Active Spring Suspension for Vehicle Component Oscillation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicle drivers experience significant stress and discomfort due to oscillations from both ground surface excitations and load reversal excitations, which existing spring suspension systems struggle to effectively mitigate without reaching the end stops of the spring travel, affecting both comfort and operational safety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a first and second vehicle component, where a measuring means tracks acceleration values and a calculation unit determines an optimum acceleration for the second component, using an actuator with a closed-loop control unit to minimize deviations within the available spring path, ensuring comfortable oscillation isolation and limited excursion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive spring suspension systems are used, then the structure is simple and energy consumption is low, but the driver comfort is insufficient and end stops are frequently reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the spring suspension system actively adjustable in real-time. The actuator dynamically modifies the spring characteristics (stiffness and/or damping) based on measured acceleration values and operational conditions, allowing the system to adapt between soft comfort-oriented suspension and stiff protection-oriented suspension as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through acceleration sensors that continuously monitor the suspension system's behavior and feed this information to a control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and adjusts the actuator accordingly to maintain optimal suspension characteristics, preventing end stop contact while maximizing driver comfort
2Adaptability or versatility
If semi-active spring suspension systems are used, then the spring properties can be adjusted, but the system complexity and energy requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts spring properties (stiffness and/or damping) in real-time based on measured acceleration values and operational conditions, allowing adaptation between comfort-oriented and protection-oriented suspension characteristics without continuous high energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the spring suspension system (stiffness, damping coefficients) dynamically through the actuator mechanism, allowing the same physical spring to exhibit different mechanical properties depending on operational requirements, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing energy consumption
3Reliability
If active spring suspension systems are used, then driver comfort is improved, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of spring properties only when and where needed, based on real-time acceleration measurements and operational context, rather than continuous active control, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining driver comfort benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism uses acceleration sensors to detect when comfort issues arise and triggers actuator intervention only during relevant events (such as end-of-stroke conditions or excessive vibrations), rather than continuous operation, optimizing energy usage while maintaining comfort
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle component moveable in an oscillating manner with respect to a first vehicle component, and a first measuring means for measuring at least one acceleration measuring value of said first vehicle component with respect to a ground surface, wherein a calculating means is provided for determining an optimum acceleration value of said second vehicle component to be applied at the moment of the presence of the acceleration measuring value, and at least one actuator arranged between the first and second vehicle components, with control and closed-loop control units, for minimizing a deviation of a real acceleration value of said second vehicle component from the optimum acceleration value by using at least one available spring path.