JPS61229607A - Vehicle level adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the stillness of the passenger's compartment of a vehicle during stopping of the vehicle, by operating a motor and a compressor which are used for replenishing the discharge of a reservoir, only during running of the vehicle, but by preventing them from being operated when the vehicle is on stopping after the vehicle level adjustment being completed. CONSTITUTION:A vehicle level control device is controls a vehicle height control means C for feeding and discharging fluid into and from a fluid chamber (a) in a suspension device A in accordance with the judgement of a judgement means B for judging whether the vehicle height is at least lower than a predetermined value or appropriate in two stages, so that the vehicle height is may be adjusted. Further, the internal pressure of a reservoir tank D for supplying fluid into the fluid changer (a) is checked by an internal pressure judging means E, and therefore, a compressor control means F carries out the turn-on and -off control of a compressor G in accordance with the outputs of both judgement means B, E. In this arrangement, when a vehicle stopping judgement means H judges that the vehicle is on stopping, the compressor G is turned off by means of the control means F.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the height of a vehicle, and in particular,
After the vehicle height adjustment is completed, when the vehicle height is within the appropriate range and the vehicle is stopped, the motor and compressor are not activated, reducing noise inside the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped and improving marketability. The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device.

(Prior art) As a conventional vehicle height adjustment device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-3
One disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6714 is known.

In this conventional device, a vehicle height sensor detects the vehicle height in three stages: high, low, or appropriate. If the vehicle height is high, air is ejected from the air chamber of the suspension device to lower the vehicle height. If the vehicle height is low, air is supplied to that air chamber to lower the vehicle height, and the vehicle height is controlled to remain within the appropriate range at all times.

To raise the vehicle height, air is supplied from the reservoir tank to the air chamber when the internal pressure of the reservoir tank is higher than the set value, and when the internal pressure of the reservoir tank is lower than the set value, the motor and compressor are When the compressor is operated, air is supplied from the compressor to the air chamber. After the vehicle height adjustment is completed, if air is supplied from the reservoir tank to raise the vehicle height and the internal pressure of the reservoir tank has dropped to a low pressure below the set value, the compressor is activated to remove the air from the reservoir tank. The internal pressure of the reservoir tank is maintained at a high pressure above the set value by supplying air to the reservoir tank and replenishing it with bone discharged from the reservoir tank.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in such conventional vehicle height adjustment devices, the compressor is operated to replenish the reservoir tank after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, regardless of whether the vehicle is stopped or moving. Therefore, when the motor and compressor are operated while the vehicle is stopped, the operating noise of the motor and compressor is felt to be louder in the interior of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped compared to when the vehicle is running, which poses a problem in that it deteriorates marketability.

The present invention has been made in view of these conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle height adjustment device that reduces noise inside a vehicle while the vehicle is stopped and is highly marketable.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention includes, in addition to the conventional device, stop determination means for determining whether the vehicle is stopped or running, and further includes a stop determination means for determining whether the vehicle is stopped or running.
-OFF 1+11? The compressor control means is characterized in that it turns off the compressor when the vehicle height is appropriate after the vehicle height adjustment is completed and the vehicle is stopped.

[Effect]

The function of the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention is to determine whether the vehicle is stopped or running after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, and when the vehicle is stopped, even if the internal pressure of the reservoir tank is below the set value, The motor and compressor should not be operated, but the motor and compressor should be operated while the vehicle is running to replenish the waste in the reservoir tank, thereby reducing noise inside the vehicle while the vehicle is stationary and improving marketability. be.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Although an appropriate fluid is generally used as the working medium for vehicle height adjustment, in this embodiment, a case where ordinary air is used is exemplified.

The configuration will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, to explain the air system, ① is a suspension device interposed between the vehicle body and the left and right rear wheels at least on the rear wheel side, and this suspension device 1 includes an air chamber 2 and a shock absorber 3. The air chamber 2 is formed by an elastic body 4 made of, for example, rubber, which vertically expands and contracts between the vehicle body and the shock absorber 3.

Note that the suspension device 1 including the air chamber 2 may be attached to a total of four wheels, front, rear, left, and right.

5 is a reservoir tank that supplies air to the air chamber 2, 6 is a compressor that supplies air to the air chamber 2 or the reservoir tank 5, 7 is a dryer for dehumidifying the air from the compressor 6, and 8 is a reservoir tank pressure backflow prevention This is a check valve for.

9 is an air supply valve provided between the reservoir tank 5 and the air chamber 2, 10 is an air supply/discharge valve provided on the inlet side of the air chamber 2, and 11 is an exhaust valve provided on the outlet side of the compressor 6. Each valve 9.10.11 has an electromagnetic solenoid 12.13.14 for opening and closing the valve.

