Adjustable suspensions and vehicle operation for off-road recreational vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016949-A1
Application number	US-202117379675-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2021
Priority date	Jul 17, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.

First claim

1 . A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of ground engaging members including a first portion on a left side of a vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle and a second portion on a right side of the vertical longitudinal centerline plane of the vehicle; a frame supported by the plurality of ground engaging members; an operator area including an operator seat supported by the frame; a left side suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the first portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame; a first electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the left side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame; a right side suspension moveably coupling a first ground engaging member of the second portion of the plurality of ground engaging members to the frame; a second electronically controlled shock absorber having a first end moveably coupled to the right side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the frame; a sway bar moveably coupled to the frame, the sway bar having a first end moveably coupled to the left side suspension and a second end moveably coupled to the right side suspension; a third electronically controlled shock absorber positioned to operatively couple the sway bar to one of the left side suspension and the right side suspension; and an electronic controller operatively coupled to the first electronically controlled shock absorber, the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and the third electronically controlled shock absorber, the electronic controller setting a first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber, a second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber, and a third characteristic of the third electronically controlled shock absorber.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the third adjustable shock absorber is coupled to the sway bar on a first end and the one of the left side suspension and the right side suspension on a second end.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein when the electronic controller determines the vehicle is in a first condition, the electronic controller adjusts the third characteristic of the third electronically controlled shock absorber to a first setting and adjusts the one of the first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber and the second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber that is coupled to the same one of the left side suspension and the right side suspension that the second end of the third adjustable shock absorber is coupled to a first setting.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the electronic controller further adjusts the other one of the first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber and the second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber to a first setting.

5 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein when the electronic controller determines the vehicle is not in the first condition, the electronic controller adjusts the third characteristic of the third electronically controlled shock absorber to a second setting and adjusts the one of the first characteristic of the first electronically controlled shock absorber and the second characteristic of the second electronically controlled shock absorber that is coupled to the same one of the left side suspension and the right side suspension that the second end of the third adjustable shock absorber is coupled to a second setting.

6 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first setting of the third electronically controlled shock absorber restricting a compression of the third electronically controlled shock absorber.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber is positioned rearward of the operator seat.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber is positioned forward of the operator seat.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber includes an electronically controlled bypass valve which is adjustable by the electronic controller.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber further includes
a shock body having an interior, a top end, and a bottom end; a piston positioned in the interior of the shock body and dividing the interior of the shock body into a first cavity and a second cavity; and a bypass conduit in fluid communication with the interior of the shock body on a first side of the piston at a first location and in fluid communication with the interior of the shock body on a second side of the piston at a second location, wherein a compressed gas is present on the second side of the piston and the second side of the piston is closer to the top end of the shock body than the first side of the piston.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the interior of the shock body includes a liquid fluid and both the first location and the second location are lower than an interface between the liquid and the compressed gas.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the electronically controlled bypass valve has a first setting wherein the liquid is able to flow from the first location to the second location and from the second location to the first location and a second setting wherein the liquid is able to flow only from the second location to the first location.

13 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber further includes
a shock body having an interior; a piston positioned in the interior of the shock body and dividing the interior of the shock body into a first cavity and a second cavity; a spring positioned in the interior of the shock body and compressible between a first end of the shock body and the piston, wherein the electronically controlled bypass valve controls a flow of fluid between the first cavity and the second cavity.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the spring is positioned on the same side of the piston as the first cavity and the electronically controlled bypass valve controls the flow of fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber further includes a bleed valve that controls the flow of fluid from the second cavity to the first cavity.

16 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller controls only a compression damping characteristic of the third electronically controlled shock absorber.

17 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the third electronically controlled shock absorber further includes
a shock body having an interior; a piston positioned in the interior of the shock body and dividing the interior of the shock body into a first cavity and a second cavity; a first spring positioned in the interior of the shock body and compressible between a first end of the shock body and a first side of the piston; and a second spring positioned in the interior of the shock body and compressible between a second end of the shock body and a second side of the piston, wherein the electronically controlled bypass valve controls a flow of fluid between the first cavity and the second cavity.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the first spring and the second spring position the piston within the interior of the shock body absent external loading and with the electronically controlled bypass valve set to all

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Graus Jonathon P
• Helgeson David D
• Olson Kyle W
• Anderson Justin T
• Horky Jacob P
• Blair Kevin P

Classifications

• B60G2300/07

  Off-road vehicles · CPC title

• B60G21/0558

  including means varying the stiffness of the stabiliser (B60G21/0556 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2400/50

  Pressure · CPC title

• B60G15/062

  the spring being arranged around the damper (B60G15/061, B60G15/067, B60G15/07 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G17/01908

  Acceleration or inclination sensors (characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08) · CPC title