Multi-Stage Hydraulic Suspension with External Spring Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems lack the ability to provide a wide range of vehicle height adjustments while maintaining consistent spring forces and ride quality, particularly with compact multi-stage configurations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of telescoping multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies connected to external spring packs and damping valves, allowing for relative motion between the vehicle body and wheels, with a control valve to adjust hydraulic fluid volume for height changes and maintaining spring forces over a range of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies are used for vehicle height adjustment, then the range of height adjustment is increased, but the structural complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested hydraulic cylinders where inner cylinders are positioned within outer cylinders, creating a telescoping multi-stage structure. This nesting arrangement enables extended height adjustment range while maintaining a compact retracted profile, resolving the contradiction between adjustment range and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic suspension system is divided into multiple independent stages, each with its own hydraulic cylinder and spring pack. This segmentation allows each stage to contribute to the overall height adjustment range while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design and independent operation of each stage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hydraulic cylinder assemblies are extended to provide wide height adjustment range, then the vehicle height adjustment capability is improved, but the spring force consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs progressive spring packs with varying spring rates arranged in stages. As the hydraulic cylinders extend to different heights, different spring stages are activated, dynamically adjusting the spring force to maintain consistency across the full range of motion. This dynamic progression of spring rates compensates for the changing leverage and geometry in the extended configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the effective spring rate parameter by engaging different spring packs at different extension stages. This parameter change ensures that the overall spring force remains consistent even as the physical configuration and leverage ratios change during extension, resolving the contradiction between adjustment range and force consistency.
3Length of moving object
If telescoping multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies are used, then the extended length exceeds twice the contracted length, but the ride quality consistency becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The nested telescoping structure enables the extended length to exceed twice the contracted length while maintaining ride quality through coordinated operation of multiple stages. Each nested stage contributes to the extended reach while the progressive spring system compensates for geometric changes, allowing high extension ratio without sacrificing ride consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic progressive spring system adapts to the changing mechanical advantages and leverage ratios that occur during extensive telescoping motion. By actively adjusting the effective spring rate as the system extends beyond twice its contracted length, the system maintains consistent ride quality despite the extreme range of motion.
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 enables a wide range of vehicle height adjustments while ensuring consistent spring forces and ride quality, with the hydraulic cylinder assemblies extending more than double their contracted length, and fluid damping valves restricting fluid flow to manage telescopic movement effectively.
Implementation Method 1
telescoping multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies arranged to selectively lift the vehicle body relative to the wheels when extended and to lower the vehicle body relative to the wheels when contracted
Implementation Method 2
External spring packs are in fluid connection with the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to maintain spring forces on the suspension system over a range of telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies
Implementation Method 3
Fluid damping valves are provided for damping telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies by restricting fluid flow between the hydraulic cylinder assemblies and the spring packs
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle suspension connects a vehicle body to a plurality of wheels and allows relative motion between the vehicle body and the wheels. The suspension system includes a plurality of telescoping multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies arranged to selectively lift the vehicle body relative to the wheels when extended and to lower the vehicle body relative to the wheels when contracted. A control valve is used to adjust a volume of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to change a height of the vehicle. External spring packs are in fluid connection with the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to maintain spring forces on the suspension system over a range of telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies. Fluid damping valves are provided for damping telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies by restricting fluid flow between the hydraulic cylinder assemblies and the spring packs.