Position control system for wheeled vehicle
AssigneesMazda Motor Corporation, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorsSeita Kanai, Toshimichi Tokunaga, Somi Hibino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
When an unusual condition of a wheeled vehicle such as nose-diving caused by braking, squatting caused by an abrupt start or rolling caused by a turn is sensed, the damping force or the spring constant of each suspension unit, which serves as a shock absorbing unit, is temporarily increased to correct the position of the vehicle. The increased damping force or spring constant is maintained a predetermined period of time even after the unusual vehicle condition is settled, thereby preventing the vehicle body from tossing back due to the force of inertia.
Claims14
A system for controlling the position of a wheeled vehicle which includes suspension means for damping shock while the vehicle is running, said system comprising:
- vehicle position sensor means for sensing a change in the position of the vehicle from a usual position to an unusual position and producing a signal indicative of said unusual position;
- damping force regulator means for regulating the shock damping force exerted by the suspension means;
- control means comprising a drive control circuit for controlling said damping force regulator means in response to the output signal of the vehicle position sensor means to increase the shock damping force;
- and
- hold means for holding the drive control circuit of the control means to maintain the increased condition of the shock damping force of the damping force regulator means for a predetermined period of time after the vehicle position sensor means produces the signal indicating that the vehicle regains the usual position, such that the shock damping force is maintained at the increased condition.
A system for controlling the position of a wheeled vehicle which includes suspension means for exerting a shock damping force when said vehicle is in motion, said system comprising:
- vehicle position sensor means for sensing a change in the position of the vehicle from a usual position to an unusual position and producing a signal indicative of said usual position and a signal indicative of said unusual position;
- damping force regulator means for regulating the shock damping force exerted by the suspension means;
- control means comprising a drive control circuit for controlling said samping force regulator means in response to the unusual position output signal of the vehicle position sensor means to increase the shock damping force;
- and
- hold means for holding the drive control circuit of the control means to maintain the increased condition of the shock damping force of the damping force regulator means for a predetermined period of time after the vehicle position sensor means produces the usual position signal indicating that the vehicle regained the usual position, whereby the vehicle is prevented from tossing back due to the force of inertia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.