Motor-Driven Pump Active Suspension for Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active suspension systems for vehicles are costly due to the use of expensive proportional control valves and hydraulic pumps that consume excessive energy, leading to reduced fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An active suspension apparatus using motor-and-cylinder-based pumps that supply fluid to actuators on wheels, with independent operation and on/off valves instead of proportional control valves, reducing energy consumption and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic pump connected to an engine is used to supply fluid to actuators, then the suspension system can maintain vehicle height and stability, but the pump consumes excessive energy continuously, reducing fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a motor-driven pump that operates intermittently rather than continuously. The pump is activated only when fluid supply to actuators is needed for height adjustment or suspension control, and remains idle otherwise. This periodic operation mode maintains reliable vehicle height control while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous engine-driven pump operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the engine-mechanically-driven hydraulic pump with an electric motor-driven pump. This substitution decouples the pump operation from the engine, allowing independent control of pump activation based on actual suspension needs rather than engine operation status, thereby improving fuel efficiency while maintaining suspension reliability.
2Measurement precision
If a proportional control valve is used to control fluid flow to actuators, then precise height control and suspension adjustment are achieved, but the system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive proportional control valves with simpler, less costly valve components. While proportional valves provide precise continuous control, the patent achieves adequate control precision using simpler valve mechanisms that are more economical to manufacture and maintain, reducing overall system cost while preserving necessary height control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent alters the control approach by changing from continuous proportional control to on/off or stepped control using simpler valves. This parameter change in control methodology maintains sufficient height control precision for vehicle suspension applications while eliminating the need for expensive proportional control valves, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
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 improves fuel efficiency by only generating necessary hydraulic pressure when needed, simplifies the system configuration, and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for expensive proportional control valves.
Implementation Method 1
the ball screw rotates based on the driving of the motor, and the piston linearly reciprocates inside the cylinder according to the rotation of the ball screw
Data Source
AI summary
An active suspension apparatus for a vehicle includes actuators configured to compensate displacements of coil springs connected to wheels of the vehicle, a first pump configured to supply a fluid to one of the actuators on left and right front wheels of the vehicle among the actuators, and a second pump configured to supply a fluid to one of the actuators on left and right rear wheels of the vehicle among the actuators, in which the fluid contained in one of cylinders of the first pump and the second pump is supplied to at least one of the actuators based on driving of a motor.