FR3044602A1 - SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ASSISTED BY RADAR AND COMPUTER - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suspension device for a motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises detection means (1), which record and record the profile and irregularities of the ground on a zone (ZD) preceding the vehicle and transmit the information thus recorded and recorded at a main analyzer (2). The main analyzer (2) analyzes said information, intersects it with the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle and transforms them into instructions transmitted to an actuator (3) which by means of telescopic arms decreases or increases the space between the wheel (7) of the vehicle chassis. Thus, when the wheels (7) arrive on the obstacle (4) they are in an optimum position reducing shocks and their consequences both on the reliability of mechanical parts and the comfort of passengers.

Description

SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ASSISTED BY RADAR AND CALCULATOR.

The suspension of a motor vehicle is a set of mechanical, hydraulic and / or pneumatic elements for connecting the rolling members (wheels) which are permanently in contact with the ground, to the frame which supports the motor, the body and all the components on the upper part of the vehicle.

It is imposed by the irregularities of the surface on which the vehicle moves, it reduces the impact and consecutively reduces the excessive fatigue of the parts subjected to these irregularities.

It also helps improve passenger comfort and vehicle behavior on various road surfaces (handling).

Initially consisting of leaf springs, coil springs and torsion bars, the suspension experienced its first revolution in 1925 when George MESSIER invented the oleopneumatic suspension for a motor vehicle, applied without spring on his own car and which will also be used later on. aircraft landing gear. It was in 1954 that the Hydropneumatic suspension derived from the oleopneumatic suspension and invented by Paul MAGES, will equip the rear axle of a first vehicle and in 1955 that the first vehicles equipped with this technique will be produced in series by the CITROËN Automobiles.

Among the modes of suspension used today on modern vehicles, there is the so-called active suspension where the vertical movement of the wheels relative to the chassis is actively controlled by an onboard system and the passive suspension in which the vertical movement of the vehicle is determined by the soil conditions. The active suspension is divided into two categories: the pure active suspension and the semi-active or adaptive suspension. The semi-active suspension comprises shock absorbers whose rigidity varies according to ground conditions while the pure active suspension is based on actuators that raise or lower the ground clearance actively.

Whatever the mode of suspension used today on the vehicles, the activation of the suspension of a vehicle is undertaken when the wheel comes into contact with the obstacle encountered, which implies pre-established conditions for adjusting the suspensions. .

It is known that certain vehicles, in particular competition vehicles, are equipped with means of adapting the suspension according to standard and pre-established profiles and this directly from the cockpit (Suspension more or less hard depending on the quality of the traffic lanes ).

Wishing to better adapt the behavior of a vehicle when its rolling elements address the obstacles encountered on a traffic lane, the author of the present invention has devised a device for acting in advance on the vertical positioning of the wheels and the frame of a vehicle, so as to optimize the suspension of it when the obstacle is approached.

Thus, the present invention relates to a device for instantly measuring the profile of the road portion that precedes the rolling elements of the vehicle, analyze and determine by means of a computer and according to this profile the optimum positions of the wheels and the chassis and apply the settings to achieve these positions at the same time the vehicle approaches the portion of road concerned.

The device of the invention is based mainly on the anticipatory adaptation of the positioning of the vehicle chassis profile and irregularities of the taxiway it borrows at the very moment when it approaches said lane.

Applicable regardless of the type of suspension used, the present device automatically makes the adjustment of the attitude of the vehicle according to the traffic network and without any intervention of the user of the vehicle.

If the state of the art reveals numerous patents relating to the oleopneumatic suspensions and / or hydropneumatic themselves, their composition or their operation, the prior art does not reveal in any way the prior detection of irregularities of the traffic lanes for allow the adjustment of the vehicle attitude and the positioning of the chassis relative to the ground.

As a matter of fact, the French patent of the Régie Nationale des Usines RENAULT, filed on 19/01/1993 and published on 22/07/1994 under the number FR 2 700 501, mentioning a device for adapting suspensions to the field. practiced, this patent describes an obstacle clearance vehicle using height adjustment means and attitude correction of the body of a vehicle relative to the ground with the help of mechanical arms and cylinders.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises several functional elements cooperating with each other: a) - So-called "detector" soil profile detection means for recording and recording the characteristics of irregularities and obstacles in the zone past the "detection zone" vehicle and transmit them to the "analyzers". b) - Analysis and calculation means called "Analyzer", to process the information from the "detector" and the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle, transform them into data and adjustment and adaptation directives and transfer to the "actuator". c) - so-called "actuator" application means for positioning the vehicle frame relative to the wheels and the ground, from data and adjustment and adaptation instructions transmitted by the "analyzer".

