Adjustable vehicle suspension system with adjustable-rate air spring
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16F-009/04
F16F-009/02
B60G-017/04
출원번호
US-0982106
(2004-11-05)
등록번호
US-7380799
(2008-06-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Niaura,William S.
Tener,Dean R.
Monroe,Christopher R.
Mickler,David J.
Brookes,Graham R.
출원인 / 주소
BFS Diversified Products, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Fay, Sharpe, Fagan, Minnich & McKee, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
11인용 특허 :
36
초록▼
An adjustable vehicle suspension system includes a plurality of damping members and an air spring operatively associated with each of the damping members. The suspension system also includes a compressed air source, a valve assembly, and a controller. The compressed air source is in fluid communicat
An adjustable vehicle suspension system includes a plurality of damping members and an air spring operatively associated with each of the damping members. The suspension system also includes a compressed air source, a valve assembly, and a controller. The compressed air source is in fluid communication with each of the air springs. The valve assembly is operatively disposed between the compressed air source and each of the air springs. The controller is operatively associated with the valve assembly for selective activation thereof. A user can selectively adjust one of a damping rate of the damping members, a spring rate of the air springs, and a ride height of the air springs, such as by using a control panel. A method is also disclosed.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. An adjustable suspension system for securement between an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass of an associated vehicle, said adjustable suspension system comprising: a damping member having a variable damping rate; an air spring assembly operatively associated with s
We claim: 1. An adjustable suspension system for securement between an associated sprung mass and an associated unsprung mass of an associated vehicle, said adjustable suspension system comprising: a damping member having a variable damping rate; an air spring assembly operatively associated with said damping member, said air spring assembly capable of operating at at least a first predetermined spring rate corresponding to a first nominal spring height of a first predetermined height range, a second predetermined spring rate corresponding to a second nominal spring height of a second predetermined height range and a third predetermined spring rate corresponding to a third nominal spring height of a third predetermined height range, said second spring rate being from about 50 percent to about 70 percent greater than said first spring rate with said second nominal spring height being about 5 percent to about 15 percent lower than said first nominal spring height, and said third spring rate being from about 80 percent to about 100 percent greater than said first spring rate with said third nominal spring height being from about 20 percent to about 30 percent lower than said first nominal spring height; a first actuator operatively associated with said damping member for varying said damping rate thereof; a second actuator operatively associated with said air spring assembly for selectively varying said air spring assembly between said first, second and third predetermined spring rates at a corresponding one of said first, second and third nominal spring heights; and, a controller in communication with at least one of said first and second actuators and operative to selectively actuate at least one of said first and second actuators to adjust at least one of said damping member and said air spring assembly between: a first performance mode in which said damping member has a first damping rate and said air spring assembly has approximately said first predetermined spring rate and approximately said first nominal spring height, a second performance mode in which said damping member has a second damping rate and said air spring assembly has approximately said second predetermined spring rate and approximately said second nominal spring height, and a third performance mode in which said damping member has a third damping rate and said air spring assembly has approximately said third predetermined spring rate and approximately said third nominal spring height. 2. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 1 further comprising a compressed air source in communication with said air spring and a valve assembly operatively disposed between said compressed air source and said air spring assembly, said valve assembly including said second actuator. 3. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 1 further comprising a control panel in operative communication with said controller for selectively switching between said first, second and third performance modes. 4. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 1, wherein said air spring assembly includes a first end member having a peripheral wall, a second end member in spaced relation to said first end member and a flexible sleeve secured between said first and second end members forming a chamber therebetween. 5. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 4, wherein said peripheral wall of said first end member has first, second and third spring rate zones disposed therealong and each of said spring rate zones is associated with a corresponding one of said first, second and third predetermined spring rates. 6. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 5, wherein said flexible sleeve forms a rolling lobe along said peripheral wall of said first end member, said lobe having a geometric reference point and said reference point being disposed within a different one of said spring rate zones for each of said first, second and third predetermined spring rates. 7. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 5, wherein said first, second and third spring rate zones respectively include said first, second and third nominal spring heights. 8. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 1, wherein said second damping rate is greater than said first damping rate and said third damping rate is greater than said second damping rate. 9. An adjustable suspension system according to claim 1, wherein said first actuator includes a manually adjustable knob operatively connected to said damping member and selectively adjustable between at least said first, second and third damping rates. 10. An air spring assembly capable of operating at at least three substantially-different nominal spring rates each corresponding to a different nominal spring height, said air spring assembly comprising: a first end member having a central axis and a peripheral wall extending about said axis between opposing first and second ends, said first end member including first, second and third spring rate zones axially formed along said peripheral wall; a second end member spaced from said first end member; and, a flexible sleeve secured between said first end member and said second end member at least partially forming a chamber therebetween; said first spring rate zone disposed toward said first end, and said first spring rate zone having a first nominal diameter disposed a first nominal distance from said first end such that operation of said air spring assembly in said first spring rate zone corresponds to a first nominal spring rate of said at least three substantially-different nominal spring rates at a first nominal spring height; said second spring rate zone disposed adjacent said first spring rate zone in a direction opposite said first end, said second spring rate zone having a second nominal diameter disposed a second nominal distance from said first end, said second nominal distance being greater than said first nominal distance of said first spring rate zone, and said second nominal diameter being greater than said first nominal diameter such that operation of said air spring assembly in said second spring rate zone corresponds to a second nominal spring rate of said at least three substantially-different nominal spring rates that is greater than said first nominal spring rate and a