Clearmotion, Inc.

Joseph Thomas Belter

Marco Giovanardi

Brian Alexander Selden

Clive Tucker

Zackary Martin Anderson

Jack A Ekchian

John A Laplante

Graham A Dowie

Colin Patrick O'Shea

Jason Steven Sirois

Mathijs Van Staalduinen

Taha Zeki Ramazanoglu

Active suspension actuator systems including an actuator with a compression volume and an extension volume are described. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more flow control devices in fluid communication with the compression volume and/or the extension volume of the actuator. In some instances, a flow control device may include a pressure balanced blow-off valve (PBOV). In some embodiments, the system includes a high capacity bidirectional base valve. In some embodiments, two or more flow control devices cooperate to, for example, damp low amplitude oscillations in the extension and/or compression volumes, and to allow the build-up of pump generated differential pressures while discharging rapid road induced differential pressure spikes between the extension and compression volumes.

Pressure compensated active suspension actuator system

Active suspension systems may include actuators with combinations of accumulators and flow restrictions. In some embodiments, methods and constructions may be implemented to mitigate pump ripple and/or resonances between different hydraulic components.

Frequency dependent pressure and/or flow fluctuation mitigation in hydraulic systems

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a hydraulic actuator that includes one or more check valves having a dynamically varying cracking pressure. In certain embodiments, a hydraulic actuator may be configured to vary the cracking pressure of a check valve based on an operating condition of a pump of the hydraulic actuator. The check valve may be located along a bypass path in the hydraulic actuator, thereby allowing for fluid flow to bypass a pump of the hydraulic actuator by passing through the check valve. The use of such hydraulic actuators is contemplated in, for example, an active suspension system of a vehicle. Additionally, various embodiments of suitable check valves are disclosed. Additionally, methods are disclosed for operation of the check valve and the hydraulic actuator.

Pilot operated blow-off valves for hydraulic actuators

Presented herein, inter alia, are suspension system components having tuned accumulator sizing and/or stiffness. Such suspension system components are envisioned for use in a distributed active suspension system of a vehicle. In particular, through appropriate sizing of accumulators of a suspension system component of a vehicle, ride quality of the vehicle may be improved and so called 'rough ride' issues may be precluded. Alternatively or additionally, various valves or alternative compliant mechanisms may be included in the suspension system component, so that desirable performance may be obtained for a range of operating conditions.

Accumulators for a distributed active suspension system

Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.

Hydraulic actuator with a frequency dependent relative pressure ratio

Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.

Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic units

Active suspension systems including actuators with combinations of accumulators and flow restrictions, as well as their methods of operation, are described. In some embodiments, methods and constructions for mitigating pump ripple and/or resonances between different hydraulic components are also described.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Joseph Thomas Belter