Motorcycle Height Adjusting Device Deceleration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorcycle height adjustment systems fail to lower the vehicle height to the intended level during rapid deceleration, making it difficult for the driver to mount or dismount, as they rely solely on speed-based triggers rather than deceleration states.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle height adjusting device with a control unit that adjusts the vehicle height change rate based on deceleration, estimating the stopping time and adjusting the lowering reference speed to ensure the vehicle reaches the target height at stoppage, irrespective of deceleration states, using solenoid valves and hydraulic systems to alter the relative position between the vehicle body and wheels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the vehicle height is lowered based solely on speed threshold (without considering deceleration), then the control system is simple, but the vehicle height cannot be lowered to the intended height during rapid deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidvehicle height lowering precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit estimates the stopping time based on current vehicle speed and deceleration, then proactively adjusts the vehicle height change rate before the vehicle actually stops. This preliminary action ensures that the height adjustment is completed at the intended moment, resolving the issue where height couldn't be lowered sufficiently during rapid deceleration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the vehicle height change rate based on real-time deceleration conditions. Instead of using a fixed height change rate, the control unit modifies the change rate according to the estimated stopping time and current deceleration state, enabling precise height control regardless of how rapidly the vehicle is decelerating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the vehicle height change rate is increased to ensure lowering completion at stop, then the vehicle reaches target height reliably, but the vehicle may lower too quickly during deceleration causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle height lowering reliabilityVSAvoidvehicle body stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic adjustment of the vehicle height change rate based on real-time deceleration measurement. The control unit calculates the appropriate change rate by considering both the need to complete lowering at stop and the current deceleration magnitude, thereby maintaining vehicle stability while ensuring reliable height adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors vehicle deceleration and uses this feedback to adjust the height change rate. By measuring actual deceleration and comparing it with the estimated stopping time, the system dynamically optimizes the height adjustment profile to prevent both incomplete lowering and excessive lowering speed that would cause instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the lowering reference vehicle speed is set low, then the vehicle maintains high position during running, but the vehicle does not lower in time when stopping is imminent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting and dismounting easeVSAvoidresponse time to stopping
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By estimating the stopping time from current speed and deceleration, the system takes preliminary action to begin height lowering before the vehicle actually stops. This allows the vehicle to lower in time for mounting/dismounting while maintaining a higher position during normal running, as the lowering is triggered by predicted stopping rather than just speed threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines the optimal moment to initiate height lowering based on real-time deceleration analysis. Instead of using a fixed low speed threshold, the control unit calculates when stopping will occur and initiates lowering at the appropriate time, balancing the need to maintain high position during running with the need to be lowered in time for mounting/dismounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables the motorcycle to be lowered to the intended height at the time of stopping, regardless of deceleration, facilitating easier mounting and dismounting by precisely controlling the vehicle height change rate and reference speeds.

Implementation Method 1

using solenoid valves and hydraulic systems to alter the relative position between the vehicle body and wheels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic system: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP2918486B1Motorcycle height adjusting device and motorcyle height adjusting method
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 SHOWA CORP
  • EP2918486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2918486B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2918486B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A motorcycle (1) height adjusting device includes a front fork (13) and a rear suspension (22) capable of changing the relative position between a vehicle body (11) and wheels (14, 21) of a motorcycle (1), and a control device (50) that adjusts a height of the motorcycle (1), which is a height of the vehicle body (11), by controlling the front fork (13) and the rear suspension (22) to change the relative position. The control device (50) changes a motorcyle height change rate, which is a rate of changing the motorcycle height to a target motorcycle height during stoppage, on the basis of deceleration of the motorcycle.