Adaptive Suspension Damping for Rear-Wheel Weight Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle suspension systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust weight balance during turning and cornering, leading to uneven weight distribution and reduced tractive capability, especially when exiting a turn.
Innovation Solution
An electronically controlled suspension system that uses sensors to determine ride height and vehicle attitude information, adjusting damping forces in real-time through adaptive dampers to balance weight across rear wheels, enhancing traction and stability during turns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional solid axle or independent suspension with fixed damping shocks is used, then the suspension structure is simple and reliable, but the system cannot dynamically adjust weight balance during turning, resulting in uneven weight distribution and reduced tractive capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed damping shocks to adjustable dampers that can dynamically change their damping characteristics in real-time. The controller receives signals from ride height sensors and dynamically adjusts the damping force of individual dampers based on vehicle attitude and detected trigger events such as turning, enabling the suspension to adapt to changing weight distribution conditions during vehicle operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the suspension system by providing individual adjustable dampers for each wheel rather than a unified fixed damping system. This allows independent control of damping forces at each corner of the vehicle, enabling selective adjustment of weight balance on specific wheels during turning or cornering events
2Adaptability or versatility
If semi-active suspension with mode-based damping adjustment is implemented, then the system can vary damping force for different driving modes, but it lacks the ability to strategically add or subtract force in dynamic situations such as cornering or turning while changing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using ride height sensors to continuously monitor vehicle attitude and weight distribution at each wheel. The controller receives this feedback information and automatically detects trigger events such as turning or cornering conditions, then responds by strategically adjusting damping forces on individual dampers to optimize weight balance during these dynamic situations
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system performs self-service by automatically detecting trigger events and adjusting damping forces without requiring manual driver input or pre-programmed mode selection. The controller autonomously monitors ride height information, identifies when turning or cornering events occur, and strategically modifies damping characteristics to maintain optimal weight distribution
3Reliability
If individual adjustable dampers are used to dynamically adjust weight balance during turning, then tractive capability and stability are improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing individual adjustable dampers and ride height sensors at each wheel location, allowing localized adjustment of suspension characteristics. This enables targeted control of weight balance on specific wheels affected by turning or cornering forces, improving stability where it is most needed without requiring complete system-wide complexity
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
The system dynamically adjusts damping forces to achieve better weight distribution and increased tractive capability, improving vehicle performance and stability when exiting turns by strategically modifying compression and rebound damping.
Implementation Method 1
The shocks generally resist compression and rebound with damping forces that are applied over a range of travel and velocity of a piston rod
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically applying damping force interventions for dynamic weight balancing in a suspension system of a vehicle may include receiving ride height information associated with respective individual wheels of the vehicle and vehicle attitude information from vehicle sensors, determining, based on the ride height information and the vehicle attitude information, whether a trigger event has occurred, and generating a first damping intervention signal to change a damping force applied by a first selected adjustable damper responsive to determining that the trigger event has occurred. The first selected damper may be one of a plurality of adjustable dampers associated with respective ones of the individual wheels of the vehicle. The first selected adjustable damper may be associated with only one of a pair of rear wheels of the vehicle.