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "detector" is preferably constituted by an electromagnetic wave equipment of RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) or LIDAR (Laser Detection And Ranging) type using laser technology or any other device. able to provide remote sensing.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "detector" is placed at the front of the vehicle and oriented at a determined angle towards the roadway, it is fixed or orientable vertically and radially so as to scan the "detection zone Towards the front of the vehicle and on the sides of the said zone.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the "detector" detects and records the profile of the "detection zone" and all the obstacles and irregularities found therein such as, for example, bumps, holes, speed bumps, trenches, ruts, etc. It determines the exact position of said obstacles with respect to the position of the front axle and thus of the front wheels of the vehicle and transmits almost instantaneously by wired or teletransmission network and upon detection, the data and geographical data thus recorded to the "analyzer Even before the vehicle wheels reach the reported obstacles.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the analyzer is "main analyzer" consists of an on-board computer and electronic calculator capable of simultaneously performing several functions, including: - The reception and recording of a part of descriptive and geographical data relating to the "zone of detection", coming from the "detector" and, on the other hand, from the situation and positioning data of the vehicle such as: speed, longitudinal, vertical and transversal accelerations, orientation, and other information from various sensors. - The analysis and cross-checking of all these data and their transformation into guidelines for the "actuator". - The wired transmission or remote transmission of the guidelines data established to "actuator" responsible for positioning the vehicle chassis at a precise height and adapted to the ground.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "actuator" is constituted by each of the wheels of the vehicle of an articulated arm called "telescopic arm", one end of which is secured and articulated with respect to a fixed location defined by frame of the vehicle and the other end is secured to one of the elements ensuring contact of the wheel with the ground.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, each "telescopic arm" of the "actuator" is reduced or lengthened on the order of "the main analyzer", for example by means of an individual electric motor called "motor" "trim," a hydraulic or pneumatic device, or any other means suitable and compatible with the operation.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reduction or elongation movements of each of the "telescopic arms" are carried out during the time that separates the reception by the "actuator" of the order coming from "the main analyzer "and the arrival of the vehicle wheel on the obstacle concerned, so that the" telescopic arm "is in its optimum position when the wheel of the vehicle approaches the obstacle. Said movements of the "telescopic arm" being determined by "the main analyzer" taking into account the characteristics of the situation and positioning of the vehicle and in particular its speed, its orientation, its accelerations or slowdowns etc.

According to a different embodiment of the invention, the "main analyzer" is assisted in its calculations and analyzes by the presence of calculators called "auxiliary analyzer" located at each wheel, each of said "auxiliary analyzers" receiving the information from the "detector" and transferring them to "the main analyzer" so that the latter can establish the guidance data for the "actuator" taking into account the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle such as: speed, orientation longitudinal, vertical and transverse accelerations and other information from various sensors.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings as non-limiting examples, will better understand how the invention can be put into practice.

Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with the device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of a vehicle equipped with the device of the invention.

Figure 3 is an operating diagram of the device of the invention using a single main analyzer managing the action on the four wheels of the vehicle.

Figure 4 is an operating diagram of the device of the invention using a main analyzer associated with an auxiliary analyzer placed at each wheel.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a plurality of functional elements cooperating with each other: (see FIG. 1) a) - So-called "detector" ground profile detecting means (1), for recording and recording the characteristics of the irregularities and obstacles in the traffic zone preceding the so-called "detection zone" (ZD) vehicle and transmit them to the "main analyzer" (2). b) - Analysis and calculation means called "main analyzer" (2), to process the information from the "detector" (1), the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle, to reconcile them and to transform them into data and adjustment and adaptation instructions for transferring them to the "actuator" (3). c) ~ Application means said "actuator" (3) for positioning the vehicle frame relative to the wheels (7) and the ground, from the data and adjustment and adaptation instructions transmitted by "l 'main analyzer' (2).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "detector" (1) is preferably constituted by an electromagnetic wave equipment of RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) or LIDAR (Laser Detection And Ranging) type using laser technology or any other device capable of remote sensing.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "detector" (1) is placed at the front of the vehicle and oriented at a determined angle towards the road, it is fixed or orientable vertically and radially so as to sweep the " detection zone "(ZD) towards the front of the vehicle and on the sides of said detection zone (ZD). (See Fig 1.2).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, "the detector" (1) raises and records the profile of the "detection zone" (ZD) and all the obstacles and irregularities that are there, such as, for example, bumps (4), holes (5), speed bumps, trenches, ruts, etc. It determines the exact position of said obstacles with respect to the position of the front axle and therefore of the front wheels (7) of the vehicle and transmits almost instantaneously by wired or teletransmission network and upon detection, the data and geographical data thus noted towards " the main analyzer "(2), even before the wheels (7) of the vehicle reach the obstacles (4) indicated. (See Fig 1).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the analyzer called "main analyzer" (2) consists of an on-board computer and electronic calculator capable of simultaneously performing several functions, in particular: - the reception and the recording of part of the "detection zone" (ZD) data and geographical data, from the "detector" (1), and also from the position and position data of the vehicle, such as: speed, longitudinal acceleration, vertical and transverse, orientation, and other information from various sensors. - Analysis and cross-checking of all these data and their transformation into guidance data for the "actuator" (3). - Wired transmission or remote transmission of the guidelines data established to "actuator" (3) responsible for positioning the vehicle chassis at a precise height and adapted to the ground. (See Figs 1,2 and 3)

