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US 2022/0016949 A1Published application
Adjustable suspensions and vehicle operation for off-road recreational vehicles
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsJonathon P. Graus, David D. Helgeson, Kyle W. Olson, Justin T. Anderson, Jacob P. Horky, Kevin P. Blair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.
Claims40
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members including a first portion on a left side of a vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle and a second portion on a right side of the vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle;
- a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- an operator area including an operator seat supported by the frame;
- a left side suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the first portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame;
- a first electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the left side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame;
- a right side suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the second portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame;
- a second electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the right side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame;
- a sway bar moveably coupled to the frame, the sway bar having a first end moveably coupled to the left side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the right side suspension;
- a third electronically controlled shock absorber positioned to operatively couple the sway bar to one of the left side suspension and the right side suspension;
- and
- an electronic controller operatively coupled to the first electronically controlled shock absorber, the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and the third electronically controlled shock absorber, the electronic controller setting a first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber, a second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and a third characteristic of the third electronically controlled shock absorber.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members including a first portion on a left side of a vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle and a second portion on a right side of the vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle;
- a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- an open-air operator area including an operator seat supported by the frame;
- a cab frame positioned to extend over the operator seat;
- a left side front suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the first portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame;
- a first electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the left side front suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame;
- a right side front suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the second portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame;
- a second electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the right side front suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame;
- a sway bar moveably coupled to the frame, the sway bar having a first portion moveably coupled to the left side front suspension and a second portion moveably coupled to the right side front suspension;
- a torque actuator operatively coupling the first portion of the sway bar and the second portion of the sway bar;
- and
- an electronic controller operatively coupled to the first electronically controlled shock absorber, the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and the torque actuator, the electronic controller setting a first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber, a second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and a third characteristic of the torque actuator.
9 more elements
A recreational vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame and operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members;
- at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) supported by the frame, the IMU configured to sense a lateral acceleration of the recreational vehicle;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the IMU, the controller configured to:
- compute a centripetal acceleration of the recreational vehicle;
- determine a roll angle of the recreational vehicle using the centripetal acceleration.
5 more elements
A recreational vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- a powertrain assembly supported by the frame and operably coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members;
- at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) supported by the frame, the IMU configured to sense a longitudinal acceleration of the all-terrain vehicle;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the IMU, the controller configured to:
- compute an acceleration of the recreational vehicle due to the vehicle accelerating forward or backward;
- and
- determine a pitch angle of the recreational vehicle using the acceleration of the recreational vehicle due to the vehicle accelerating forward or backward.
6 more elements
A shock absorber, comprising:
- a shock body having an interior, a top end, and a bottom end;
- a piston positioned in the interior of the shock body and dividing the interior of the shock body into a first cavity and a second cavity;
- a bypass conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the shock body on a first side of the piston at a first location and in fluid communication with the interior of the shock body on a second side of the piston at a second location, the first location being positioned between the piston and the bottom end of shock body and the second location being positioned between the piston and the top end of the shock body;
- a liquid fluid positioned on both the first side of the piston and the second side of the piston;
- a compressed gas positioned on the second side of the piston, wherein the second location of the bypass conduit is positioned between the second side of the piston and an interface between the compressed gas and the liquid.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- an operator area including an operator seat supported by the frame;
- a first suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member to the frame;
- a first electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to first suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame;
- a first sensor supported by the vehicle to monitor a first characteristic;
- and
- an electronic controller operatively coupled to the first electronically controlled shock absorber to control a damping characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber, the electronic controller being operatively coupled to the first sensor and controlling the damping characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber based at least on a frequency characteristic based on the monitored first characteristic.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.