Adaptive Suspension Damping for Road-Responsive Force Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspension devices for vehicles face issues with comfort due to the interference of fluid pressure dampers with electric damper thrust, especially at the ends of the dynamic range, where the fluid pressure damper's damping force is greater, leading to inefficient energy consumption and reduced vehicle comfort.
Innovation Solution
A suspension device that includes an electric damper, a fluid pressure damper, and a road-surface state detector, with a controller that dynamically switches between the two based on detected road conditions, allowing the fluid pressure damper to assist the electric damper only when necessary, thereby optimizing damping force usage and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the fluid pressure damper operates at the ends of the contraction/elongation dynamic range, then large damping force is generated, but the thrust of the electric damper is consumed by the damping force of the fluid pressure damper, interfering with the electric damper's operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the damper system adaptive through real-time control. The controller dynamically switches between electric damper and fluid pressure damper operation modes based on detected road surface conditions, allowing the system to optimize damping force generation while avoiding interference between the two dampers. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by ensuring the fluid pressure damper only operates when the electric damper is not needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the electric damper operates alone on small inputs, then energy consumption is reduced, but the damping force may be insufficient for large road surface inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on road surface conditions detected by the road-surface state detector. For small inputs, only the energy-efficient electric damper operates. When large inputs are detected, the controller switches to fluid pressure damper operation or combined operation, ensuring sufficient damping force while maintaining energy efficiency for normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the interaction between the electric damper and fluid pressure damper. It receives detection results from the road-surface state detector and determines the appropriate damper operation mode, ensuring that the system maintains both energy efficiency and sufficient damping force by selecting the appropriate damper based on actual road conditions.
3Power
If both electric damper and fluid pressure damper operate simultaneously, then the required thrust of the electric damper is reduced, but the fluid pressure damper may interfere with the electric damper's thrust generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the controller switches between different operation modes (electric damper only, fluid pressure damper only, or combined operation) based on real-time road surface conditions. This dynamic switching ensures that combined operation occurs only when both dampers can work cooperatively without interference, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptive to actual operating conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances vehicle comfort by ensuring appropriate damping force distribution and reduces energy consumption by allowing the fluid pressure damper to assist the electric damper during high-input conditions, improving ride quality and extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
an electric damper (6) which operates with electricity
Implementation Method 2
a fluid pressure damper (7) which operates with fluid pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The suspension device for vehicles includes: an electric damper which operates by electricity; a fluid pressure damper which operates by hydraulic pressure; a road-surface state detector which detects a road-surface state ahead of a tire of a vehicle; and a controller which causes at least one to operate among the electric damper and the fluid pressure damper, based on a detection result of the road-surface state detector.