Vehicle Air Spring Pressure Accumulator for Rapid Stability Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air suspension systems in vehicles lack effective response to dangerous conditions such as collisions, high-speed cornering, or slippery road surfaces, leading to inadequate active safety measures.

Innovation Solution

An air spring system with a network of air springs, pressure accumulators, and multi-way valves that adjust air flow to rapidly ascend or descend air springs in response to sensor-detecting conditions, using a control method to manage valve states and air flow to enhance safety and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If traditional air suspension systems are used for vehicle height adjustment and vertical vibration reduction, then vehicle comfort is improved, but the response speed to dangerous conditions such as collision, high-speed cornering or slippery road surface is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidactive safety performance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-charges the pressure accumulator with high-pressure air before dangerous conditions occur. When collision or slippery road conditions are detected, the pre-charged air is immediately released to the air spring, enabling rapid response without waiting for the air pump to build pressure, thus improving both response speed and active safety performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the pressure accumulator function from the traditional air suspension system, creating a separate high-pressure air storage component that can independently and rapidly supply air to the air spring when dangerous conditions are detected, thereby improving response speed without compromising the original height adjustment and vibration reduction functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the air spring ascends or descends through air supply from the pressure accumulator, then vehicle height adjustment and stability control are improved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple valves and pipelines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stability controlVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-way valve is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls air supply from the pressure accumulator for rapid height adjustment, manages air flow during normal suspension operation, and coordinates with the air pump for pressure recharging. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby improving vehicle stability control while limiting the increase in system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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 system improves vehicle safety and stability by enabling quick responses to hazardous conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and improving handling during emergency maneuvers.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure accumulator, and a plurality of multi-way valves. The pressure accumulator is disposed on the air supply pipeline and configured to supply air pressure to each of the plurality of air springs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air storage and release: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

Air springs have the advantages such as inverse S nonlinear stiffness, low vibration transmission rate, and good sound insulation performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir spring pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4032732B1Air spring system, vehicle and control method
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 GUANGZHOU CHENGXING ZHIDONG MOTORS TECH CO LTD
  • EP4032732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4032732B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4032732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air spring system (100), a vehicle, and a control method. The air spring system (100) includes a plurality of air springs (10), a pressure accumulator (20), and multi-way valves (30). Each air spring (10) is disposed to correspond to one suspension of the vehicle and has a first air port (111, 121, 131, 141) and a second air port (112, 122, 132, 142). The pressure accumulator (20) is disposed on an air supply pipeline (21) of the air spring system (100) and configured to supply air pressure to the air springs (10) through first air ports and second air ports of the air springs; and multi-way valves. In this way, if the vehicle encounters dangerous conditions such as collisions, high-speed cornering or slippery roads during running, the air springs can respond quickly to solve the active safety problem.