall 13 and be fixedly connected to the limiting post 132, thereby achieving a reliable connection between the air spring and the axle.

[0079] In some optional embodiments of this application, the air spring further includes a height sensor 6, which is disposed on the side of the mounting base 1 near the first chamber 11. The height sensor 6 is used to acquire the height information of the piston 31. Specifically, the height sensor 6 is disposed on the side of the bottom wall 13 near the first chamber 11. In this way, during the movement of the piston 31, the height sensor 6 can acquire the height information of the piston 31 (i.e., the height of the piston 31 relative to the bottom wall 13) in real time, so as to adjust the air spring to a suitable stiffness, thereby improving the reliability of the air spring stiffness adjustment.

[0080] In summary, the air spring provided in this application embodiment has at least the following advantages:

[0081] In this embodiment, an adjustment component is provided, comprising a piston and a screw connected by a helical drive. The piston is movably connected to the first chamber, and the screw is movably connected to the mounting base. Thus, by applying an external force to the screw, the piston can be moved, thereby changing the volume of the second sub-chamber. This allows for adjustment of the total volume of the second sub-chamber and the second chamber (i.e., the effective volume of the air chamber). Specifically, when vehicle parameters (such as load) change, the screw can drive the piston relative to the first chamber, thereby changing the effective volume of the air chamber and achieving adaptive adjustment of the airbag stiffness, which is beneficial for improving vehicle dynamics and ride comfort.

[0082] This application also provides a suspension system including the aforementioned air spring. Because of the air spring, the air spring stiffness can be adjusted by changing the effective volume of the air chamber, thereby improving the vehicle's dynamic performance and ride comfort.

[0083] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the structure of the air spring is the same as that of the air spring described in any of the above embodiments, and its beneficial effects are similar, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0084] In some optional embodiments of this application, the adjustment component 3 further includes: a drive member 33 and a height sensor 6. The drive member 33 is disposed on the mounting base 1 and connected to the screw 32. The drive member 33 is used to drive the screw 32 to move and drive the piston 31 to move. The height sensor 6 is disposed on the side of the mounting base 1 near the first chamber 11. The height sensor 6 is used to obtain the height information of the piston 31. The suspension system further includes: a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the drive member 33 and the height sensor 6 respectively. The controller is configured to control the opening or closing of the drive member 33 based on the height information.

[0085] In this embodiment, by setting a controller, the opening or closing of the drive component 33 can be controlled based on height information, thereby moving the piston 31 to a suitable position and adjusting the air spring to a suitable stiffness. It is understood that the controller includes a calculation module, which can calculate the required height of the piston 31 based on stiffness and air pressure.

[0086] Taking a constrained diaphragm air spring (hereinafter referred to as an air spring) as an example, the effective bearing area A of this air spring remains unchanged during the change of airbag height. Therefore, the relationship between the load borne by the air spring and the internal air pressure (i.e., the air pressure of the second sub-chamber 112 and the second chamber 21) is as follows:

[0087] F = p·A (1)

[0088] In the formula: F represents the load on the air spring, and A represents the effective load-bearing area inside the airbag 2. It can be understood that the effective load-bearing area A is also the cross-sectional area of ​​the airbag 2 along the direction perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0089] During the operation of the air spring, if the load on the air spring remains unchanged, the mass of the gas inside airbag 2 remains unchanged; that is, no gas enters or exits at this time. At this point, the air pressure and gas volume inside airbag 2 satisfy the ideal gas law:

[0090] p0(v0+v s ) λ =p1(v1+v s ) λ (2)

[0091] In the formula: p0 represents the internal air pressure in the initial state (state 0), v0 represents the gas volume in the initial state (state 0), and v s p1 represents the volume of the second sub-chamber 112, p1 represents the internal air pressure in the initial state (state 1), v0 represents the gas volume in the initial state (state 1), and λ is the polytropic index.

[0092] p0(h0·A+v s ) λ =p1(h1·A+v s ) λ (3)

[0093] In the formula: h0 represents the airbag height in state 0, and h1 represents the airbag height in state 1.

[0094] By rearranging terms in equation (3), we can obtain the following equation:

[0095]

[0096] Let h1 = h0 + Δh, where Δh represents the change in airbag height. When airbag 2 is compressed relative to h0, it is positive, and when it is extended, it is negative.

[0097]

[0098] Therefore, in state 1 (time), the relationship between the load F on the air spring and the change in airbag height Δh can be expressed as:

[0099]

[0100] Furthermore, the relationship between the load F on the air spring and the change in airbag height Δh can be expressed as:

[0101] F=f(Δh) (7)

[0102] Differentiating the above equation yields the dynamic stiffness of airbag 2, i.e.:

[0103]

[0104] By changing the volume v of the second sub-chamber 112 s To change the stiffness of the airbag.

