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US 8,840,118 B1Granted
Active suspension with on-demand energy flow
AssigneeLevant Power Corporation
InventorsMarco Giovanardi, Clive Tucker, Ross J. Wendell, Zackary Martin Anderson, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Vladimir Gorelik, Tyson David Sawyer, Jonathan R. Leehey, Johannes Schneider, Robert Driscoll, Patrick W. Neil, Shakeel Avadhany
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Abstract
Various embodiments related to hydraulic actuators and active suspension systems as well as their methods of use are described.
Claims30
An active suspension system comprising:
- a hydraulic actuator including an extension volume and a compression volume, wherein the hydraulic actuator is constructed and arranged to be coupled to a vehicle wheel or suspension member;
- a hydraulic motor-pump in fluid communication with the extension volume and the compression volume of the hydraulic actuator to control extension and compression of the hydraulic actuator;
- an electric motor operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor-pump;
- a sensor configured and arranged to sense wheel events and/or body events;
- and
- a controller electrically connected to the electric motor and the sensor, wherein in response to a sensed wheel event and/or a sensed body event the controller applies a motor input to the electric motor to control the hydraulic actuator;
- wherein power is applied to and consumed by the electric motor only during active extension and/or active compression.
4 more elements
A device comprising:
- a fluid-filled housing including a first port and a second port;
- a hydraulic motor-pump disposed within the housing, wherein the hydraulic motor-pump controls a flow of fluid between the first port and the second port;
- an electric motor disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the hydraulic motor-pump;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the electric motor and disposed within the housing, wherein the controller controls a motor input of the electric motor, and further comprising a pressure barrier isolating the controller from a fluid filled portion of the housing;
- wherein the housing is constructed and arranged to be attached to a hydraulic actuator.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.