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US 12,459,322 B2Granted
Independent and cross-linked hydraulic actuator systems
AssigneeClearMotion, Inc.
InventorsClive Tucker, Marco Giovanardi, Jack A. Ekchian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described where multiple linear and/or rotary actuators operate cooperatively in, for example, cross-linked arrangements to control the motion of sprung and unsprung masses in a vehicle. The actuators may include linear primary suspension actuators, spring perch actuators and/or rotary roll-bar actuators that, in some operating modes, are driven directly or indirectly by one or more hydraulic machines.
Claims17
An active suspension system of a vehicle comprising:
- a first actuator assembly that includes:
- a first primary hydraulic actuator directly driven by a first hydraulic motor-pump;
- and
- a first perch actuator indirectly driven by the first hydraulic motor-pump,
- wherein the first primary hydraulic actuator includes a first compression volume and a first extension volume, and
- wherein the first actuator assembly includes a first multi-source hydraulic intensifier with a first port in fluid communication with the first compression volume, a second port in fluid communication with the first extension volume, and a third port in fluid communication with a first volume of the first perch actuator.
3 more elements
An active suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first hydraulic actuator assembly that includes a first primary hydraulic actuator directly driven by a first hydraulic device, wherein the first primary hydraulic actuator includes a first compression volume and a first extension volume;
- a second hydraulic actuator assembly that includes a second primary hydraulic actuator directly driven by a second hydraulic device, wherein the second primary hydraulic actuator includes a second compression volume and a second extension volume;
- and
- a rotary hydraulic roll bar actuator operatively coupled to a roll bar and configured to be driven by a combination of the first hydraulic device and the second hydraulic device,
- wherein, in at least one mode of operation, the first primary hydraulic actuator, the second primary hydraulic actuator and the rotary hydraulic roll bar actuator cooperatively apply a roll moment to a vehicle body of the vehicle.
2 more elements
A passive multi-source hydraulic pressure intensifier, comprising:
- a housing including a first chamber, a second chamber, and third chamber, each chamber being a mutually sealed variable volume chamber, wherein each chamber is at least partially filled with a fluid at a first pressure, a second pressure, and a third pressure respectively;
- and
- a multi-surface piston assembly that includes:
- a first piston with a first surface exposed to the first pressure and a second surface exposed to the second pressure, and a second piston with a third surface exposed to the third pressure, wherein the first piston and second piston are fixedly attached to opposite ends of an intervening piston rod, and wherein relative volumes of the first chamber, the second chamber, and the third chamber are a function of a position of the multi-surface piston assembly relative to the housing,
- wherein a pressure in the first chamber is a function of at least pressures in the second chamber and the third chamber in at least one mode of operation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.