Patent US5141245A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5141245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for adjusting vehicle body height
Assignee: Subaru Corp
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Filing: 1991-06-11
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Granted: 1992-08-25
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Expires: 2011-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for adjusting a body height of a vehicle by supplying or discharging air into or from an air suspension system includes a controller for controlling a vertical vehicle body height to a predetermined set value responsive to a signal according to an adjustment amount of the vehicle body height obtained by subtracting an objective reference vehicle body height signal from a relative displacement signal. The apparatus further includes vehicle body height change control means connected to the controller for variably controlling a vehicle body height adjustment completion time and a vehicle body height adjusting speed responsive to the vehicle speed. The vehicle body height change control means comprises a sensor for detecting the vehicle speed and generating a signal according to the vehicle speed and a logic circuit for variably controlling the vehicle body height adjusting time and the vehicle body height adjusting speed such that when the vehicle speed signal indicates a high value, the vehicle body height adjusting time is lengthened or the vehicle body height adjusting speed is lowered and when the vehicle speed signal indicates a low value, the vehicle body height adjusting time is shortened or the vehicle body height adjusting speed is increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsuyoshi Kamimura
- 👤 Atsushi Mine
- 👤 Yutaka Hiwatashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:44
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/016; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/15; B60G2202/152; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/80; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/102; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/30; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/18; B60G2600/20; B60G2600/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
An apparatus for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a speed sensor provided to detect vehicle speed; a displacement sensor connected to the suspension system for detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body; regulating means connected to the suspension system for regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system; a switch provided to change an objective reference vehicle body height; setting means for variably setting a vehicle body height adjusting time in response to said vehicle speed; first calculating means for calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a reference vehicle body height is gradually changed to the objective reference vehicle body height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at the time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch, while said vehicle body height adjusting time elapses; and second calculating means for calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement so as to control said regulating means such that said difference becomes zero, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to said objective reference vehicle body height within said vehicle body height adjusting time when said objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
An apparatus for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a speed sensor provided to detect vehicle speed; a displacement sensor connected to the suspension system for detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body; regulating means connected to the suspension system for regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system; a switch provided to change an objective reference vehicle body height; setting means for variably setting a vehicle body height adjusting time in response to said vehicle speed; first calculating means for calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a reference vehicle body height is gradually changed to the objective reference vehicle body height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at the time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch, while said vehicle body height adjusting time elapses; and second calculating means for calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement so as to control said regulating means such that said difference becomes zero, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to said objective reference vehicle body height within said vehicle body height adjusting time when said objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein; said regulating means comprises an air flow regulator including an air supply valve and an air discharge valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a linearly increasing function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a secondary increasing function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a trigonometric increasing function.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a speed sensor provided to detect vehicle speed; a displacement sensor connected to the suspension system for detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body; regulating means connected to the suspension system or regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system; a switch provided to change an objective reference vehicle body height; setting means for variably setting a vehicle body height adjusting speed in response to said vehicle speed; first calculating means for calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a reference vehicle body height is gradually changed, upon said vehicle body height adjusting speed, to the objective reference vehicle body height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at the time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch; and second calculating means for calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement so as to control said regulating means such that said difference becomes zero, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to said objective reference vehicle body height when said objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a speed sensor provided to detect vehicle speed; a displacement sensor connected to the suspension system for detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body; regulating means connected to the suspension system or regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system; a switch provided to change an objective reference vehicle body height; setting means for variably setting a vehicle body height adjusting speed in response to said vehicle speed; first calculating means for calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a reference vehicle body height is gradually changed, upon said vehicle body height adjusting speed, to the objective reference vehicle body height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at the time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch; and second calculating means for calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement so as to control said regulating means such that said difference becomes zero, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to said objective reference vehicle body height when said objective reference vehicle body height is changed by said switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a linearly increasing function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a secondary increasing function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first calculating means has said function which is a trigonometric increasing function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means comprises an air flow regulator including an air supply valve and an air discharge valve.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle having a vehicle speed sensor, a displacement sensor, regulating means, a switch and control means, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor; detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body by the displacement sensor; regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system by the regulating means; changing an objective reference vehicle body height by the switch; setting a vehicle body height adjusting speed in response to the vehicle speed; calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a present reference vehicle body height is changed, upon said vehicle body height adjusting speed, to the objective reference vehicle height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at a time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch; calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement; and controlling the regulating means in accordance with said difference, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to the objective reference vehicle body height when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the
Claim 14
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle having a vehicle speed sensor, a displacement sensor, regulating means, a switch and control means, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor; detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body by the displacement sensor; regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system by the regulating means; changing an objective reference vehicle body height by the switch; setting a vehicle body height adjusting speed in response to the vehicle speed; calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a present reference vehicle body height is changed, upon said vehicle body height adjusting speed, to the objective reference vehicle height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at a time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch; calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement; and controlling the regulating means in accordance with said difference, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to the objective reference vehicle body height when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said function is a linearly increasing function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said function is a secondary increasing function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said function is a trigonometric increasing function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said function is a stepwisely increasing function.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle having a vehicle speed sensor, a displacement sensor, regulating means, a switch and control means, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor; detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body by the displacement sensor; regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system by the regulating means; changing an objective reference vehicle body height by the switch; setting a vehicle body height adjusting time in response to the vehicle speed; calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a present reference vehicle body height is changed to the objective reference vehicle height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at a time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch, while said vehicle body height adjusting time has elapses; calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement; and controlling the regulating means in accordance with said difference, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to the objective reference vehicle body height when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for adjusting a vehicle body height by controlling fluid in a suspension system provided for a wheel of a vehicle having a vehicle speed sensor, a displacement sensor, regulating means, a switch and control means, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the vehicle speed by the vehicle speed sensor; detecting a vertical relative displacement of a vehicle body by the displacement sensor; regulating an amount of the fluid to the suspension system by the regulating means; changing an objective reference vehicle body height by the switch; setting a vehicle body height adjusting time in response to the vehicle speed; calculating a present reference vehicle body height defined by a function in which a present reference vehicle body height is changed to the objective reference vehicle height from a value of the reference vehicle body height at a time when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch, while said vehicle body height adjusting time has elapses; calculating a difference between the present reference vehicle body height and the vertical relative displacement; and controlling the regulating means in accordance with said difference, thereby gradually changing the vehicle body height to the objective reference vehicle body height when the objective reference vehicle body height is changed by the switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said function is linearly increasing function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein said function is a secondary increasing function.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said function is a trigonometric increasing function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein said function is a stepwisely increasing function.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-25 | 1996-02-24 | 1996-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-25 | 2000-02-24 | 2000-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-25 | 2004-02-24 | 2004-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |