JPS61244613A - Level-control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make improvements in a feeling of driving comfortableness and a degree of steering stability, by setting up a reservoir chamber to be interconnected to an upper chamber, at the outside of a damping force generating cylinder partitioned into both upper and lower chambers with a piston, while constituting it to be interconnectible to an accumulator in a sepective manner. CONSTITUTION:With expansion or contraction of a level controller 10, a piston 15 moves up and down, while each oil in an upper chamber A and a lower chamber B moves according to a regulating direction, and an expansion side valve 16 and a pressure side valve 18 both produce damping force when oil passes through, thus a buffering function is produces. And, in this expansion process, if a roll phenomenon detection signal 25 is outputted, a selector valve 24 is interconnected to an accumulator Q, and oil in this accumulator Q is fed to the lower chamber B, accelerating the expansion. With this constitution, a feeling of driving comfortableness and a degree of steering stability are improvable.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device, and in particular, it is capable of controlling the attitude of a vehicle by exhibiting an anti-roll function, etc.
The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device that can also perform a damping function as a shock absorber.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that a vehicle is equipped with a vehicle height adjustment device in order to improve the running stability of the vehicle, and various vehicle height adjustment devices have been proposed in the past. In order to prevent the roll phenomenon in which one side of the vehicle sinks significantly when the vehicle makes a sharp turn, these conventional vehicle height adjustment devices generate a large reaction force on the vehicle height adjuster that is subject to the sinking effect. , has been proposed as an anti-roll function.

For example, a vehicle height adjustment device as shown in Figure 7 has been proposed. That is, the vehicle height adjusting device according to this conventional proposal has a pair of left and right vehicle height adjusters 1.1, and a cylinder [α] constituting each vehicle height adjuster 1 is partitioned by a piston portion 1h. It has an upper chamber A and a lower chamber gB, and one upper chamber A communicates with the other lower chamber B, and one lower chamber B communicates with the other upper chamber A, respectively, in a so-called swivel shape. It is something. Each cylinder la has a gas chamber G at its upper end, and each vehicle height adjuster 1 has its upper end connected to the vehicle body side and its lower end connected to the axle side.

As a result, for example, when the left and right vehicle height adjusters 1.1 contract in the same phase, each upper chamber A compresses the gas chamber G by the volume of entry of the piston rod 1C. At this time, the gas chamber G is compressed by the amount of the intrusion volume of the piston rod IC, so the reaction force generated in each piston rod lc is small, and the ride comfort is reduced during normal driving of the vehicle. It won't make things worse.

When the left and right vehicle height adjusters 1.1 expand and contract in opposite phases, that is, when the vehicle makes a sharp turn, for example, the right vehicle height adjuster 1 in the figure contracts and the left vehicle height adjuster 1.1 contracts. When the vehicle height adjuster extends, the right upper chamber A is not only compressed by itself, but also receives compression from the left lower chamber B, and at this time the right gas chamber G is extremely large. undergo compression. That is, an extremely large reaction force can be generated, an anti-roll function can be achieved, and the running stability of the vehicle can be achieved.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, according to the conventional proposal.

Since the passage must be formed in the shape of a so-called sash, it is easy to be subject to restrictions on installation space when installing it on a vehicle, and this conventional vehicle height adjustment device is inherently anti-static. Just to demonstrate the role function,
Since the shock absorber is installed on the vehicle, the shock absorber for improving the riding comfort of the vehicle has to be separately installed on the vehicle. Since the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B in each vehicle height adjuster 1 are formed independently of each other, if oil leaks from the piston portion 1h or to the outside of the cylinder la, the upper chamber This will cause a change in the amount of oil in A and the lower chamber B or a change in the volume in the gas chamber G, and as a result, there is a risk that the characteristics of the repulsion force will change. Furthermore, when even a slight roll phenomenon occurs, that is, an opposite phase occurs, the gas chamber G is formed to be small in order to generate a large reaction force, so a large reaction force is likely to occur even when the phases are the same. There are also inconveniences such as deterioration of the ride comfort of the vehicle and deterioration of the durability of the gas chamber G and the like.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to control the attitude of the vehicle by exerting an anti-roll function when necessary, and also to exert a damping function as a shock absorber, thereby improving ride comfort and handling stability of the vehicle. The purpose is to provide a new vehicle height adjustment device that can improve performance.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the configuration of the present invention is applied to a vehicle height adjustment device having an extendable vehicle height adjustment device whose upper end is connected to the vehicle body side and whose lower end is connected to the axle side. The height adjuster has an upper chamber and a lower chamber defined within the cylinder by a piston section that is disposed within the cylinder and enables generation of a rebound damping force. The vehicle is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and has a server chamber, and the lower chamber is formed in a shape such that it can communicate with the reservoir chamber through a passage provided outside the vehicle height adjuster. An accumulator is connected to the passageway, and communication between the inside of the accumulator and the inside of the passageway is selectively enabled.

