Suspension systems for vehicles
AssigneeLucas Industries Limited
InventorAlan L. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a suspension system which is designed to maintain a nominal ride height between the body and the unsprung parts of a vehicle, the difference in wheel speed on opposite sides of the vehicle produced during cornering is used to inhibit adjustment of ride height. An electrical sensor and control unit is used to control flow of hydraulic fluid to and from a suspension unit by means of solenoid-operated valves, so as to maintain the ride height constant. A cornering sensor compares the sensed speeds of two wheels, preferably mounted on a common axle, and inhibits the control unit when the difference in speeds departs from an expected difference by more than a certain amount. The expected difference may be zero or it may be the average difference derived over a period of time.
Claims8
In a vehicle having sprung and unsprung parts, a suspension system comprising at least two suspension units installed on opposite sides of the vehicle and adapted to maintain a suitable height relationship between the sprung and unsprung parts of the vehicle despite changes in vehicle load, respective sensors for sensing the speed of rotation of each of two wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle, means for comparing the sensed speeds of said two wheels and producing an inhibit command when the instantaneous difference between said sensed speeds departs by more than a certain amount from an expected difference, and means to prevent said suspension units from being adjusted in response to said inhibit command.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.