[0105] v s The value can be calculated using the height of piston 31:

[0106] v s =v p -A p .h p (9)

[0107] In the formula: A p This represents the effective area of ​​piston 31, h. p This indicates the height of piston 31 relative to bottom wall 13, v p This represents the volume of the first chamber 11. When v s =v p At that time, that is, the volume of the second sub-chamber 112 is equal to the volume of the first chamber 11, h p Set to 0. h p The value of v can be obtained in real time by measuring the height sensor 6, and can be calculated in real time. s Value. Among them, the effective area of ​​piston 31 is also the cross-sectional area of ​​piston 31 along the first direction X perpendicular to it.

[0108] Substituting equation (9) into equation (8) yields the following equation:

[0109]

[0110] After the air spring is installed in the vehicle, its parameters are: effective load-bearing area A, airbag height in state 0 (i.e., design installation height h0), and volume v of the first chamber. p The effective area A of the piston p All these parameters are already determined and are constant values. The polytropic index λ ranges from 1.3 to 1.4. The change in airbag height Δh is the independent variable of the function. Therefore, the airbag stiffness K of the air spring changes with Δh. Thus, we consider discussing the influencing factors of the airbag stiffness when Δh = 0. That is, the airbag stiffness of the air spring is only affected by p0 and h. p Due to the influence of [the air bladder], the air spring stiffness function is set as follows:

[0111] K = f p (p0, h) p (11)

[0112] p0 can be measured by a pressure sensor installed inside the intake manifold, h p It is the input control variable, and its value can be obtained by measuring the height sensor 6.

[0113] In practical applications, the controller includes a calculation module based on equation (11), which includes the following parameters: p0, A, h0, v p , λ, A p And K (where A, h0, v) p , λ, A p (As a fixed value), by inputting the specific values ​​of the above parameters, the required height h of piston 31 under different conditions can be calculated. p .

[0114] In some optional embodiments of this application, the controller is further configured to control the drive member 33 to drive the screw 32 to move and drive the piston 31 to a first set height based on the stiffness of the air spring, while the air pressure of the air spring remains constant. It should be noted that the stiffness of the air spring is the stiffness of the air bladder of the air spring, and the air pressure of the air spring is the internal air pressure of the air bladder of the air spring.

[0115] Specifically, when the vehicle load remains unchanged (such as during vehicle development and tuning), the controller's calculation module can calculate the first set height of the piston 31 based on the initial air pressure inside the airbag 2 and the required preset stiffness. It then controls the drive component 33 to drive the screw 32 to move and move the piston 31 to the first set height, thereby adjusting the air spring to a suitable stiffness, solving the problem of stiffness matching, and improving the dynamic performance of the vehicle.

[0116] Specifically, in combination Figure 8Under the condition that the vehicle load remains unchanged, and the initial air pressure needs to be kept constant, the air spring stiffness adjustment process is as follows:

[0117] Obtain the initial air pressure collected by the pressure sensor;

[0118] The control calculation module calculates the first required height h of piston 31 based on the initial air pressure and preset stiffness. p1 ;

[0119] The motor is started so that it drives the screw 32 to rotate and move the piston 31.

[0120] The real-time height h of piston 31 is acquired by height sensor 6. pp and the first set height h p1 For comparison, if the real-time height h of piston 31 pp The first required height h of piston 31 p1 When the values ​​are equal, the control motor is turned off, thus completing the stiffness adjustment of the air spring.

[0121] In some optional embodiments of this application, the controller is also configured to drive the screw 32 to move and drive the piston 31 to the second set height by the air pressure control drive 33 based on the air spring while the stiffness of the air spring remains unchanged.

[0122] Specifically, when the vehicle load changes, the controller's calculation module can calculate the second set height of the piston 31 based on the initial stiffness of the airbag 2 and the final air pressure after the change. It then controls the drive component 33 to drive the screw 32 to move and move the piston 31 to the second set height, thereby adjusting the air spring to a suitable stiffness to adapt to different loads. This solves the problem of poor stiffness consistency under different loads and helps improve ride comfort.

[0123] Specifically, in combination Figure 9 When the vehicle load changes, it is necessary to maintain a constant initial stiffness. The stiffness adjustment process of the air spring is as follows:

[0124] Obtain the final air pressure collected by the pressure sensor after the load changes;

[0125] The control calculation module calculates the second set height h of piston 31 based on the initial stiffness and final air pressure. p2 ;

[0126] The motor is started so that it drives the screw 32 to rotate and move the piston 31.

[0127] The real-time height h of piston 31 is acquired by height sensor 6. pp And with the second required height h p2For comparison, if the real-time height h of piston 31 pp The second required height h of piston 31 p2 When the values ​​are equal, the control motor is turned off, thus completing the stiffness adjustment of the air spring.

[0128] This application also provides a vehicle that includes the air springs or suspension system described above.

