Suspension having electrically-controllable material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11364762-B2
Application number	US-202016777166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Jan 30, 2019
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle load-bearing member includes an electro-active material, a lead wire for delivering an electric current to the electro-active material, and a controller in communication with a power supply for supplying electric current to the electro-active material for changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material, wherein changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material changes at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle load-bearing member by changing the shape of the electro-active material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle suspension system comprising a vehicle load-bearing member comprising: an elastomeric body; a plurality of elastomeric-active strips embedded within the elastomeric body, each elastomeric-active strip contacting the elastomeric body along substantially an entire length of the elastomeric body; a lead wire for delivering an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips; and a controller in communication with a power supply for supplying electric current to the elastomeric-active strips for changing dynamic characteristics of the elastomeric-active strips, wherein changing dynamic characteristics of the elastomeric-active strips changes at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle load-bearing member by changing the shape of the elastomeric-active strips.

2. The vehicle suspension system member of claim further comprising a suspension arm and a wheel supported by the suspension arm, wherein the elastomeric-active strips are configured to control the suspension arm.

3. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 2 , wherein the suspension arm comprises the elastomeric body.

4. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 3 , wherein the controller receives signals from a sensor detecting motion of the elastomeric body and provides an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips to change the shape of the elastomeric-active strips.

5. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 3 , wherein the controller receives a direct or indirect request to change the dynamic characteristics of the elastomeric body and provides an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips in response to the direct or indirect request.

6. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle seat wherein the elastomeric-active strips are disposed proximate a frame of the vehicle seat.

7. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 6 , wherein the frame of the vehicle seat comprises the elastomeric body.

8. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 7 , wherein the controller receives a direct or indirect request to change the dynamic characteristics of the elastomeric body and provides an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips in response to the direct or indirect request.

9. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 1 further comprising a cargo unit, wherein the elastomeric-active strips are proximate the cargo unit.

10. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 9 , wherein the cargo unit includes a cargo floor, the cargo floor comprising the elastomeric body.

11. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 10 , wherein the controller receives signals from a sensor detecting motion of the elastomeric body and provides an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips to change the size or shape of the elastomeric-active strips.

12. The vehicle suspension system member of claim 10 , wherein the controller receives a direct or indirect request to change the dynamic characteristics of the elastomeric body and provides an electric current to the elastomeric-active strips in response to the direct or indirect request.

13. A method for controlling at least one of dampening and stiffness of a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising:
applying an electric current to a plurality of elastomeric-active strips in the vehicle suspension system in response to a direct or indirect request to change at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle suspension system, wherein applying the electric current changes the shape of the elastomeric-active strips, and wherein the elastomeric-active strips are embedded within an elastomeric body,
wherein each elastomeric-active strip contacting the elastomeric body along substantially an entire length of the elastomeric body.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric-active strips control a suspension arm, wherein the suspension arm supports a wheel.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the suspension arm comprises the elastomeric body.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric-active strips are disposed proximate a vehicle seat.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a frame of the vehicle seat comprises the elastomeric body.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric-active strips are proximate a cargo unit.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the cargo unit includes a cargo floor, the cargo floor comprising the elastomeric body.

Assignees

• Driv Automotive Inc

Inventors

• Hadi Rod

Classifications

• B60N2230/10

  Wired data transmission · CPC title

• B60N2/0224

  Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation · CPC title

• B60G17/02

  Spring characteristics {, e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting means}(B60G17/005, B60G17/015 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G17/06

  Characteristics of dampers {, e.g. mechanical dampers}(B60G17/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G17/016

  characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input {(B60G17/017 takes precedence)} · CPC title