Self-Pumping Spring Base Adjustment for Vehicle Ride Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel suspension systems require external energy to adjust the ride height, which can compromise ride comfort due to increased breakaway torque in self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension struts.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic adjustment system for the base of a support spring, utilizing a piston pump driven by relative movement between the vehicle superstructure and wheel-guiding components, which adjusts the spring base without external energy, using a variable hydraulic cylinder and check valve device to control hydraulic medium flow, ensuring self-regulation and minimal displacement during normal loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut is used to adjust ride height without external energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the breakaway torque of the damper increases which deteriorates ride comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the lifting function from the damping function. The lifting function is achieved through a piston pump that accumulates hydraulic medium in a compensation volume during compression phases, while the damping function is handled by a separate hydraulic damper. This segmentation allows the lifting action to occur without increasing the breakaway torque of the damper, thus maintaining ride comfort while achieving energy-autonomous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston pump performs preliminary action by accumulating hydraulic medium in the compensation volume during the compression phase of the suspension travel. This pre-accumulated hydraulic medium is then used to lift the vehicle body during the rebound phase, eliminating the need for external energy input while avoiding the need to increase damper breakaway torque.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic cylinder with variable effective length is used to adjust spring base position, then ride height adjustment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston pump serves multiple functions: it acts as both a pumping element during compression phases and as a lifting mechanism during rebound phases. The same hydraulic circuit serves both the piston pump and the hydraulic damper. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity compared to having separate systems for lifting and damping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the piston pump with the existing suspension structure, utilizing the relative movement between the vehicle body and wheel-guiding elements to drive the pump. The hydraulic circuit integrates the compensation volume, piston pump, and hydraulic damper into a unified system that achieves ride height adjustment without requiring entirely separate mechanical components.
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 self-adjustment of the vehicle ride height without external energy, maintaining ride comfort by controlling hydraulic pressure and minimizing unnecessary displacement, thus achieving a balance between load compensation and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a piston pump for conveying hydraulic medium through a check valve device into a hydraulic chamber provided at the spring base is provided, which piston pump is driven by way of a relative movement of the vehicle superstructure in relation to a wheel-guiding component
Implementation Method 2
conveying hydraulic medium through a check valve device into a hydraulic chamber
Implementation Method 3
which furthermore has a pressurized compensation volume for providing hydraulic medium
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wheel suspension has a hydraulic adjustment system for the base of a support spring provided between a wheel-guide component and the vehicle structure. The suspension includes a piston pump which is driven via a relative movement of the vehicle structure in relation to a wheel-guiding component and intended for conveying hydraulic medium through a return valve into a hydraulic chamber provided at the spring base, as well as a pressurized compensation volume for providing hydraulic medium. Preferably, the piston pump has a pump cylinder and a pump piston guided such that it can move relative to the former and a return channel connected to the hydraulic chamber feeds into the pump cylinder in such a way that the feed opening is blocked or released by the pump piston in a position-dependent manner, wherein hydraulic medium can flow via the released feed opening, out of the hydraulic chamber, through the pump cylinder and into the compensation volume.