Air spring assembly with localized signal processing, system and method utilizing same, as well as operating module therefor
AssigneeBFS Diversified Products, LLC
InventorsDaniel L. Nordmeyer, Graham R. Brookes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An operating module for localized signal processing at a corner of a vehicle includes a housing, a valve assembly or a sensor, and a signal processing device. The operating module can be used in operative association with an air spring assembly. The operating module can be in communication with other components and/or systems. A vehicle suspension system and method are also discussed.
Claims23
An operating module for use on an associated air spring at an associated corner of an associated vehicle having an associated suspension controller and adapted to receive commands from the associated suspension controller, the associated air spring undergoing a first associated input condition and including an associated end member having an associated opening therethrough, said operating module comprising:
- a housing including a fluid passage extending therethrough, said housing adapted for securement on the associated end member such that said fluid passage is in communication with the associated opening thereof;
- at least one of:
- a valve assembly supported on said housing along said fluid passage and selectively operable between an open passage condition and a closed passage condition;
- or,
- a first sensor supported on said housing and outputting a signal indicative of the first associated input condition;
- and,
- a processing device supported on said housing and in electrical communication with the associated suspension controller and at least one of said valve assembly or said first sensor, said processing device operative to convert, translate, encrypt, decrypt, encode and/or decode commands received from the associated suspension controller and execute said commands to adjust the associated air spring.
An air spring assembly for use on an associated vehicle that includes an associated supervisory suspension controller adapted to output an associated control instruction, said air spring assembly comprising:
- a first end member having a first opening extending therethrough;
- a second end member spaced from said first end member;
- a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber therebetween;
- a valve assembly supported on said first end member in communication with said spring chamber through said first opening;
- a sensor supported on said first end member or said second end member and adapted to output a sensor signal;
- and,
- a signal processing device supported on said first end member in electrical communication with the supervisory suspension controller, said valve assembly and said sensor, said signal processing device operative to:
- receive an associated control instruction;
- convert the associated control instruction into a control signal;
- and,
- communicate said control signal to said valve assembly to cause the execution of the associated control instruction.
A method of operating a vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a) providing a vehicle suspension system including a supervisory suspension controller, an air spring assembly including an air spring, a sensor and a signal processing device, and a communication network extending between said supervisory suspension controller and said signal processing device;
- b) generating a sensor output signal using said sensor and communicating said sensor output signal to said signal processing device;
- c) generating a first communication signal corresponding to said sensor output signal using said signal processing device;
- d) communicating said first communication signal to said supervisory suspension controller;
- e) processing said first communication signal using said supervisory suspension controller;
- f) making a determination having a relation to said vehicle suspension system based at least partially upon said first communication signal using said supervisory suspension controller and generating a control instruction corresponding to said determination using said supervisory suspension controller;
- g) communicating said control instruction to said signal processing device;
- h) converting said control instruction into a control signal using said signal processing device;
- and,
- i) communicating said control signal to said valve assembly to cause the execution of said control instruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.