The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle height adjusting device according to the present invention includes a vehicle height adjuster 10. As shown in FIG.

The vehicle height adjuster 10 has a VC and brackets at its upper and lower ends so that its lower end can be connected to an axle (not shown) and its upper end can be connected to a vehicle body (not shown). 11.12. And this vehicle height adjuster 1
0 is the piston rod 14 inserted into the cylinder 13
It has a piston part 15 disposed at the tip thereof, and has an upper chamber A and a lower chamber B inside the cylinder 13 defined by the piston part 15.

Furthermore, this vehicle height adjuster 10 also includes the piston portion 1
The cylinder 13 has an expansion side valve 16 as a one-way valve having a check valve at 5, and a base seat part 17 at the bottom of the cylinder 13.

This base seat portion 17 has a pressure side valve 18 having a check valve and a check valve 19. Furthermore, this vehicle height adjuster 10 has a reservoir chamber C formed outside the cylinder 13 so as to surround the cylinder 13 with an outer tube 20. Note that the inside of the upper end of this reservoir chamber C is a gas chamber G.

In the vehicle height adjuster 10 according to the present embodiment, the pressure side valve 18 is formed in the base seat portion 17 at the bottom of the cylinder 13, but instead of this, the arrangement of the pressure side valve 18 is The setting may be omitted.

The reservoir chamber C is not communicated with the upper WA and lower chamber B except through the passage 21.

That is, the passage 21 communicates the reservoir chamber C with the oil chamber B in the base seat portion which allows communication with the lower chamber B, and also includes a return passage 22 communicating with the upper chamber A. are connected, and the above passage 2
1 and a return passage 22, the reservoir chamber C is allowed to communicate with the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B.

A check valve 23 is provided in the return passage 22 to allow oil to pass from the reservoir chamber C side to the upper chamber A side.

In the passage 21, an accumulator Q is connected to a switching valve 24.
are connected via. The switching valve 24 is configured to be switched by an external signal 25 to allow communication between the inside of the passage 21 and the inside of the accumulator section. When the external signal is no longer input, the device is configured to return to the normal usage state shown in the figure.

A branch passage 21 extends from the passage 21 in the passage 21 between the oil chamber C in the base seat portion and the switching valve 24, and the branch passage 21' communicates with the switching valve 24. has been done. A check valve 26 that prevents oil from passing from the oil chamber C in the base seat portion toward the accumulator Q is disposed in the branch passage.

The operation of the vehicle height adjusting device according to the present invention configured as above will be briefly explained.

First, when the vehicle height adjuster lO contracts, the piston portion 15
, the oil in the lower chamber B flows to the base sheet part 17.
The oil passes through the pressure side valve 18 and flows into the passage 21 via the oil chamber C in the base seat portion. Then, when oil passes through the pressure side valve 18, a desired pressure side damping force is generated. Furthermore, the oil in the passage 21 flows into the reservoir chamber C via the switching valve 24.

Note that, in the upper chamber A, oil corresponding to the amount of the downward movement of the piston rod 14 flows from the reservoir chamber C through the return passage 22.

When the vehicle height adjuster 10 is in the compression side stroke and is to be greatly compressed due to, for example, a roll phenomenon of the vehicle, an external signal 25 due to the roll phenomenon is input, and the switching valve 24 will be switched.

As a result, the oil that has flowed into the passage 21 from the lower chamber B will flow into the accumulator section via the switching valve 24.

In response to the gas pressure in the gas chamber Ql in the accumulator section, the vehicle height adjuster IO is prevented from sinking to a large extent.

Next, when the vehicle height adjuster 10 is extended, the piston portion 1
5 rises in the cylinder 13, and the oil flowing into the upper chamber passes through the extension valve 16 of the piston portion 15 and flows into the lower chamber B. When oil passes through the expansion valve 16, a desired expansion damping force is generated. As the piston portion 15 rises, oil corresponding to the rise of the piston rod 14 flows downward from the reservoir chamber C through the passage 21, the oil chamber C in the base seat portion 17, and the check valve 19 of the base seat portion 17. Room B will be replenished.

During the extension stroke, when the vehicle height adjuster 10 is about to be extended significantly due to, for example, a roll phenomenon of the vehicle, the switching valve 24 is switched by the input of the external signal 25 caused by the roll phenomenon. It will be activated.

Accordingly, in addition to the oil flowing from the reservoir chamber C, oil from the accumulator Q flows into the lower chamber B, so that =11-the extension of the vehicle height adjuster IO will be promoted. That is, the wheels, which are about to lift off the road surface due to the roll phenomenon, are kept in contact with the road surface, thereby providing ground resistance.

