Powertrain proactive damping system using magneto rheological materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673445-B2
Application number	US-201916526123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2019
Priority date	Jul 30, 2019
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle powertrain proactive damping system includes a plurality of proactive damping structures mounted on a powertrain structure with each proactive damping structure includes a magneto rheological elastomer (MRE). An electromagnet is associated with each proactive damping structure. A control unit includes a processor circuit. A sensor obtains vibration data regarding the powertrain structure. A LIDAR sensor is mounted on the vehicle and is electrically connected with the control unit. The LIDAR sensor provides data to the control unit indicative of upcoming road surface conditions to be experienced by the vehicle. Based on data from at the sensor and the LIDAR sensor, the processor circuit is constructed and arranged to control voltage to the electromagnets to selectively adjust a rigidity of the associated proactive damping structure so as to control vibrational effects on the powertrain structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle powertrain proactive damping system, comprising:
a plurality of shock absorbers mounted on a powertrain structure of a vehicle including a chassis and a suspension of the vehicle, each shock absorber comprising:
a magneto rheological elastomer (MRE),
a proactive clamp structure constructed and arranged to provide active damping control in two axes and to clamp on a portion of the suspension to be vibration controlled, and
an electromagnet embedded within the proactive clamp structure to actuate the MRE,

a control unit including a processor circuit,
at least one sensor constructed and arranged to obtain vibration data regarding the powertrain structure, the at least one sensor being electrically connected with the control unit, and
a LIDAR sensor mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected with the control unit, the LIDAR sensor being constructed and arranged to provide data to the control unit indicative of upcoming road surface conditions to be experienced by the vehicle,
wherein, based on data from at the least one sensor and the LIDAR sensor, the processor circuit is constructed and arranged to proactively control voltage to the electromagnets to selectively adjust a rigidity of the associated shock absorber to control vibrational effects on the powertrain structure, and
wherein the plurality of shock absorbers includes a proactive shaft bearing structure constructed and arranged to engage a transmission shaft and the processor circuit is configured to proactively control voltage to the electromagnets to proactively selectively adjust a rigidity of the proactive shaft bearing structure.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the proactive clamp structure includes a first body and a second body joined together via fasteners so as to clamp on elastomer mountings and the portion of the suspension there-between, and
wherein the MRE is provided in a recess defined in a face of one of the first body and the second body.

3. The system if claim 1 , wherein the proactive shaft bearing structure comprises a ball bearing mounted on an active mounting structure, and
wherein the MRE is provided in the mounting structure.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shock absorbers includes a proactive engine mount constructed and arranged to support a portion of an engine of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the proactive engine mount comprises of an elastomer shock absorber member with the MRE disposed inside a chamber thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an accelerometer.

7. A method of proactive damping of a vehicle, the vehicle having a powertrain structure including a chassis and a suspension of the vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of shock absorbers mounted on the powertrain structure, each shock absorber comprising a magneto rheological elastomer (MRE), a proactive clamp structure constructed and arranged to provide active damping control in two axes and to clamp on a portion of the suspension to be vibration controlled, and an electromagnet embedded within the proactive clamp structure to actuate the MRE,
monitoring vibration data regarding the powertrain structure,
monitoring upcoming road surface conditions to be experienced by the vehicle, and
based on the monitored vibration data and the upcoming road surface conditions, proactively controlling voltage to the electromagnets to selectively adjust a rigidity of the associated shock absorber so as to control vibrational effects on the powertrain structure,
wherein the controlling comprises proactively adjusting rigidity of a proactive shaft bearing structure constructed and arranged to engage a transmission shaft.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of shock absorbers
include a proactive engine mount constructed and arranged to support a portion of an engine of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein monitoring the upcoming road conditions comprises a LIDAR sensor mounted on the vehicle monitoring the upcoming road conditions.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein monitoring the vibration data comprises an accelerometer monitoring the vibration data.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
establishing a historical record of vibration events on the powertrain structure, providing known vibration profiles from actual driving tests, and
based on the historical data and vibration profiles, predicting structural damage to the powertrain structure.

Assignees

• Continental automotive systems inc

Inventors

• Rodriguez Mauricio Jorge De Jesus
• Santana Castaneda Cesar Alejandro
• Del Real Ibanez Luis Javier

Classifications

• B60K5/1208

  Resilient supports (B60K5/1241 - B60K5/1291 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2204/143

  on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• F16F2228/066

  Variable stiffness · CPC title

• F16F1/361

  comprising magneto-rheological elastomers [MR], (magneto-rheological fluid dampers F16F9/535) · CPC title

• F16F2224/043

  electrorheological · CPC title