Hydropneumatic Axle Suspension Ring-Side Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available hydropneumatic axle suspensions require additional expensive and unreliable valve components, such as proportional pressure control valves and shuttle valves, which increase costs and compromise operating reliability.
Innovation Solution
The hydropneumatic axle suspension omits these additional valves by connecting the ring side of the suspension cylinder directly to a pressure sensor that transmits pressure values to the control electronics, using commercial 2/2-way valves for triggering, and setting ring-side pressures as parameters in the software, allowing for reduced leakage losses and simplified hydraulic adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proportional pressure control valves and shuttle valves are used to control ring-side pressure, then pressure control functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the proportional pressure control valve and shuttle valve from the system entirely. Instead of using these complex valves to control ring-side pressure, the invention directly connects the ring side of the suspension cylinder to a pressure sensor that transmits pressure values to control electronics, eliminating the need for these additional valve components while maintaining pressure control functionality through software-based pressure setting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical valve-based pressure control system with an electronic control system. Pressure control is achieved through electronic transmission of pressure values from the pressure sensor to the control electronics, which then manage the suspension characteristics via software parameters, substituting mechanical valve operations with electronic control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional valve components are installed for pressure control, then pressure regulation capability is improved, but production and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for additional valve components by directly connecting the ring side of the suspension cylinder to a pressure sensor. This extraction of unnecessary valve components simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production costs while maintaining pressure regulation capability through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pressure values transmitted from the pressure sensor to the control electronics as a digital representation of the actual pressure state. This allows the control system to work with copied pressure information rather than requiring physical valve components to manipulate the pressure directly, reducing hardware complexity and manufacturing costs.
3Measurement precision
If proportional pressure control valves are used, then pressure control precision is improved, but the number of moving parts increases reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical proportional pressure control valve with an electronic pressure sensor and control electronics system. The pressure sensor precisely measures the ring-side pressure and transmits this information electronically to the control electronics, which then adjust suspension characteristics through software parameters. This substitution eliminates moving parts in the pressure control path while maintaining or improving pressure control precision through electronic measurement and control.
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 configuration reduces production and maintenance costs, enhances operating reliability, and eliminates the need for regular pressure testing, while maintaining comparable suspension characteristics and allowing for load-dependent adjustment of the suspension characteristic.
Implementation Method 1
the ring side of the suspension cylinder is connected to a pressure sensor which transmits its measured pressure values to the control electronics
Implementation Method 2
a hydropneumatic axle suspension for vehicles with dramatically changing axle loads, in particular for front axles on truck tractors with hydraulic suspension cylinders connected to hydropneumatic accumulators
Data Source
AI summary
The hydropneumatic axle suspension for vehicles, especially the front axle thereof, cooperates with at least one suspension cylinder (10) connected to a hydraulic accumulator (26; 24) on both its ring side (14) and the piston side (12). The hydraulic accumulator (26; 24) is triggerable by control electronics (18) with the aid of a valve unit (30; 28) that can be allocated to the hydraulic accumulator (26; 24). The ring side (14) of the suspension cylinder (10) is connected to a pressure value sensor (DA-R) which transmits its measured pressure values to the control electronics (18). The pressure value sensor (DA-R) located on the ring side is connected to the discharge end (38) of the valve unit (30), which can be associated with the ring side (14) of the suspension cylinder (10).