[0129] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, the structure of the air spring or suspension system is the same as that of the air spring or suspension system described in any of the above embodiments, and its beneficial effects are also similar, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0130] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0131] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air spring, characterized in that, include: Mounting base, airbag, and adjustment components; The mounting base is connected to the airbag, the mounting base is provided with a first chamber, and the airbag is provided with a second chamber; The adjusting assembly includes a piston and a screw. The piston is movably connected to the first chamber and divides the first chamber into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. The second sub-chamber is in communication with the second chamber. The screw is movably connected to the mounting base and is helically connected to the piston. The screw is used to drive the piston to move, so as to adjust the total volume of the second sub-chamber and the second chamber.

2. The air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment assembly further includes a drive member, which is disposed on the mounting base and connected to the screw, and is used to drive the screw to move and drive the piston to move.

3. The air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting base includes: a side wall and a bottom wall connected to each other, wherein the side wall and the bottom wall enclose the first chamber; The piston is slidably connected to the side wall. The side of the piston near the bottom wall, together with the side wall and the bottom wall, forms the first sub-chamber. The side of the piston away from the bottom wall, together with the side wall, forms the second sub-chamber. The screw is rotatably connected to the bottom wall, and when the screw rotates, the piston slides in a direction away from or towards the bottom wall.

4. The air spring according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjustment assembly further includes a drive member, which is disposed on the side of the bottom wall away from the first chamber and connected to the screw. The drive member is used to drive the screw to rotate and drive the piston to slide in a direction away from or close to the bottom wall.

5. The air spring according to claim 4, characterized in that, The screw includes: a first connecting part and a second connecting part that are connected to each other; The first connecting part passes through the piston and is helically connected to the piston; The second connecting part passes through the bottom wall and is connected to the driving member. Under the driving action of the driving member, the first connecting part and the second connecting part rotate and drive the piston to slide in a direction away from or close to the bottom wall.

6. The air spring according to claim 5, characterized in that, A stepped surface is formed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and the stepped surface abuts against the side of the bottom wall near the first chamber.

7. The air spring according to claim 5, characterized in that, The adjustment assembly further includes a first limiting member, which is connected to the second connecting portion and abuts against the side of the bottom wall opposite to the first chamber.

8. The air spring according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second connecting part is provided with a limiting groove at the corresponding position of the first limiting member, and the limiting groove engages with the first limiting member.

9. The air spring according to claim 5, characterized in that, The air spring further includes: a top cover and a buffer, the top cover being disposed at the end of the airbag away from the mounting base, and the buffer being disposed on the side of the top cover close to the airbag; The adjustment assembly further includes a second limiting member, which is disposed at one end of the first connecting portion away from the second connecting portion and corresponds to the position of the buffer member. The second limiting member is used to abut against the buffer member to limit the degree of deformation of the airbag.

10. The air spring according to any one of claims 3-9, characterized in that, The axial direction of the mounting base is the first direction, and the adjustment assembly further includes a guide structure disposed between the piston and the side wall. The guide structure is used to guide the piston to slide along the first direction toward or away from the bottom wall.

11. The air spring according to claim 10, characterized in that, The guiding structure includes: a guide block and a guide groove extending along the first direction; One of the guide block and the guide groove is disposed on the side of the sidewall near the piston, and the other is disposed on the side of the piston near the sidewall. The guide block is slidably connected to the guide groove along the first direction.

12. The air spring according to claim 11, characterized in that, Multiple guide blocks are provided, and the multiple guide blocks are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the side wall; The guide groove is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple guide grooves are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the piston. One guide block is slidably connected to one guide groove.

13. The air spring according to any one of claims 3-9, characterized in that, A limiting post is provided on the side of the bottom wall near the first chamber. The limiting post is used to abut against the piston to limit the piston's stroke.

14. The air spring according to any one of claims 2-9, characterized in that, The air spring further includes a height sensor, which is disposed on the side of the mounting base near the first chamber, and is used to acquire the height information of the piston.

15. A suspension system, characterized in that, The suspension system includes the air spring as described in any one of claims 1-14.

16. The suspension system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The adjustment assembly further includes a drive unit and a height sensor. The drive unit is disposed on the mounting base and connected to the screw. The drive unit is used to drive the screw to move and drive the piston to move. The height sensor is disposed on the side of the mounting base near the first chamber. The height sensor is used to acquire the height information of the piston. The suspension system further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the drive unit and the height sensor, respectively, and is configured to control the opening or closing of the drive unit based on the height information.

17. The suspension system according to claim 16, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to, with the air pressure of the air spring remaining constant, control the drive member to drive the screw to move and move the piston to a first set height based on the stiffness of the air spring.

18. The suspension system according to claim 16, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to, with the stiffness of the air spring remaining constant, control the drive element to drive the screw to move and move the piston to the second set height based on the air pressure of the air spring.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes an air spring as described in any one of claims 1-14, or a suspension system as described in any one of claims 15-18.

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