Patent US4574091A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5116077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydropneumatic suspension system
Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
•
Filing: 1990-11-07
•
Granted: 1992-05-26
•
Expires: 2010-11-07
Abstract
Abstract Arranged between hydropneumatic supporting units of a vehicle levelling system is an active bypass and feed system, by means of which hydraulic medium can be displaced between supporting units of different axles or sides of the vehicle, at the same time bypassing a reservoir, in order to counteract pitching and rolling movements of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean C. Karnopp
- 👤 Dietrich Sahm
- 👤 Walter Klinkner
- 👤 Dieter V. Scarpatetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:32
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G21/00; B60G21/10; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/0152; B60G17/016; B60G17/018; B60G17/0185; B60G21/02; B60G21/06; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/15; B60G2202/154; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/80; B60G2204/81; B60G2204/82; B60G2204/83; B60G2204/8304; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/104; B60G2400/106; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/30; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/01; B60G2800/012; B60G2800/014; B60G2800/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system for motor vehicles of the type having a plurality of vehicle wheels, comprising: a primary hydraulic medium reservoir, a primary hydraulic pressure source, hydropneumatic support units assigned to each of a plurality of vehicle wheels, a vehicle levelling control system including level-control valves for selectively connecting the support units with said primary pressure source and said primary reservoir as a function of the lifting position of a vehicle wheel associated with the respective support unit, and an active bypass and feed system for displacing hydraulic medium between respective supporting units in bypassing relationship to the primary pressure source and primary reservoir, to thereby control at least one of vehicle pitch and roll, wherein the active bypass and feed system is faster acting than the vehicle levelling control system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system for motor vehicles of the type having a plurality of vehicle wheels, comprising: a primary hydraulic medium reservoir, a primary hydraulic pressure source, hydropneumatic support units assigned to each of a plurality of vehicle wheels, a vehicle levelling control system including level-control valves for selectively connecting the support units with said primary pressure source and said primary reservoir as a function of the lifting position of a vehicle wheel associated with the respective support unit, and an active bypass and feed system for displacing hydraulic medium between respective supporting units in bypassing relationship to the primary pressure source and primary reservoir, to thereby control at least one of vehicle pitch and roll, wherein the active bypass and feed system is faster acting than the vehicle levelling control system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass and feed system includes: a line network arranged between the supporting units, a motor-driving pump, and shut-off valves which are arranged on the line network and which make it possible to connect a particular supporting unit or a group of supporting units to the inlet side of the pump and another supporting unit or another group of supporting units to the outlet side of the pump or to isolate the supporting units or groups of supporting units from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass and feed system includes one of positive-displacement and piston/cylinder units, each with at least two chamber, arranged between the supporting units located opposite one another in relation to one of the transverse axis of the vehicle and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the total volume of which units remains constant irrespective of a respective one of positive-displacement and piston stroke, and respectively one of the chambers of the units is connected to a supporting unit on one side and the other chamber to a supporting unit on the other side of said one of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the transverse axis of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels and/or as a function of the longitudinal or transverse acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels and/or as a function of the steering angle or steering-angle changes and the driving speed of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 4, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels and/or as a function of the longitudinal or transverse acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 4, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels and/or as a function of the steering angle or steering-angle changes and the driving speed of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 7, comprising computer control means for controlling the bypass and feed system as a function of respective lifting positions of the wheels and/or as a function of the steering angle or steering-angle changes and the driving speed of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein mechanical spring units are arranged in parallel with the hydropneumatic supporting units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein hydraulic medium feed units of the bypass and feed system have self-locking drives and, when shut down, keep the lines connected thereto isolated from one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein, to prevent rolling movements of the vehicle, the bypass and feed system includes means for displacing calculated quantities of hydraulic medium between the supporting units of the rear axle such that different moments counteracting the rolling moment of the vehicle are generated on the front and rear axles and a desired control tendency of the vehicle is obtained.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
Hydropneumatic suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the bypass and feed system includes an active hydraulic medium feed unit means which is supplied by actuating energy means, and wherein means are provided for preventing displacement of hydraulic medium in the bypass and feed system even with larger pressure differences between support units when said actuating energy means is cut-off, thereby facilitating normal driving operation of the levelling control system with a malfunctioning feed unit means and bypass and feed system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR991109A
Cited
DE1050669B
Cited
US2869893A
Cited
DE2048323A1
Cited
DE2923357A1
Cited
US4295660A
Cited
US4478431A
Cited
US4846496A
Cited
DE3604068A1
Cited
DE3639995A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |