Adjustable Vibration Damper for Vehicle Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle height adjustment systems are costly, heavy, require large installation space, and consume significant energy, while also generating undesirable damping forces and spring stiffness changes during height adjustment, leading to reduced driving comfort.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with a self-pumping air spring and an adjustable vibration damper that uses kinetic energy from the vehicle's movement to adjust height, minimizing external energy input and balancing damping and spring forces for optimal comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive hydraulic vibration damper is used for height adjustment, then the system is simple in structure, but it generates undesirable damping forces and spring stiffness changes during height adjustment, leading to reduced driving comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration damper is designed with adjustable damping characteristics that can be dynamically changed during operation. The damping coefficient is made variable through a control system that adjusts the damping force based on the current operating state, allowing the system to adapt to different height adjustment phases and minimize harmful damping forces while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristics of the vibration damper are changed by adjusting key parameters such as damping coefficient and valve opening areas. The control system modifies these parameters in real-time based on the height adjustment state, enabling the system to optimize performance by reducing harmful damping forces during height adjustment while maintaining adequate damping during normal operation.
2Reliability
If current height adjustment systems are used, then height adjustment function is achieved, but the systems are costly, heavy, require large installation space, and consume significant energy
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment system integrates multiple functions into a unified structure where the vibration damper and air spring work together in a coordinated manner. The adjustable damping mechanism is combined with the height adjustment control system, allowing a single integrated component to perform both vibration damping and height adjustment functions, thereby reducing overall system weight and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the vehicle's existing motion and suspension dynamics to assist in the height adjustment process. By leveraging the natural oscillations and movements of the vehicle suspension, the system reduces its dependence on high-power external actuators, thereby minimizing energy consumption and reducing the weight of dedicated height adjustment components.
3Reliability
If current height adjustment systems are used, then height adjustment function is achieved, but they require large installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a nested arrangement where the adjustable damping mechanism is integrated within the existing vibration damper structure. The control valves and adjustment mechanisms are positioned inside the damper body, utilizing the existing internal volume. This nested configuration allows the height adjustment functionality to be added without significantly increasing the overall installation space requirement.
4Reliability
If current height adjustment systems are used, then height adjustment function is achieved, but they use relatively large quantities of energy for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment is achieved by utilizing the periodic oscillations of the vehicle suspension system. The control system synchronizes the damping adjustment with the natural oscillation cycles, using the periodic motion to assist in the height adjustment process. This approach converts the vehicle's motion energy into useful work for height adjustment, significantly reducing the need for external energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a feedback control mechanism that continuously monitors the height adjustment process and the vehicle's motion state. Based on this feedback, the control system optimizes the damping coefficient adjustment timing and magnitude, ensuring that energy is used most efficiently. The feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying operating conditions and minimize energy consumption while maintaining reliable height adjustment functionality.
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 solution provides a compact, energy-efficient height adjustment system that maintains driving comfort by balancing damping and spring forces, reducing the need for external energy and minimizing perceptible losses in vehicle stability.
Implementation Method 1
an air spring 5 which supports the sprung and unsprung masses 2, 3 against each other in a sprung fashion
Implementation Method 2
a vibration damper 4 damping a relative movement between the sprung and unsprung masses 2, 3
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass (2) of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass (3) of the vehicle, a vibration damper (4) damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (2, 3), and a self-pumping air spring (5) which supports the sprung and unsprung masses (2, 3) against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper (4) according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.