Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Jeremy Richard Edmondson

Joshua D Coombs

Xubin Song

Carlos Fernando Osorio

Zhesheng Li

Gary Gloceri

The present invention provides regenerative passive and semi-active suspension systems. A regenerative suspension system generally includes at least one regenerative damper, a module, an electric switch, and a battery. The at least one regenerative damper converts mechanical vibration energy within a vehicle into a voltage, which the damper passes to the module. The module measures the voltage from the regenerative damper, and in response, changes electric switch settings for each regenerative damper between an open circuit, a closed circuit completed by a power resistance, and a closed circuit completed by circuitry for charging a battery. Additionally, the module sets electric switch levels to adjust the damping forces within each regenerative damper.

Regenerative passive and semi-active suspension

The present invention provides a transmissibility shaping control for active suspension systems. The T-shaping control is a combination of several sub-strategies using the dynamic information in the frequency domain. Each strategy works dominantly in a certain frequency range to achieve a desirable transmissibility for better suspension performance in the corresponding frequency range. Different sub-strategies for different frequency ranges include stiffness control, skyhook control, groundhook control, and various damping levels. In addition, an embodiment is provided utilizing tunable compressible fluid struts in an active vehicle suspension.

Transmissibility shaping control for active vehicle suspension systems

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a compressible fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, a reservoir, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid. The hydraulic cavity and the compressible fluid supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

Suspension system for a vehicle

A suspension strut () for a vehicle including a compressible fluid (), a hydraulic tube (') and displacement rod () adapted to cooperate with the compressible fluid () to supply a suspending spring force that biases the wheel toward the surface, a cavity piston (&#x2032;) separating the inner cavity () into a first section () and a second section () and defining a first orifice () adapted to allow flow of the compressible fluid () between the first section () and the second section () of the inner cavity (), and a first variable restrictor () adapted to variably restrict the passage of the compressible fluid () through the first orifice () based on the velocity of the cavity piston (&#x2032;) to the hydraulic tube (&#x2032;).

Compressible fluid strut

A method and apparatus is provided for estimating the mean pressure in a compressible fluid strut. A database is employed containing values for mean pressure variation corresponding to a specific combination of motor speed and flow demand, and may also account for strut temperature. The flow demand and the speed of the motor are determined, and the mean variation corresponding to the determined combination of motor speed and flow demand is selected. The estimation of strut mean pressure is updated with the selected mean pressure variation. In this way, costly pressure sensors are eliminated as well as the complicated control algorithms which are used therewith.

Mean pressure estimation for compressible fluid strut

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, an accumulator, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the fluid. The hydraulic cavity supplies a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

Suspension system for a vehicle including an accumulator

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a compressible fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, a reservoir, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid. The hydraulic cavity and the compressible fluid supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby modulating the suspending spring force.

Suspension system ( ) includes a compressible fluid ( ), a suspension strut ( ), a hydraulic cavity ( ), a reservoir ( ), and a volume modulator ( ). The hydraulic cavity ( ) is at least partially defined by the suspension strut ( ) and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid ( ). The hydraulic cavity ( ) and the compressible fluid ( ) supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel ( ) of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator ( ) selectively pushes the compressible fluid ( ) into the hydraulic cavity ( ) and vents the compressible fluid ( ) from the hydraulic cavity ( ), thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

A magnetorheological fluid actuated damper. At least a first and a second cylinder with the first cylinder positioned axially within the second cylinder are provided. A gap is formed between the cylinders. The second cylinder is mounted to a stationary mount of the vehicle chassis and a control arm is mounted at an end of the first cylinder. The first cylinder is mounted on bearings to allow it to rotate relative to the chassis. The gap between the cylinders contains a magnetorheological fluid having an adjustable viscosity in reaction to the application of a magnetic field. A magnetic field is generated over the fluid in the gap.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Jeremy Richard Edmondson