Next, the electrical system will be described. Numeral 16 is a vehicle height sensor that outputs a detection signal in three stages: high, low, or appropriate depending on the vehicle height, and 17 is a vehicle speed sensor. The vehicle speed sensor 17 detects, for example, the rotation speed on the output side of the engine transmission unit by using a rotation detecting means such as magnetic or optical, and outputs, for example, one pulse for each rotation. 18
is a pressure switch that detects the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5, and this pressure switch 18 has a signal that turns ON when the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 is higher than the set value, and turns OFF when the lower pressure is lower than the set value. Output.

19 is a relay, 20 is a relay, and 21 is a motor.

22 is a controller, and this controller 22 is
Microcomputer 23 and electromagnetic solenoid 12,1
3.14, and a drive circuit 27 that drives the relay 20.

The microcomputer 23 includes an interface circuit 28, an arithmetic processing unit 29, and a storage device 30 such as RAM or ROM.The interface circuit 28 includes a vehicle height sensor 16. Vehicle speed sensor 17 and pressure switch 18 are connected, as well as drive circuits 24.25 and 26.27.

The arithmetic processing unit 29 reads signals from the sensors and switches described above via the interface circuit 28, and performs arithmetic processing, which will be described later, based on these signals.

Further, the memory bag ff30 stores a predetermined program necessary for executing the arithmetic processing, and also stores the calculation results of the arithmetic processing unit 29 and the like.

Next, the operation of the vehicle height adjusting device of the present invention will be explained.

A detection signal according to the vehicle height by the vehicle height sensor 16, a detection signal according to the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor 17, and an ON-OF signal to the reservoir tank 5 according to the internal pressure by the pressure switch 18.
F signal is supplied to the interface circuit 28 of the microcomputer 23.

In FIG. 3, first, in step (2), it is determined whether the vehicle height is OK (that is, appropriate) based on the detection signal from the vehicle height sensor 16. If the vehicle height is OK, do not make any other adjustments to the vehicle height.

If the vehicle height is not to be adjusted, the ink face circuit 28 supplies a control signal with a logical value of "0" to the drive circuit 24, 25, 26, and each electromagnetic solenoid 12, 13, 14 is de-energized, and the supply is stopped. Air valve 9゜Supply/exhaust valve 10. Close all exhaust valves 11.

If the vehicle height is not OK (ie, high or low) in step (2), the process proceeds to step (2), where it is determined whether the vehicle height is high or not (ie, low). If the vehicle height is high, move to step ① and adjust to lower the vehicle height.

To lower the vehicle height, the interface circuit 28 supplies a control signal with a logic value of "0" to the drive circuit 24, the electromagnetic solenoid 12 is de-energized, the air supply valve 9 is closed, and the interface circuit 28 supplies the control signal with a logical value of "0" to the drive circuit 24. A control signal with a logic value of "1" is supplied to the circuit 25, the electromagnetic solenoid 13 is energized, and the supply/exhaust valve 10 is opened, and a control signal with a logic value of "1" is supplied from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 26. Then, the electromagnetic solenoid 14 is energized to open the exhaust valve 11. In this way, air chamber 2
Air is exhausted to the outside air through the supply/exhaust valve 10 and the exhaust valve 11, and the vehicle height is lowered.

If it is determined in step (2) that the vehicle height is low, an adjustment is made to raise the vehicle height. In this case, a control signal with a logical value of "1" is supplied from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 24, the electromagnetic solenoid 12 is energized, the air supply valve 9 is opened, and the logic value "1" is supplied from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 25. 1" is supplied, the electromagnetic solenoid 13 is energized, and the supply/discharge valve 10 is opened. Furthermore, a control signal with a logical value of "0" is supplied from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 26, and the electromagnetic solenoid 14 is De-energize and close the exhaust valve 11.

At this time, in step (3), if the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 is equal to or higher than the set value, the accumulated pressure in the reservoir tank 5 causes air to flow from the reservoir tank 5 to the air chamber 2 via the air supply valve 9 and the supply/discharge valve 10. supply, and the vehicle height increases. Next, the process proceeds to step ①A, where it is determined whether the vehicle height is OK.

In step ■A, if the vehicle height is still low and the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 has fallen below the set value, proceed to step ■B and determine whether a certain period of time has elapsed. If the vehicle height is still low even after the elapse of time, proceed to step (3) and turn on (operate) the compressor 6.

On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, it is determined again whether the vehicle height is OK or not, and if the vehicle height is No, the process moves to step (2)B again. The compressor 6 is operated by supplying a control signal with a logical value of "1" from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 27, turning on the relay 20, and turning on the motor 21.
This is done by driving the .

