Gas spring for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle chassis

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas spring for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle chassis, comprising at least the following components: - a spring body compressible along a spring axis; - a compressed gas chamber within the spring body; - a pneumatic connection to a switching valve for admitting and discharging compressed gas into and from the compressed gas chamber; and - a sensor for detecting a current state in the compressed gas chamber. The gas spring is primarily characterized in that the sensor is arranged within the compressed gas chamber and is configured to measure a pressure and a temperature in the compressed gas chamber in real time. The sensor proposed here within a compressed gas chamber of a gas spring enables high control precision and thus precise and energy-saving operation of a gas spring.

Claims

[1] Gas spring (1) for a wheel suspension (2) of a chassis (3) of a motor vehicle (4), comprising at least the following components: - a spring body (6) compressible along a spring axis (5); - a compressed gas chamber (7) within the spring body (6); - a pneumatic connection to a switching valve for admitting and discharging compressed gas (8) into and out of the compressed gas chamber (7); and - a sensor (9) for detecting a current state in the compressed gas chamber (7), characterized by that the sensor (9) is arranged within the compressed gas space (7) and is designed to measure in real time a pressure and a temperature in the compressed gas space (7). [2] Gas spring (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (9) is configured to wirelessly transmit its measurement data. [3] Gas spring (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor (9) comprises an electrical storage device (10) which can be electrically charged wirelessly, preferably inductively. [4] Gas spring (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (9) comprises an electrical charging device (11), wherein as a result of mechanical movement the charging device (11) generates an electrical voltage or current, whereby the sensor (9) can be supplied with a required electrical operating voltage, preferably via an electrical storage device (10) which can be charged by the electrical charging device (11). [5] Chassis (3) for a motor vehicle (4), comprising at least the following components: - a wheel suspension (2) for a plurality of wheels (12); - a number of gas springs (1) corresponding to the number of wheels (12), by means of which a wheel (12) can be suspended in a gas-sprung manner; and - a compressed gas supply system (13) for providing compressed gas (8) for the compressed gas chamber (7) as required, wherein a, preferably single, common evaluation unit (14) is provided, which is electronically communicatively connected to the sensors (9) in the compressed gas chambers (7) and to the compressed gas supply system (13) to support active control of the gas springs (1). [6] Method for detecting pressure data and temperature data in a gas spring (1) according to one of Claim 1 to Claim 4 with an evaluation unit (14), comprising the following steps: a. by means of the sensor (9), measuring a current pressure and a current temperature in the compressed gas chamber (7); b. from the sensor (9) to the evaluation unit (14), transmitting the measurement data; c. in the evaluation unit (14), calculating the current force in the direction of the spring axis (5); d. in the evaluation unit (14), determining a temperature profile together with a pressure profile in the compressed gas chamber (7); and e. in the evaluation unit (14), determining a pressure requirement in the compressed gas chamber (7) and outputting a value for a corresponding control of the at least one switching valve of the gas spring (1). [7] Method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the following control objectives is set by means of the compressed gas supply system (13) on the basis of the measurement data provided in real time by the sensors (9) in the compressed gas chambers (7) of the gas springs (1): - component protection; - Level adjustment; and - weight-dependent adjustment of the spring-damper behavior of the gas springs (1). [8] Motor vehicle (4) comprising at least the following components: - a chassis (3) according to claim 5 with a plurality of wheels (12) suspended thereon by gas springs; - a transport cabin (15) connected to the chassis (3); and - a drive train (16) for propelling the motor vehicle (4) via at least one wheel (12) suspended from the chassis (3), wherein the method according to claim 6 or claim 7 can preferably be carried out by the chassis (3) for actively controlling its gas springs (1).

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