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US 4,743,000 AGranted
Method and apparatus for controlling spring stiffness, in particular in vehicles
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorDean Karnopp
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AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorDean Karnopp
Estimating the term…
A method and an apparatus for controlling the spring stiffness in two bodies or masses that are movable relative to one another and in their absolute positions with variable speeds, in particular in resilient wheel suspension systems for vehicles and the like, wherein the volume positively displaced by a piston in a cylinder pressure chamber can be abruptly switched over into two partial volumes in accordance with load, movement and operating parameters of the vehicle, suspension and wheel as well as vehicle body, with it being possible, with partial volumes communicating with one another, to perform an additional total-volume fine adjustment continuously via a cylinder/piston unit and also in accordance with the parameters mentioned. A suspension concept of this kind, with slow, continuous adaptive adaptation and rapid switchover to greater stiffnesses is augmented by an asymmetrically variable damping and a preferably fast-operating level control means.
A semi-active system for controlling the transmission of energy between spaced members comprising a spring means between said members, said spring means includes at least one cylinder, one piston connected with said at least one cylinder and a fluid pressure chamber therefor, a first rapid switchover valve arranged to be influenced by pressure of said spaced members on said at least one cylinder, a second cylinder unit connected by a fluid pressure connection via said rapid switchover valve to said pressure chamber of said spring means, said second cylinder unit including a motor driven adjustment member for varying fluid pressure in said pressure chamber, whereby said rapid switchover valve controls a fluid pressure medium under pressure to said pressure chamber and thereby stiffness of said spring means in said system in relation to prevailing load and movement parameters.
A method for controlling a spring stiffness between two bodies or masses moving relative to one another and with variable speeds in terms of their absolute positions, which includes displacing a piston in a cylinder and thereby effecting a change of a fluid volume in a cylinder chamber, abruptly switching avaiable fluid volume from between at least two volumes as a function of movement and load parameters of said two bodies, combining the two volumes at a switching position into a total volume, continuously performing an additional total-volume fine adjustment taking into account prevailing load and movement parameters whereby the spring stiffness is optimized for relatively long periods of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.