Electronically controlled external damper reservoir

A method for converting a damping system including a passive damper to a semi-active damping system, the method comprising:

• hydraulically connecting an electronically controlled external damper reservoir (eRESI) assembly to a passive damper via a reservoir port, the eRESI assembly including:
• the reservoir port configured to hydraulically connect the eRESI assembly to a passive damper and to receive hydraulic fluid from the passive damper via the reservoir port;
• a variable base valve assembly including an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the variable base valve assembly in response to a damping control signal received by the actuator;
• a hydraulic chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir port via the variable base valve assembly;
• a gas chamber containing a gas;
• the method further comprising:
• sensing a vehicle movement or a condition related to the vehicle movement, via an input sensor configured to generate an input signal indicative of at least one of the vehicle movement or the condition related to the vehicle movement;
• providing a controller in electronic communication with the input sensor and the actuator, wherein the controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions, such that the controller is programmed to receive the input signal from the input sensor, to generate the damping control signal based on the input signal, and to output the damping control signal to the actuator;
• receiving, via the hydraulic port, hydraulic fluid from the passive damper;
• sensing, via the input sensor, the vehicle movement and/or the condition related to the vehicle movement;
• generating, via the input sensor, the input signal;
• receiving the input signal to the controller;
• generating, via the controller, the damping control signal based on the input signal;
• and
• outputting the damping control signal to the actuator;
• the method further comprising:
• calibrating the eRESI assembly to the passive damper by:
• inputting a calibration data set to the controller;
• wherein the calibration data set includes a pressure, a temperature, and a volume of the gas contained in the gas chamber while the passive damper is in a known damper position.

A system for converting a damping system including a passive damper to a semi-active damping system, the system comprising:

• an electronically controlled external damper reservoir (eRESI) assembly including:
• a reservoir port configured to hydraulically connect the eRESI assembly to a passive damper and to receive hydraulic fluid from the passive damper via the reservoir port;
• a variable base valve assembly including an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the variable base valve assembly in response to a damping control signal received by the actuator;
• a hydraulic chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir port via the variable base valve assembly;
• a gas chamber containing a gas;
• the system further comprising:
• an input sensor configured to generate an input signal indicative of a vehicle movement and/or a condition related to the vehicle movement;
• wherein the input sensor is configured as a pressure and temperature (P/T) sensor in direct fluid communication with the gas contained in the gas chamber;
• wherein the P/T sensor is configured to measure a pressure and a temperature of the gas and to generate a P/T signal indicative of the pressure and the temperature of the gas;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the input sensor and the actuator, the controller programmed to receive the input signal from the input sensor, to generate the damping control signal based on the input signal, and to output the damping control signal to the actuator.

A method for converting a damping system including a passive damper to a semi-active damping system, the method comprising:

• hydraulically connecting an electronically controlled external damper reservoir (eRESI) assembly to a passive damper via a reservoir port, the eRESI assembly including:
• the reservoir port configured to hydraulically connect the eRESI assembly to a passive damper and to receive hydraulic fluid from the passive damper via the reservoir port;
• a variable base valve assembly including an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to selectively change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid through the variable base valve assembly in response to a damping control signal received by the actuator;
• a hydraulic chamber in fluid communication with a reservoir port via the variable base valve assembly;
• a gas chamber containing a gas;
• the method further comprising:
• sensing a vehicle movement or a condition related to the vehicle movement, via an input sensor configured to generate an input signal indicative of at least one of the vehicle movement or the condition related to the vehicle movement;
• providing a controller in electronic communication with the input sensor and the actuator, wherein the controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitor memory on which is recorded instructions, such that the controller is programmed to receive the input signal from the input sensor, to generate the damping control signal based on the input signal, and to output the damping control signal to the actuator;
• receiving, via the hydraulic port, hydraulic fluid from the passive damper;
• sensing, via the input sensor, the vehicle movement and/or the condition related to the vehicle movement;
• generating, via the input sensor, the input signal;
• receiving the input signal to the controller;
• generating, via the controller, the damping control signal based on the input signal;
• and
• outputting the damping control signal to the actuator;
• wherein the input sensor is configured as a pressure and temperature (P/T) sensor in direct fluid communication with the gas contained in the gas chamber;
• the method further comprising:
• measuring, via the P/T sensor, a pressure and a temperature of the gas;
• generating, via the P/T sensor, the input signal configured as a P/T signal indicative of the pressure and the temperature of the gas.