That is, when the switching valve 24 is in the state shown in the figure, the vehicle height adjuster 10 functions only as a so-called stain absorber, and when the switching valve 24 is switched by an external signal, the lower chamber B in the cylinder 13 and the accumulator Communication with the inside of the vehicle is achieved, and the vehicle height adjuster 10 is prevented from sinking too much, and other corresponding vehicle height adjusters 10 are encouraged to extend. It is formed like this.

FIG. 2 shows a vehicle height adjusting device according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is a partial modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

That is, in the vehicle height adjuster 100 base seat portion 17,
Lower chamber B and base seat inner oil chamber C"'1.+・False 12
−′.

A through hole 17 is formed to communicate with the base seat portion 17, and the arrangement of the pressure side valve 18 and the check valve 19 in the base seat portion 17 in the above-described embodiment is omitted. In this embodiment, the pressure side valve 18 is disposed in the passage 21 as a damping valve 18 consisting of a throttle.

That is, the damping valve 18 is connected to the lower chamber B in the cylinder 13.
It is disposed in a passage 21 that communicates between the switching valve 24 and the reservoir chamber C, and in a portion of the passage 21 that communicates the switching valve 24 and the reservoir chamber C.

As a result, compared to the case where the pressure side valve 18 is disposed on the base seat part 17, even if the oil pressure in the lower chamber B increases when the switching valve 24 is switched, the pressure side valve 18 is disposed on the base seat part 17. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the risk of pressure load on the so-called base valve section.

Note that the damping valve 18 allows oil to pass during both the expansion side and compression side strokes of the vehicle height adjuster 10, and when the switching valve 24 is switched, the damping valve 18
There is no passage of oil through 8.

FIG. 3 shows still another embodiment of the vehicle height adjustment device according to the present invention, which is configured to exhibit a so-called high-cut function.

That is, the piston portion 15 is provided with the compression side relief valve 15 together with the expansion side valve 16 . The pressure-side relief valve 15 is formed so as to cause oil in the lower chamber B to flow into the upper chamber A when activated using the oil pressure in the lower chamber B as a pilot pressure. Then, the set pressure when the pressure side relief valve 15 is activated is determined by switching the switching valve 24, putting the inside of the lower chamber B in communication with the inside of the accumulator Q, and furthermore, the vehicle height adjuster 10 sinks significantly. It is assumed that the internal pressure of the gas chamber Q/ in the accumulator Q is higher than the internal pressure of the gas chamber Q/ when the accumulator Q is about to be discharged.

Therefore, the use of the accumulator Q to prevent the vehicle height adjuster 10 from sinking significantly due to the roll phenomenon of the vehicle may lead to the occurrence of a so-called bumpy feeling, which may actually worsen the ride comfort of the vehicle. When there is a risk of so-called mechanical damage due to an increase in internal pressure, the anti-roll function can be canceled by operating the pressure side relief valve 15.

, 1-4 show still another embodiment of the vehicle height adjustment device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a simplified switching valve 24 is provided in place of the switching valve 24. The accumulators Q are arranged between one passage 21 so as to be parallel to each other, and the accumulator Q is connected to the passage 21 without using the switching valve 24. However, a fixed throttle 27 is formed at the inlet of the accumulator Q, and the gas pressure in the gas chamber Q/ in the accumulator Q itself is set to be higher than the gas pressure in the gas chamber G in the reservoir chamber C. ing.

That is, the accumulator Q in Fig. 4 has a free piston Q, 2 housed in the gas chamber Q/, as also shown in Fig. 5, and the free piston Q
x is formed to secure an oil chamber Q3, and the gas pressure set at high pressure is maintained.

Note that the fixed throttle 27 is set as a through hole in the housing forming the accumulator Q to allow communication between the passage 21 and the oil chamber Q3.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 above, the structure is as described above.
Oil from the lower chamber B to the reservoir chamber C through the passage 21 does not flow into the accumulator Q (it functions as a so-called normal shock absorber).

However, when the switching valve 24 is switched, the oil in the first passage 21 flows into the accumulator Q due to the large compression of the vehicle height adjuster 10, resulting in a high gas pressure in the gas chamber Q/. A correspondingly large reaction force will be obtained.

That is, in the above embodiment, when operation as a normal shock absorber is required, there is no risk of the oil in the passage 21 flowing into the accumulator Q due to the presence of the fixed throttle 27, and the anti-roll When performing functions, etc., oil will flow into the accumulator Q.

When the vehicle height adjustment device according to the present invention configured as in each of the embodiments described above is installed in a four-wheeled vehicle, it will be controlled in the following manner.

That is, ]・As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of sensors 30,
Each signal from 31, 32, and 33 is input to a controller 34, and the signal from the controller 34 is input to a converter 35. In response to the signal from the converter 35, the switching valves in each vehicle height regulator 10 are switched.

Note that in addition to the above-mentioned sensors, signals from the manual select switch 36 may also be input to the controller 34. Further, a power source 37 is connected to the controller 34 .