second nominal spring height that is less than said first nominal spring height; said third spring rate zone disposed adjacent said second spring rate zone in a direction opposite said first spring rate zone, said third spring rate zone having a third nominal diameter disposed at a third nominal distance from said first end, said third nominal distance being greater than said second nominal distance of said second spring rate zone, said third nominal diameter being greater than said second nominal diameter such that operation of said air spring assembly in said third spring rate zone corresponds to a third nominal spring rate of said at least three substantially-different nominal spring rates that is greater than said second nominal spring rate and a third nominal spring height that is less than said second nominal spring height; whereby said nominal spring rate of said air spring assembly is adapted to be selectively increased from said first nominal spring rate to said second nominal spring rate by merely venting a volume of air from said air spring assembly and thereby lowering said nominal spring height from said first nominal spring height to said second nominal spring height, and selectively increased from said second nominal spring rate to said third nominal spring rate by merely venting a further volume of air from said air spring assembly and thereby lowering said nominal spring height from said second nominal spring height to said third nominal spring height. 11. An air spring according to claim 10, wherein said peripheral wall of said first end member is at least partially defined by a generatrix revolved about said axis. 12. An air spring according to claim 10, wherein said flexible sleeve has a rolling lobe formed thereon, said lobe having a geometric reference point disposed adjacent a different one of said nominal spring heights for each of said corresponding nominal spring rates. 13. An air spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein said spring rate within said first spring rate zone increases at a first rate of change upon axial compression of said air spring assembly, said spring rate within said second spring rate zone increases at a second rate of change upon axial compression of said air spring assembly, and said spring rate within said third spring rate zone increases at a third rate of change upon axial compression of said air spring assembly. 14. An air spring assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of said first, second and third rates of change are different from one another. 15. An air spring assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second rate of change is greater than said first rate of change and said third rate of change is greater than said second rate of change. 16. An air spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein each of said first and second end members includes a passage formed therethrough with said passages being coaxial to one another and suitable for receiving a portion of an associated damping member. 17. An air spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein an operational spring rate of said air spring assembly within said first spring rate zone is from about 20 N/mm to about 90 N/mm, an operational spring rate of said air spring assembly within said second spring rate zone is from about 50 N/mm to about 120 N/mm, and an operational spring rate of said air spring assembly within said third spring rate zone is from about 80 N/mm to about 160 N/mm. 18. An air spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein said second nominal spring rate is at least 50 percent greater than said first nominal spring rate, and said third nominal spring rate is at least 80 percent greater than said first nominal spring rate. 19. An air spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein said second nominal spring height is at least 5 percent less than said first nominal spring height, and said third nominal spring height is at least 20 percent less than said first nominal spring height. 20. A method of adjusting between performance modes of a suspension system of a vehicle, said method comprising steps of: a) providing a damping member having a variable damping rate and a first actuator operatively associated with said damping member for varying said damping rate, and installing said damping member and said first actuator on said vehicle; b) providing an air spring assembly and a second actuator, installing said air spring assembly on said vehicle in operative association with said damping member, and installing said second actuator on said vehicle in operative association with said air spring assembly, said air spring assembly capable of being; b1) selectively lowered from a first nominal spring height corresponding to a first nominal spring rate to a second nominal spring height corresponding to a second nominal spring rate that is greater than said first nominal spring rate; b2) selectively lowered from said second nominal spring height corresponding to said second nominal spring rate to a third nominal spring height corresponding to a third nominal spring rate that is greater than said second nominal spring rate; b3) selectively raised from a third nominal spring height corresponding to said third nominal spring rate to said second nominal spring height corresponding to said second nominal spring rate that is less than said third nominal spring rate; and; b4) selectively raised from a second nominal spring height corresponding to said second nominal spring rate to said first nominal spring height corresponding to said first nominal spring rate that is less than said second nominal spring rate; c) providing a controller adapted to selectively actuate at least said second actuator and installing said controller on said vehicle; and, d) operating said controller to selectively actuate at least said second actuator to fill or vent a volume of air from said air spring assembly to thereby at least partially adjust said suspension system into one of a first performance mode in which said damping member has a first damping rate within a first damping rate range and said air spring assembly has said first nominal spring rate and said first nominal spring height, a second performance mode in which said damping member has a second damping rate within a second damping rate range and said air spring assembly has a said second nominal spring rate and said second nominal spring height, and a third performance mode in which said damping member has a third damping rate within a third damping rate range and said air spring assembly has said third nominal spring rate and said third nominal spring height. 21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising: providing a control panel in communication with said controller, said control panel being operative to receive a user-inputted selection corresponding to one of said first, second and third performance modes and operative to generate an input signal corresponding to said user-inputted selection; and, generating an input signal corresponding to said user-inputted selection and communicating said input signal to said controller such that said selective actuation in d) is at least partially based on said input signal. 22. A method according to claim 20, wherein providing said first actuator in a) includes providing a first actuator that is manually-adjustable, and adjusting said suspension system in d) includes manually adjusting said first actuator such that said damping member has one of a first damping rate within said first damping rate range, a second damping rate within said second damping rate range and a third damping rate within said third damping rate range corresponding to a respective one of said first, second and third performance modes.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (36)
Hellyer Richard A. (Huber Heights OH) Wagner James R. (Centerville OH) Pees James M. (Centerville OH) Lohmann Detlef (Paris FRX), Air spring module for a damper.
Ikemoto Hiroyuki (Toyota JPX) Oowa Nobutaka (Toyota JPX) Hayashi Yasutaka (Aichi JPX) Doi Shunichi (Aichi JPX), System for vehicle body roll control utilizing steering angle detection.
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