Vehicle suspension and method for controlling same
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChristoph Arndt Dr habil, Uwe Gussen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system having a twist beam axle including a crossbeam and two trailing arms connected thereto. The rear ends of each trailing arm, in the motor vehicle longitudinal direction, having with a wheel mount for fastening a motor vehicle wheel. The front ends of each trailing arm connected via a bearing to the motor vehicle body. Each bearing associated with a MEMS designed as an actuator wherein movements of the bearings and therefore the twist beam axle about the vertical motor vehicle axis can be caused or unfavorable movements of the twist beam axle can be counteracted.
Claims19
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a twist beam axle having a crossbeam and a trailing arm having a front end;
- a bearing, having a bearing hardness based on an elastomeric element, connecting said front end to the vehicle;
- and
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator and acting on said elastomeric element to control said bearing hardness.
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a twist beam axle having a crossbeam and a trailing arm having a front end;
- a bearing, having an outer element, and inner element and an elastomeric element between said inner and outer element, connecting said front end to the vehicle;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said bearing, said actuator engaging and moving said inner and outer elements relative to one another;
- said trailing arm having a rear end and a wheel mount located at said rear end;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said wheel mount;
- and
- sensors arranged on the bearings, wheel mounts, and other points.
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a twist beam axle having a crossbeam and a trailing arm having a front end;
- a bearing connecting said front end to the vehicle;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said bearing;
- said trailing arm having a rear end and a wheel mount located at said rear end;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said wheel mount;
- and
- at least one additional MEMS designed for obtaining energy arranged on each bearing or each wheel mount.
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a twist beam axle having a crossbeam and a trailing arm having a front end;
- a bearing, having an outer element and an inner element, connecting said front end to the vehicle;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said bearing, said MEMS moving said inner element relative to said outer element;
- said trailing arm having a rear end and a wheel mount located at said rear end;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said wheel mount;
- and
- wherein the MEMS are arranged at various points of the wheel mount and bearing and have various geometric shapes adapted to the wheel mount and bearing.
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a twist beam axle having a crossbeam and a first and second trailing arm, each of said first and second trailing arms having a front end and a rear end;
- a bearing, having an outer element and inner element, connecting said front ends of said first and second trailing arms to a vehicle body;
- each of said rear ends of said first and second trailing arms having a wheel mount;
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said wheel mount;
- and
- a MEMS functioning as an actuator located adjacent said bearing, said actuator engaging and moving said inner and outer elements relative to one another.
A method for controlling a vehicle suspension having a crossbeam and two trailing arms connected thereto comprising:
- providing a bearing, having an outer element and an inner element, connecting each of the front ends of the trailing arm to the vehicle body;
- and
- providing a MEMS adjacent each of the bearings, each of said MEMS functioning as an actuator;
- and
- using said MEMS to move one of said inner or outer elements of said bearings in relation to the vehicle body.
A method for controlling a vehicle suspension having a crossbeam and two trailing arms connected thereto comprising:
- providing a bearing, having an outer element and an inner element, connecting each of the front ends of the trailing arm to the vehicle body;
- and
- providing a MEMS adjacent each of the bearings, each of said MEMS functioning as an actuator;
- using said MEMS to move one of said inner or outer elements of said bearings in relation to the vehicle body;
- and
- additional MEMS and/or further sensors operative to measure motor vehicle characteristics or parameters.
A method for controlling a vehicle suspension having a crossbeam and two trailing arms connected thereto comprising:
- providing a bearing, having an outer element and an inner element, connecting each of the front ends of the trailing arm to the vehicle body;
- and
- providing a MEMS adjacent each of the bearings, each of said MEMS functioning as an actuator;
- using said MEMS to move one of said inner or outer elements of said bearings in relation to the vehicle body;
- and
- a control unit operative to monitor the activity of the MEMS the pending on settings predefined by a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.