A power source 38 is connected to the converter 35, and when the switching force of the switching valve is small, the power source 38 is electrically connected.

The switching operation will be performed using a solenoid.

When the switching force is large or when it is difficult to use a solenoid, the converter 35 converts electricity to other power for operation. In addition, for vehicles equipped with air brakes or air suspension.

Compressed air may be used as the power source 38, and hydraulic pressure may be used as the power source 38 in a vehicle equipped with power steering.

Therefore, if the vehicle suddenly rotates counterclockwise in Figure 16, the vehicle adjusters 1o on the right side of the front and rear sides in the figure will sink significantly, causing a so-called roll phenomenon. However, for example, in response to the input signal from the steering sensor 3° and the input signal from the speed sensor 31, the anti-roll function is applied to each of the right vehicle height adjusters LO via the controller 34 and the converter 35. The switching operation of the switching valve is performed, and the occurrence of the above-mentioned roll phenomenon is prevented.

Furthermore, in the event of a nose dive phenomenon in which the front side of the vehicle sinks significantly due to a sudden braking operation, a large reaction force is generated when the left and right vehicle height adjusters 10 on the front side are compressed by the input signal from the brake sensor 32. It will demonstrate the anti-nose dive function.

Furthermore, when a sudden start of the vehicle causes a phenomenon in which the rear side sinks significantly, the rear left and right vehicle height adjusters 1o receive a large reaction force due to the input signal from the acceleration sensor 33. This is the anti-sulfur auto machine-19-.

This will bring out their abilities.

Furthermore, when the vehicle is driving in a rough manner, each vehicle height adjuster 10 may be brought into a high reaction force state by manual operation by inputting an input to the manual select switch 39.

All of the above are 1. At the desired time.

Demonstrates the anti-roll function and creates a large reaction force state! Although an example has been described in which the shock absorber function is set to a large reaction force state in normal times, it may be configured so that the shock absorber function can be exerted when desired. In this case, there is an advantage that it can function as a shock absorber even in the event of a failure such as a disconnection of the control system.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the same vehicle height adjuster can perform the function of a shock absorber, and when desired, can also generate a large reaction force, and can perform vehicle attitude control functions such as anti-roll function. This has the advantage that it can also be used.

Furthermore, since each vehicle height adjuster has its own hydraulic system independently, and the accumulator is used only when desired, there is an advantage that problems such as changes in characteristics due to oil leaks do not occur.

Furthermore, since the accumulator and the reservoir chamber are separated, the gas pressure setting in the reservoir chamber and the gas pressure setting in the gas chamber in the accumulator can be independently set, and there is an advantage that the setting is easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle height adjustment device according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 are diagrams showing vehicle height and adjustment devices according to other embodiments, respectively. The figure shows an embodiment of the accumulator in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a block diagram 1, and Figures 1-7 are diagrams showing a conventional vehicle height adjustment device. 10...Vehicle height adjuster, 13...Cylinder, 14...
・Piston rod, 15-...Piston part. 16... Extension side valve, 17... Base seat part, 1
8...Pressure side valve, 21...Passage, 22...Return passage, 24...Switching valve, A...Upper chamber-B...
・Lower chamber, C...Reservoir chamber, G...Gas chamber, Q.
··accumulator. Fig. 1 ■-, --------j Fig. 2 Negative ----j Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In a vehicle height adjustment device having an extendable vehicle height adjuster whose upper end is connected to the vehicle body side and whose lower end is connected to the axle side, the vehicle height adjuster is disposed inside a cylinder and expands and contracts. The cylinder has an upper chamber and a lower chamber defined within the cylinder by a piston part that enables the generation of side damping force, and a reservoir outside the cylinder that is divided into the upper chamber and the lower chamber. The lower chamber is formed to communicate with the reservoir chamber through a passage provided outside the vehicle height adjuster, and an accumulator is connected to the passage. A vehicle height adjusting device characterized in that the vehicle height adjusting device is configured to selectively allow communication between the inside of the accumulator and the inside of the passage. (2) A switching valve that is switched by an external signal is disposed in the passage, and when the switching valve is switched, communication between the passage and the inside of the accumulator is enabled. A vehicle height adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle height adjustment device is formed. (3) A return passage communicating with the upper chamber is connected to the passage communicating the lower chamber and the reservoir chamber, and a check valve is disposed in the return passage, as claimed in claim 1. Vehicle height adjustment device as described. (4) The vehicle height adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the piston portion is provided with a pressure side relief valve. (5) The vehicle height adjuster has a pressure-side valve that enables generation of a compression-side damping force, and the lower chamber in the cylinder and the passage can communicate with each other through the pressure-side valve. Vehicle height adjustment device described in section. (6) The vehicle height adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein a damping valve is disposed in the passage.