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "actuator" (3) is constituted by each of the wheels (7) of the vehicle of an articulated arm called "telescopic arm" (3a), one end of which is secured and articulated. relative to a defined fixed location of the vehicle frame and the other end is secured to one of the elements (6) ensuring the contact of the wheel (7) with the ground. (See Fig 2).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, each "telescopic arm" (3a) of the "actuator" (3) is reduced or lengthened by order of the "main analyzer" (2), for example at means of an individual electric motor called "trim motor" (10), a hydraulic or pneumatic device, or any other means adapted and compatible with the operation. (See Fig 3).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reduction or elongation movements of each of the "telescopic arms" (3a) are carried out during the time that separates the reception by the "actuator" (3) from the order from the "main analyzer" (2) and the arrival of the wheel (7) of the vehicle on the obstacle (4) concerned, so that the "telescopic arm" (3a) is in its optimum position when the wheel (7) of the vehicle approaches the obstacle (4). Said movements of the "telescopic arm" (3a) being determined by "the main analyzer" (2) taking into account the characteristics of the situation and positioning of the vehicle and in particular its speed, its orientation, its accelerations or slowdowns etc. . (See Fig 1, 3).

According to a different embodiment of the invention, the "main analyzer" (2) is assisted in its calculations and analyzes by the presence of calculators known as "auxiliary analyzer" (8) located at each wheel (7). each of said "auxiliary analyzers" (8) receiving the information from the "detector" (1) and transferring it to the "main analyzer" (2) so that the latter can establish the instruction data for the "actuator" (3) taking into account the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle such as: Speed, orientation, longitudinal, vertical and transverse acceleration and other information from various sensors. (See Fig 4).

Claims (7)

1. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and computer, characterized in that it comprises three parts cooperating functionally with each other: a) So-called ground detector detection means (1), for recording and recording characteristics irregularities and obstacles (4) (5) of the traffic zone preceding the vehicle called "detection zone" (ZD) and transmit them to the "main analyzer" (2). b) Analysis and calculation means called "main analyzer" (2), to process the information from the "detector" (1) and the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle, to bring them together and to transform them into data and adjustment and adaptation instructions for transfer to the "actuator" (3). c) so-called "actuator" means of application (3) for positioning the vehicle frame relative to the wheels (7) and to the ground, from the data and adjustment and adjustment instructions transmitted by "the main analyzer '(2). 2. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and computer according to claim 1, characterized in that the "detector" (1) is constituted by a RADAR or LIDAR or any other device capable of providing remote sensing, fixed or vertically orientable and radially to scan the "detection zone" (ZD) towards the front of the vehicle and on the sides of said detection zone (ZD). 3. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and computer according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that "the detector" (1) raises and records the profile of the "zone of detection" (ZD) and all obstacles and irregularities such as, bumps (4), holes (5), speed bumps, trenches, ruts, etc., determine the exact position of said obstacles with respect to the position of the front axle and therefore the the front wheels (7) of the vehicle and transmits, almost instantaneously by wired or teletransmission network, the identifying and geographical data thus recorded to the "main analyzer" (2), even before the wheels (7) of the vehicle reach the obstacles ( 4) reported. 4. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and computer according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the "main analyzer" (2) consists of an on-board computer and electronic calculator capable of simultaneously performing several functions, in particular the reception and the recording, on the one hand, of the "zone of detection" (ZD) data and geographical data from the "detector" (1) and on the other hand of the situation and positioning of the vehicle, the analysis and cross-checking of all these data and their transformation into data directives and the wired or teletransmission of the data guidelines thus established to the "actuator" (3) in charge of positioning the chassis of the vehicle. vehicle at a precise height and adapted to the ground. 5. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and computer according to any one of claims 1 and 4, characterized in that 1 '"actuator" (3) is constituted by each wheel (7) of the vehicle, an arm articulated said "telescopic arm" (3a) whose end is secured and articulated relative to a defined fixed location of the vehicle chassis and the other end is secured to one of the elements (6) ensuring the contact of the wheel (7) of the vehicle with the ground. 6. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and calculator according to claim 5, characterized in that the reduction or elongation movements of each of the "telescopic arms" (3a) are performed during the time between the reception by "l" 'actuator' (3) of the order from the 'main analyzer' (2) and the arrival of the wheel (7) of the vehicle on the obstacle (4) concerned, so that the 'telescopic arm "(3a) is in its optimum position when the wheel (7) of the vehicle approaches the obstacle (4), said movements of the" telescopic arm "(3a) being determined by" the main analyzer "(2) taking into account characteristics of position and positioning of the vehicle and in particular its speed, its orientation, its acceleration, slowdowns etc. 7. Suspension for a motor vehicle assisted by radar and calculator according to any one of claims 1,3,4 and 6, characterized in that Γ "main analyzer" (2) is assisted in its calculations and analyzes by the presence of so-called "auxiliary analyzer" computers (8) located at each of the wheels (7), each of said "auxiliary analyzers" (8) receiving the information from the "detector" (1) and transferring them to "the main analyzer" (2) so that the latter can establish the guidance data for the "actuator" (3) taking into account the situation and positioning characteristics of the vehicle such as: speed, orientation, longitudinal, vertical and transverse accelerations and other information from various sensors.