Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Matthias Dehmel

Michael Seemann

Jianbo Lu

Davor Hrovat

Eric Hongtei Tseng

Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim

Mitch McConnell

Michael Frantzen

Fredrick V Owens

A method for controlling an active suspension system of a vehicle during a curb parking operation, so as to position a portion of the vehicle on a street and a portion of the vehicle on a curb. The method includes steps of activating a curb parking function of the active suspension system, acquiring inputs pertinent to the curb parking operation, and determining, by a controller, if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that the curb parking operation is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the active suspension system are controlled to facilitate curb parking.

Suspension control system to facilitate wheel motions during parking

The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass () of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass () of the vehicle, a vibration damper () damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (), and a self-pumping air spring () which supports the sprung and unsprung masses () against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper () according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.

Height adjustment for vehicles with air spring and vibration damper

A vehicle suspension apparatus includes various elements, such as a self-pumping air spring and damper unit operating with compressed air for height adjustment of a vehicle body relative to a wheel suspension of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes at least one spring space filled with compressed air, which is at least partially bounded by at least one movable wall and a damper cylinder, which can be connected to the spring space for fluid transmission by at least one connecting valve. The damper cylinder includes a working space divided by a piston, which moves inside the working space, and fluidly connected by a throttle valve. The connecting valve and the throttle valve are each switchable valves, and one of the working spaces of the damper cylinder can be vented to the surrounding atmosphere via at least one switchable vent valve.

Air spring and damper unit with height adjustment

A method for controlling a vehicle includes the step of determining if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that curb parking is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the vehicle are controlled to facilitate the curb parking operation.

Growing community of inventors

Pulheim, Germany

Matthias Dehmel