Vehicle-Height Control Valve Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-height control systems experience unintentional changes in vehicle height during the initiation of height control due to pressure differences between air spring devices and actuator-side passages, leading to inconsistent vehicle height adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle-height control system establishes communication between the actuator-side passage and the fluid supply and discharge device by switching the vehicle-height control valve to its open state after ensuring the passage pressure is equalized, preventing fluid discharge during up control and fluid supply during down control, thereby stabilizing the vehicle height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle-height control valve is opened immediately at the start of height control, then the fluid can be supplied or discharged quickly, but unintentional changes in vehicle height occur due to pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing communication between the actuator-side passage and the fluid supply/discharge device (tank or compressor) before opening the vehicle-height control valve. This preliminary pressure equalization prevents unintentional height changes when the valve is subsequently opened, while still allowing quick response when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses beforehand cushioning by pre-balancing the pressure between the actuator-side passage and the fluid supply/discharge device before the control valve opens. This cushioning effect prevents sudden pressure differentials that would cause unintentional height changes, ensuring stable operation.
2Reliability
If the vehicle-height control valve is kept closed to prevent unintentional height changes, then stability is improved, but the response speed of height control decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pressure equalization by establishing communication with the fluid supply/discharge device before opening the control valve. This allows the valve to remain closed during pressure balancing while ensuring rapid response capability is maintained when the valve is opened for actual height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic control strategy where the system transitions from a closed state (for stability) to a communication-established state (for pressure equalization) and then to an open state (for rapid height adjustment). This dynamic approach optimizes both stability and response speed at different control stages.
3Reliability
If communication is established between actuator-side passage and fluid supply device before opening the valve, then unintentional height changes are prevented, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the existing electromagnetic valves in the fluid supply/discharge device for dual purposes: both for fluid supply/discharge to the tank and for establishing pressure equalization with the actuator-side passage. This eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms, maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses its own existing components (electromagnetic valves, passages, tank, compressor) to perform the pressure equalization function without requiring external or additional specialized components. The system serves itself by utilizing its built-in fluid management capabilities.
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 approach effectively prevents or reduces unintentional changes in vehicle height at the start of control, ensuring smoother and more precise height adjustments by managing fluid pressure dynamics within the system.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to suck air and compress the air; communication between the actuator-side passage and the compressor is established at the start of the down control, and the compressor is actuated
Implementation Method 2
a tank configured to supply air that has been compressed by the compressor; communication between the actuator-side passage and the tank is established at the start of the up control
Data Source
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AI summary
In a vehicle-height control system, an actuator-side passage is connected to a fluid supply and discharge device. A vehicle-height control actuator is connected to the actuator-side passage via a vehicle-height control valve. At a start of vehicle height control, the vehicle-height control valve is switched from a closed state to an open state after the actuator-side passage is fluidically coupled with the air supply and discharge device. For example, at a start of up control, a tank of the fluid supply and discharge device is fluidically coupled with the actuator-side passage to increase a pressure of fluid in the actuator-side passage. This operation makes it difficult for fluid to be discharged from the vehicle-height control actuator to the actuator-side passage when the vehicle-height control valve is thereafter switched from the closed state to the open state. Accordingly, unintentional lowering of vehicle height can be prevented.