Next, in step ■, it is determined whether the vehicle height is OK, and the compressor 6 is continued to operate until the vehicle height is OK. When the vehicle height is OK, the compressor 6 is turned off in step ■.
(stop). To turn off the compressor 6, a logic value "" is sent from the interface circuit 28 to the drive circuit 27.
This is done by supplying a control signal of ``o'' and turning off the relay 20 to stop driving the motor 2I.

If the vehicle height is OK in steps ■A and ■,
Next, the process proceeds to step (3), where a vehicle speed value is read based on the detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 17. In step [phase], if this vehicle speed value is 0, the vehicle is stopped, and the vehicle speed value is 0. If not, it is determined that the vehicle is running.

If it is determined that the vehicle is stopped in step [phase],
Loop step ■ and [phase]. This means that if the vehicle is stopped after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, the compressor 6 will be turned off and not activated until the vehicle starts running.At this time, the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 is below the set value However, the bone will not be replenished. Therefore, the noise inside the vehicle due to the operation of the motor 21 and the compressor 6 while the vehicle is stopped is reduced.

In step [phase], when it is determined that the vehicle has started running, the process moves to step 0, where it is determined whether the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 is equal to or higher than the set value based on the signal from the pressure switch 18. If the pressure is below the set value, the process moves to step @, where the compressor 6 is activated to replenish the discharged bones in the reservoir tank 5, and the compressor 6 is operated until the internal pressure of the reservoir tank 5 becomes equal to or higher than the set value. continues to operate. When the value exceeds the set value, the process moves to step [phase] and the compressor 6 is turned off.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle height sensor 16 and steps (2), (2), (2)A, and (2) are a specific example of the vehicle height determination means, and the air intake valve 9.1 having the electromagnetic solenoids 12, 13, 14. Supply/discharge valve 10. Exhaust valve 11 and steps■,■
The battery 19. is a specific example of the vehicle height control means. relay 2
0. Motor 21 and drive circuit 27 and steps ■, ■, 0
．． 0 represents a specific example of compressor control means, vehicle speed sensor 17 and step [phase] represent a specific example of stoppage determining means, and pressure switch 18 and step (2) represent a specific example of reservoir tank internal pressure determining means.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as a stop determination means,
Although a method for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped based on a vehicle speed value obtained by a vehicle speed sensor has been shown, other methods such as a method for determining based on an acceleration/deceleration value from an acceleration/deceleration sensor are not limited thereto.

Furthermore, as a means for determining the reservoir tank internal pressure, a method that determines based on the ON-OFF signal from a pressure switch has been shown, but there are other methods that determine the reservoir tank internal pressure based on the detected value of a pressure sensor that measures the magnitude of the reservoir tank internal pressure. but not limited to.

Further, although a microcomputer is used as the controller, the controller can also be configured by combining electronic circuits such as comparison circuits and logic circuits.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped after the vehicle height adjustment is completed, the motor and compressor are not operated, and the motor and compressor are operated to replenish the discharged bones in the reservoir tank. Since the compressor is configured to operate while the vehicle is running, there is no noise caused by operating the motor and compressor to replenish the reservoir tank while the vehicle is stopped after the vehicle height adjustment has been completed. Compared to other devices, the noise inside the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped is reduced, and the marketability of the vehicle can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the vehicle height adjustment device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the microcomputer. be. 1... The suspension device, 2... Air chamber, 5...
・Reservoir tank, 6... Compressor, 9... Air supply valve, 10... Supply and exhaust valve, 11... Exhaust valve, 12゜13.1.4... Electromagnetic solenoid, 16.
...Vehicle height sensor, 17...Vehicle speed sensor, I8...Pressure switch, 20...Relay, 21...Motor, 2
2... Controller, 23... Microcomputer, 24, 25, 26° 27... Drive circuit, 28...
・Interface circuit, 29... Arithmetic processing unit, 30
···Storage device. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A suspension device including a fluid chamber, which is interposed between a vehicle body and wheels so as to be adjustable in vehicle height; a reservoir tank that supplies fluid to the fluid chamber; the fluid chamber or the reservoir tank. a compressor for supplying fluid to the fluid chamber; vehicle height determining means for determining the vehicle height in at least two stages, ie, low or appropriate; supplying and discharging fluid to and from the fluid chamber based on the determination result of the vehicle height determining means; vehicle height control means for controlling the vehicle height; reservoir tank internal pressure determining means for determining the internal pressure of the reservoir tank; and turning on of the compressor based on the determination results of the reservoir tank internal pressure determining means and the vehicle height determining means. -OFF
A vehicle height adjustment device comprising a compressor control means for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle height adjustment device comprising a stop determination means for determining whether the vehicle is stopped or running, and wherein the compressor control means controls the vehicle height determination means after the vehicle height adjustment is completed. The vehicle height is determined to be appropriate, and
A vehicle height adjustment device characterized in that the compressor is turned off when the vehicle is determined to be stopped by the vehicle stop determination means.