Vehicle Height Control Pressure Source Noise Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-height control systems experience noise and vibration issues due to pressure differences between the intake and discharge sides of the compressor during start and stop operations, and there is a delay in control due to low pressure conditions.

Innovation Solution

A pressure source device with a compressor and tank that supplies air to low-pressure portions to equalize pressure, forming a closed circuit between the intake and discharge passages to reduce pressure differences and eliminate low-pressure areas, thereby suppressing noise and vibrations and reducing control delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the compressor device operates to supply air to the tank, then the tank pressure increases to maintain vehicle height, but large pressure differences between intake and discharge sides cause sounds and vibrations at start and stop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle height control stabilityVSAvoidsounds and vibrations from compressor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by supplying air to the low pressure portion before the compressor starts operating. This pre-supply equalizes the pressure between intake and discharge sides, preventing large pressure differences that cause sounds and vibrations when the compressor starts or stops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (air supply to low pressure portion) that mediates between the tank and compressor intake. This intermediary action balances the pressure in advance, allowing the compressor to operate more smoothly without generating excessive noise and vibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the compressor device stops immediately when tank pressure reaches upper limit, then energy consumption is reduced, but control delay occurs due to low pressure portions in the system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor energy consumptionVSAvoidcontrol delay due to low pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-supplying air to low pressure portions before the compressor stops. This ensures that when the compressor stops, there are no significant low pressure portions that would cause control delay, while still allowing the compressor to stop promptly to save energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the compressor operates continuously to maintain pressure, then control responsiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and noise/vibration problems persist

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol responsivenessVSAvoidcompressor energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By pre-supplying air to low pressure portions before compressor operation, the system enables the compressor to start and stop more efficiently. This maintains control responsiveness while reducing the need for continuous operation, thereby lowering energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The solution effectively reduces noise and vibrations during compressor operation and minimizes control delays by equalizing pressure differences and maintaining stable operation, enhancing the overall performance of the vehicle-height control system.

Implementation Method 1

The supply of the pressure medium to the low pressure portion eliminates the low pressure portion or increases the pressure of the pressure medium in the low pressure portion, thereby reducing a pressure difference between an intake-side portion and a discharge-side portion of the compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3222447B1Vehicle-height control system and pressure source device
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3222447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3222447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3222447B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Air is supplied to a low pressure portion (e.g., a third passage (65) at at least one of start and termination of at least one of tank pressure control and vehicle height control. The air supply to the third passage (65) reduces a difference in pressure of air between the third passage (65) and a fourth passage (66). This reduction suppresses sounds and vibrations caused at actuation and stop of a compressor (40).