Snowmobile Rear Suspension Angle Sensing in Uncoupled Geometries
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Uncoupled rear suspension assemblies in snowmobiles pose a challenge for active control of suspension damping, as sensors connected to rigid members cannot accurately determine the piston movement or position of shock absorbers due to independent movement of front and rear suspension components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two sensors to measure the angular position and velocity of rear suspension arms, allowing for determination of the stroke and piston velocity of rear shock absorbers, even in uncoupled geometries, and a controller to adjust damping based on these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are connected to rigid members of the suspension assembly to determine piston movement, then active control of suspension damping can be achieved in coupled suspension assemblies, but in uncoupled suspension assemblies the sensors cannot accurately determine piston movement or position of shock absorbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the angular position of suspension arms as an intermediary measurement. Instead of directly measuring piston movement (which fails in uncoupled geometries), the system measures the angular position of suspension arms relative to the chassis, which can be accurately obtained even when front and rear portions move independently. This intermediary measurement then serves as the basis for calculating shock absorber stroke and piston velocity through geometric relationships.
2Measurement precision
If two sensors are used to measure angular position and velocity of rear suspension arms, then stroke and piston velocity of shock absorbers can be determined in uncoupled geometries, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angular position sensors serve multiple functions: they measure the position of suspension arms, enable calculation of shock absorber stroke, determine piston velocity, and provide data for active damping control. By making the measurement system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate sensors for each measurement task, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving accurate shock absorber parameter determination.
Data Source
AI summary
A snowmobile including a chassis including a tunnel; a motor; at least one ski; an endless drive track; a rear suspension assembly including: a front suspension arm; a rear suspension arm; a pair of slide rails; a first rear shock absorber connected between the front suspension arm and the slide rails; and a second rear shock absorber connected between the rear suspension arm and the front suspension arm or the slide rails; at least one sensor for sensing an angular position of the front suspension arm or the rear suspension arm relative to one of the tunnel and a component of the rear suspension assembly near at least one of the front suspension arm and the rear suspension arm; and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor to receive electronic signals therefrom representative of the angular position.