Accumulators for a distributed active suspension system
AssigneeClearMotion, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Thomas Belter, Jason Steven Sirois
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presented herein, inter alia, are suspension system components having tuned accumulator sizing and/or stiffness. Such suspension system components are envisioned for use in a distributed active suspension system of a vehicle. In particular, through appropriate sizing of accumulators of a suspension system component of a vehicle, ride quality of the vehicle may be improved and so called “rough ride” issues may be precluded. Alternatively or additionally, various valves or alternative compliant mechanisms may be included in the suspension system component, so that desirable performance may be obtained for a range of operating conditions.
Claims25
A suspension system component comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder at least partially defining an internal volume;
- a piston slidably inserted into the hydraulic cylinder, thereby dividing the internal volume into a compression chamber and an extension chamber;
- a piston rod attached to the piston and extending out of the hydraulic cylinder;
- a hydraulic pump that includes a first port in fluid communication with the compression chamber and a second port in fluid communication with the extension chamber;
- a compression accumulator arranged to exchange fluid with the compression chamber;
- an extension accumulator arranged to exchange fluid with the extension chamber;
- wherein when the hydraulic pump generates a first commanded pressure differential of at least 1,000 psi, an observed stiffness of the suspension system component in response to an external input having a frequency of 12 Hz and a peak-to-peak amplitude of 5 mm does not exceed 80 N/mm.
A suspension system component for a vehicle, the suspension system component comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder containing a first volume of fluid;
- a piston slidably received in the hydraulic cylinder, thereby dividing at least a portion of the hydraulic cylinder into an extension chamber and a compression chamber;
- a piston rod attached to the piston;
- a compression accumulator containing a second volume of fluid, wherein the compression accumulator is in direct fluid communication with the compression chamber;
- an extension accumulator containing a third volume of fluid, wherein the extension accumulator is in direct fluid communication with the extension chamber;
- a pump in fluid communication with both the compression chamber and the extension chamber;
- wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume, and wherein the third volume is larger than the first volume.
A nested accumulator assembly for a hydraulic system, the nested accumulator assembly comprising:
- a first accumulator including:
- a first accumulator housing that at least partially defines a first internal volume;
- a first piston that divides the first internal volume into a first gas-charged chamber and a first hydraulic fluid chamber;
- a second accumulator including:
- a second accumulator housing that at least partially defines a second internal volume;
- a second piston that divides the second internal volume into a second gas-charged chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber;
- wherein at least a portion of the second accumulator is disposed within the first internal volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.