Shock absorber with integrated position sensor
AssigneeArvin Technologies, Inc.
InventorJoseph Cubalchini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shock absorber includes a dust tube that surrounds a shock body. The shock body is movable relative to the dust tube in response to road load inputs. A plurality of magnets is mounted to one of the dust tube and shock body, and a module is mounted to the other of the dust tube and shock body. The module interacts with the plurality of magnets to determine a position of the dust tube relative to a position of the shock body. This position information can be used to adjust suspension ride height as needed.
Claims19
A shock absorber assembly comprising:
- a shock body;
- a rod movable relative to said shock body along a rod axis, one of said shock body and rod being mountable to an axle component and the other of said shock body and said rod being mountable to a vehicle chassis;
- a dust tube having an inner surface surrounding an outer surface of said shock body with the shock body being movable relative to the dust tube in response to road load inputs;
- a plurality of magnets fixed to one of said dust tube and said shock body;
- and
- a module fixed to the other of said dust tube and said shock body, said module interacting with said plurality of magnets to determine a position of said dust tube relative to a position of said shock body.
A method for controlling suspension ride height comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a shock body, a rod movable relative to the shock body along a rod axis, and a dust tube having an inner surface surrounding an outer surface of the shock body;
- (b) mounting a plurality of magnets to one of the dust tube and shock body,
- (c) mounting a module to the other of the dust tube and shock body;
- (d) determining a position of the dust tube relative to a position of the shock body based on interaction between the plurality of magnets and the module;
- (e) communicating position information from step (d) to a suspension control;
- and
- (f) adjusting suspension ride height based on the position information of step (e).
A suspension assembly comprising:
- a first suspension element comprising a shock absorbing body;
- a second suspension element movable relative to said shock absorbing body along an axis, one of said first and second suspension elements being mountable to an axle component and the other of said first and second suspension elements being mountable to a vehicle chassis;
- a dust tube having an inner surface surrounding an outer surface of said shock absorbing body with the shock absorbing body being movable relative to the dust tube in response to road load inputs;
- a plurality of magnets fixed to one of said dust tube and said shock absorbing body;
- a module fixed to the other of said dust tube and said shock absorbing body and facing said plurality of magnets, said module interacting with said plurality of magnets for determining a position of said dust tube relative to a position of said shock absorbing body;
- and
- a suspension control module for adjusting ride height in response to a control signal generated based on the position of said dust tube relative to said shock absorbing body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.