Heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system with optimized damping

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843520-B2
Application number	US-201916400126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2019
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a suspension assembly, an axle, and a damping means. The suspension assembly is operatively connected to the heavy-duty vehicle. The axle is operatively connected to the suspension assembly. The damping means is operatively connected to and extends between the suspension assembly and the heavy-duty vehicle. The axle/suspension system has a motion ratio of between about 1.4 to about 1.7. A method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle includes the steps of: calculating a curve representing a damping energy relating to load on a damping air spring; calculating a curve representing a damping energy relating to air flow velocity through at least one opening of the air spring; calculating an optimized motion ratio by determining an intersection of the curves; altering the geometry of the axle/suspension system to provide the axle/suspension system with the optimized motion ratio.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle comprising:
a suspension assembly operatively connected to said heavy-duty vehicle;
an axle operatively connected to the suspension assembly; and
a damping means operatively connected to and extending between the suspension assembly and said heavy-duty vehicle, said axle/suspension system having a motion ratio of between about 1.4 to about 1.7.

2. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 1 , the motion ratio being a ratio of a vertical distance traveled by the damping means divided by a vertical distance traveled by the axle.

3. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 2 , the vertical distance traveled by the damping means being between 130 mm to 320 mm.

4. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 2 , the vertical distance traveled by the axle being between 90 mm and 190 mm.

5. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 1 , the damping means further comprising a damping air spring including
a bellows chamber having a first volume;
at least one additional chamber having a second volume; and
at least one opening in fluid communication with the bellows chamber and the at least one additional chamber.

6. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 5 , the bellows chamber volume being between about 305 in 3 and about 915 in 3 .

7. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 5 , the damping air spring further comprising a piston, the at least one additional chamber being disposed within the piston.

8. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 5 , the second volume being between about 150 in 3 and about 550 in 3 .

9. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 5 , the at least one opening having a total cross-sectional area between about 0.039 in 2 and about 0.13 in 2 .

10. The axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle of claim 5 wherein the total cross-sectional area, the second volume, and the bellows chamber volume are in a range of ratios between about 1:600:1200 and about 1:14100:23500, the range of ratios being an inclusive range of ratios alternatively expressible as 1:600-14100:1200-23500.

11. A method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle comprising the steps of:
calculating a first curve representing a first damping energy relating to a load on an air spring with damping characteristics;
calculating a second curve representing a second damping energy relating to an air flow velocity through at least one opening of the air spring;
calculating an optimized motion ratio by determining an intersection of the first curve and the second curve;
altering a geometry of said axle/suspension system to provide said axle/suspension system with the optimized motion ratio.

12. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 11 , the optimized motion ratio being a ratio of a vertical distance traveled by the air spring divided by a vertical distance traveled by an axle of said axle/suspension system.

13. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 12 , the vertical distance traveled by the air spring being between 130 mm to 320 mm.

14. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 12 , the vertical distance traveled by the axle being between 90 mm and 190 mm.

15. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 12 , said altering a geometry of the axle/suspension system further comprising changing a position of at least one of the air spring, the axle, and a beam of said axle/suspension system.

16. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 11 , wherein the air spring further comprises
a bellows chamber having a first volume;
at least one additional chamber having a second volume; and
wherein the at least one opening is in fluid communication with the bellows chamber and the at least one additional chamber.

17. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 16 , the bellows chamber volume being between about 305 in 3 and about 915 in 3 .

18. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 16 , the second volume being between about 150 in 3 and about 550 in 3 .

19. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 16 , the at least one opening having a total cross-sectional area between about 0.039 in 2 and about 0.13 in 2 .

20. The method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of claim 16 , wherein the air spring further comprises a piston, the at least one additional chamber being disposed within the piston.

Assignees

• Hendrickson Usa Llc

Inventors

• Delorenzis Damon
• Zawacki Jeff R

Classifications

• B60G2200/31

  with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle · CPC title

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• B60G13/10 Primary

  pneumatic · CPC title

• B60G2204/128

  Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G2202/242

  Pneumatic damper · CPC title