Vehicle Suspension Damping Control via Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems face challenges in balancing ride quality and performance due to limitations in damping systems, including fluid leakage, space constraints, and complexity in active and semi-active damping control systems, which are costly and less suitable for economically priced vehicle models.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle suspension system with an electronically-variable damping system controlled by a pressure sensor and controller, adjusting damping rates based on fluid pressure, vehicle conditions, and driver input, using a fluid spring and variable-rate damper with electronically-controlled orifices to optimize damping rates without the need for complex fluid volumes or expensive processing power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air proportional dampers are used to vary damping rate proportionally to air spring pressure changes, then damping rate adjustment is achieved, but fluid leakage occurs due to loss of seal integrity at component interconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the valving mechanism from direct fluid communication with the air spring, eliminating the seals and connectors that cause leakage. The electronically-controlled damper operates independently of the air spring fluid system, removing the source of seal integrity problems while maintaining damping rate adjustability through electronic control based on air spring pressure sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical fluid communication system (with its seals and connectors) with an electronic control system. An electronic controller receives pressure signals from the air spring and electronically adjusts the damper's damping rate, substituting mechanical fluid dynamics with electronic sensing and control to achieve the same adaptability without the reliability issues.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air proportional dampers with fluid volumes and connectors are used, then damping rate control is achieved, but valuable vehicle space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the unnecessary fluid volumes and connectors from the damping system. By using an electronically-controlled damper that senses air spring pressure separately and adjusts damping electronically, the system eliminates the large fluid reservoirs and extensive connector networks required by air proportional dampers, significantly reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a pressure sensor to create an electronic copy or representation of the air spring pressure state, which then controls the damper electronically. This electronic copying approach replaces the need for physical fluid communication pathways, reducing the space required for fluid volumes and connectors while maintaining the same control functionality.
3Ease of operation
If active or semi-active damping control systems with sophisticated processing are used, then road inputs are counteracted in real-time, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the damper to essentially self-adjust based on air spring pressure changes. The pressure sensor provides direct feedback about the vehicle's loading and road conditions, and the electronic controller automatically adjusts the damping rate in response, creating a self-regulating system that reduces road inputs without requiring complex processing or continuous sophisticated control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simpler, more cost-effective components: a basic pressure sensor and an electronically-controlled damper with straightforward control logic. This approach replaces expensive, complex active control systems with more affordable components that achieve the essential function of counteracting road inputs, making the system more suitable for economically priced vehicle models.
4Adaptability or versatility
If higher damping rates are used to improve vehicle performance and handling, then handling performance is improved, but road inputs transmitted to sprung mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic damping system that continuously adjusts the damping rate based on real-time air spring pressure conditions. Rather than using a fixed high damping rate, the system dynamically adapts the damping level to match current vehicle loading and road conditions, providing high damping when needed for performance while reducing damping when lower levels are sufficient, thereby minimizing road input transmission to the sprung mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the damping rate parameter in response to air spring pressure changes. The electronic controller monitors pressure variations and adjusts the damper's damping coefficient accordingly, allowing the system to optimize the balance between handling performance and ride comfort by varying the damping parameter rather than maintaining a constant high setting.
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 provides improved ride quality and performance by dynamically adjusting damping rates in real-time, reducing road inputs to the sprung mass while minimizing complexity and cost, making it more accessible for various vehicle models.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor in communication with the air spring assembly and operative to generate a pressure signal having a relation to the air spring pressure
Implementation Method 2
an adjustable-rate damping member operatively disposed between the associated sprung and unsprung masses
Data Source
AI summary
A control system (122) is operatively associated with a suspension system of a vehicle (VHC). The associated suspension system includes an associated fluid spring (102) operating at an associated fluid pressure and an associated variable- rate damper (104) having an associated electronically-variable damping rate. The control system includes a pressure sensor (126) operative to generate a pressure sensor signal indicative of the associated fluid pressure of the associated fluid spring, and a controller (124) in communication with the pressure sensor and the associated variable-rate damper. The controller is operative to receive the pressure sensor signal and generate a damper adjustment signal based at least partially on the pressure sensor signal for adjusting the associated electronically-variable damping rate of the associated variable-rate damper. A vehicle suspension system (100) includes such a control system, and a method of controlling a suspension system of a vehicle is also included.