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US 8,376,373 B2Granted
Controllable suspension architecture for enhanced armoured vehicle survivability
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Land Systems, Inc.
InventorDaniel Francois Conradie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present embodiments relate to a semi-active suspension control system that utilizes controllable dampers for the purpose of improving maneuverability and vehicle hull stabilization. The disclosed semi-active control system can work in conjunction with a height management unit and on vehicles having variable ride heights, and hull stability and maneuverability can be achieved regardless of vehicle payload and ride height.
Claims21
A semi-active suspension control system for stabilizing a vehicle comprising:
- a spring element positioned between a portion of a hull and a drive shaft of the vehicle;
- a controllable damper element positioned adjacent to the spring element;
- a wheel sensor positioned at each wheel station on the vehicle for measuring displacement of each wheel of the vehicle;
- a hull sensor positioned on the hull of the vehicle for sensing displacement of the hull;
- and
- a suspension controller for delivering a variable output signal to the controllable damper element, the variable output signal being based on displacement data acquired by the wheel and hull sensors, and effectuating a damping response of the controllable damper,
- wherein the suspension controller determines a damping strategy and is adapted to optimize the damping strategy during operation of the vehicle, the damping strategy being a function of vehicle payload and vehicle ride height.
4 more elements
A semi-active suspension control system for stabilizing a multi-axle vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of wheels;
- a spring element positioned near each wheel of the multi-axle vehicle;
- a controllable damper element positioned adjacent to each spring element;
- a plurality of wheel sensors for sensing displacement of the wheels, each wheel of the multi-axle vehicle having at least one of the plurality of wheel sensors positioned adjacent thereto;
- at least one hull sensor positioned on a hull of the vehicle for sensing displacement of the hull;
- and
- a suspension controller and at least one hardware interface box for delivering a unique variable output signal to each controllable damper element,
- the unique variable output signals being based on displacement data acquired by the plurality of wheel sensors and the at least one hull sensor, each of the variable output signals effectuating a damping response of one of the controllable damper elements, and
- wherein the suspension controller determines a damping strategy and is adapted to optimize the damping strategy during operation of the vehicle, the damping strategy being a function of vehicle payload and vehicle ride height.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.