Vehicle Level Control System with Dynamic Switch-Off Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle level control systems with closed level control systems face challenges in ensuring the vehicle body can always be lowered quickly and safely, as components like compressors and directional valves can be damaged by excessive temperatures, leading to premature interruption of leveling processes.
Innovation Solution
The system allows the actuation of components to be prevented or aborted during up-regulation processes when switch-off limit values are reached, while allowing these values to be exceeded during down-regulation processes, ensuring rapid and safe lowering of the vehicle body by pumping compressed air from air springs into a reservoir and monitoring operating parameters like compressor temperature and duty cycles to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressor and directional valves are protected by strict switch-off limit values to prevent damage from excessive temperatures, then component reliability is improved, but the ability to quickly lower the vehicle body is worsened because the leveling process may be aborted prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the switch-off limit value behavior based on the current operation mode. During up-regulation (raising vehicle body), strict switch-off limits are enforced to protect components. During down-regulation (lowering vehicle body), the system allows temporary exceedance of switch-off limits to ensure rapid response. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the protection strategy flexible rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter behavior of switch-off limit values based on operational context. The control unit is configured to enforce switch-off limits during up-regulation processes but allows temporary exceedance during down-regulation processes. This parameter change enables the system to prioritize component protection when raising the vehicle while prioritizing rapid response when lowering it.
2Reliability
If the compressor operates in cycles to prevent overheating, then component damage is prevented, but the rapid lowering of the vehicle body is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically changes its operational constraints based on the direction of leveling. During down-regulation operations, the system temporarily suspends the cyclic operation restriction that would otherwise protect the compressor from overheating. This dynamic adjustment allows continuous compressor operation during emergency lowering while maintaining protection during normal up-regulation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The control logic is segmented into different operational modes with different protection strategies. Up-regulation operations use conservative cyclic control to protect the compressor, while down-regulation operations use aggressive continuous operation to maximize lowering speed. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for either protection or speed depending on the operational context.
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 ensures quick and reliable down-regulation of the vehicle body, protecting sensitive components by adhering to switch-off limits during up-regulation and exceeding them only when necessary during down-regulation, thus preventing damage and ensuring safety and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor with which compressed air can be transferred from the compressed air reservoir to the air springs via compressed air lines for an adjustment process
Implementation Method 2
with which compressed air can be transferred via compressed air lines for an adjustment process can be transferred from the air springs to the compressed air reservoir
Implementation Method 3
compressed air lines with switchable directional control valves with which the compressed air lines can be blocked or switched through
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a closed ride-control system comprising a controller (32) in which a cutoff threshold value for at least one operating parameter of at least one component (26a-26d, 8) of the ride-control system is monitored, wherein the actuating of the component (26a–26d, 8) is prevented or interrupted during raising procedures when the threshold value is reached, and wherein exceeding the threshold value for the operating parameter is permitted during lowering procedures.