Individual active torsional springs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11279195-B2
Application number	US-201916526963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2019
Priority date	Jul 30, 2019
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A suspension system for a vehicle includes at least two torsion bars, each of which are connected on their first end to respective wheel suspensions that are arranged on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bars. Each of the torsion bars are connected on their second ends to a frame of the vehicle through a damper system. Movement of the wheel suspensions produces torque in the respective torsion bar. The damper system selectively applies resistance to the torque in the torsion bars to selectively provide active variable spring rates to the wheel suspension, which application of resistance may be coordinated amongst the various torsion bars to inhibit roll of the vehicle during a turning maneuver or to increase occupant comfort when the vehicle encounters a bump or hole.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system including a first torsion bar, a second torsion bar, and a damper system, wherein:
a first end of the first torsion bar is connected to a first wheel suspension of the vehicle, such that movement of the first wheel suspension in a first wheel suspension stroke produces torque in the first torsion bar;
a second end of the first torsion bar is connected to the damper system;
a first end of the second torsion bar is connected to a second wheel suspension of the vehicle, such that movement of the second wheel suspension in a second wheel suspension stroke produces torque in the second torsion bar;
a second end of the second torsion bar is connected to the damper system;
the damper system selectively applies resistance to the torque in the first and second torsion bars to selectively provide active variable spring rates to the first and second wheel suspensions; and
the resistance is applied in a variable amount to each of the first and second torsion bars as a function of:
a position of the first wheel suspension in the first wheel suspension stroke,
a position of the second wheel suspension in the second wheel suspension stroke,
steering input to the vehicle,
a gyrometer measurement for the vehicle,
an accelerometer measurement for the vehicle,
angular positions of the first and second torsion bars, and
an amount of the resistance applied to the other of the first and second torsion bars.

2. The suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein the damper system does not apply the resistance if the steering input is below a steering input threshold, and the gyrometer measurement is below a gyrometer measurement threshold for an angular velocity around a vertical axis of the vehicle.

3. The suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein the damper system applies the resistance if the steering input is above a steering input threshold, and the gyrometer measurement is above a gyrometer measurement threshold for an angular velocity around a vertical axis of the vehicle.

4. The suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein the angular positions of the first and second torsion bars are determined using angle encoders arranged on the first and second torsion bars.

5. The suspension system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the angle encoders include a first angle encoder, a second angle encoder, a third angle encoder, and a fourth angle encoder;
the first angle encoder is arranged at the first end of the first torsion bar;
the second angle encoder is arranged at the second end of the first torsion bar;
the third angle encoder is arranged at the first end of the second torsion bar; and
the fourth angle encoder is arranged at the second end of the second torsion bar.

6. The suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the damper system includes a first resistive device and a second resistive device;
the second end of the first torsion bar is connected to a frame of the vehicle through the first resistive device; and
the second end of the second torsion bar is connected to the frame through the second resistive device.

7. The suspension system according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first torsion bar is attached to the frame of the vehicle by a first bearing;
the first bearing is arranged on the first torsion bar between the first end and the second end of the first torsion bar;
the second torsion bar is attached to the frame by a second bearing; and
the second bearing is arranged on the second torsion bar between the first end and the second end of the second torsion bar.

8. The suspension system according to claim 6 , wherein:
the first wheel suspension is arranged on a first lateral side of the vehicle;
the first resistive device is arranged on a second lateral side of the vehicle opposite from the first lateral side;
the second wheel suspension is arranged on the second lateral side;
the second resistive device is arranged on the first lateral side.

9. The suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein the damper system includes an electronic motor, hydraulic damper, valving, or a clutch pack.

10. A vehicle including a frame, a first wheel suspension arranged on a first lateral side of the frame, a second wheel suspension arranged on a second lateral side of the frame opposite from the first lateral side, and a suspension system connecting the first wheel suspension and the second wheel suspension to the frame, the suspension system including a first torsion bar, a second torsion bar, and a damper system, wherein:
a first end of the first torsion bar is connected to the first wheel suspension of the vehicle, such that movement of the first wheel suspension in a first wheel suspension stroke produces torque in the first torsion bar;
a second end of the first torsion bar is connected to the damper system;
a first end of the second torsion bar is connected to the second wheel suspension of the vehicle, such that movement of the second wheel suspension in a second wheel suspension stroke produces torque in the second torsion bar;
a second end of the second torsion bar is connected to the damper system;
the damper system selectively applies resistance to the torque in the first and second torsion bars to provide active variable spring rates to the first and second wheel suspensions; and
the resistance is applied in a variable amount to each of the first and second torsion bars as a function of:
a position of the first wheel suspension in the first wheel suspension stroke,
a position of the second wheel suspension in the second wheel suspension stroke,
steering input to the vehicle,
a pyrometer measurement for the vehicle,
an accelerometer measurement for the vehicle,
angular positions of the first and second torsion bars, and
an amount of the resistance applied to the other of the first and second torsion bars.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the damper system does not apply the resistance if the steering input is below a steering input threshold, and the gyrometer measurement is below a gyrometer measurement threshold for an angular velocity around a vertical axis of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the damper system applies the resistance if the steering input is above a steering input threshold, and the gyrometer measurement is above a gyrometer measurement threshold for an angular velocity around a vertical axis of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle according to claim 10 , further including angle encoders arranged on the first and second torsion bars, wherein the angular positions of the first and second torsion bars are determined using the angle encoders.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein:
the angle encoders include a first angle encoder, a second angle encoder, a third angle encoder, and a fourth angle encoder;
the first angle encoder is arranged at the first end of the first torsion bar;
the second angle encoder is arranged at the second end of the first torsion bar;
the third angle encoder is arranged at the first end of the second torsion bar; and
the fourth angle encoder is arranged at the second end of the second torsion bar.

15. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein:
the damper system includes a first resistive device and a second resistive device;
the second end of the first torsion bar is connected to the frame of the vehicle through the first resistive device; and
the second end of the second torsion bar is connected to the frame through the second resistive device.

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Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ruemelin Jacob M
• Ricketts Brandon E

Classifications

• B60G11/50

  having helical, spiral or coil springs, and also torsion-bar springs · CPC title

• B60G3/28

  at least one of the arms itself being resilient, e.g. leaf spring {(B60G7/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60G2400/10

  Acceleration; Deceleration · CPC title

• B60G2202/134

  comprising a transversal torsion bar and/or tube · CPC title

• B60G17/0162 Primary

  mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking (B60G17/0164 takes precedence) · CPC title