Apparatus for active motor vehicle suspensions

Claim 1

An apparatus secured between a vehicle body (M) and wheel (m) for active body suspension control in motor vehicles having a plurality of springs and damping elements, comprising a load leveling body suspension system (FLLS) which includes a controller (R"), a relative position sensor (WS) which produces a relative body suspension deflection output signal (X rel ) derived from a vertical position of said vehicle body relative to the wheel position, a first control element (LF) which is an air suspension having a spring constant, means (QA) for permitting fluid flow to and from said first control element (LF), a second control element in the form of a semi-active damper (B Sa ), said first and second control elements being positioned between the wheel and the body, a signal processing circuit (BF, I), a body motion sensor (B S ) connected with said signal processing circuit for determining body velocity which is converted into an absolute vertical velocity output signal (V abs ) by said signal processing circuit, said absolute vertical velocity signal (V abs ) and said relative body suspension deflection output signal (X rel ) are directed into said controller (R"), said controller (R") directs an output signal (FLLS) to said first control element (LF) to control said first control element, said absolute vertical velocity signal (V abs is also directed into controller (R") said and said controller (R") directs an output signal (SA) to said second control element (B Sa ) to control said second control element.

Claim 2

An apparatus secured between a vehicle body (M) and wheel (m) for active body suspension control in motor vehicles having a plurality of springs and damping elements, comprising a load leveling body suspension system (FLLS) which includes a controller (R"), a relative position sensor (WS) which produces a relative body suspension deflection output signal (X rel ) derived from a vertical position of said vehicle body relative to the wheel position, a first control element (LF) which is an air suspension having a spring constant, means (QA) for permitting fluid flow to and from said first control element (LF), a second control element in the form of a semi-active damper (B Sa ), said first and second control elements being positioned between the wheel and the body, a signal processing circuit (BF, I), a body motion sensor (B S ) connected with said signal processing circuit for determining body velocity which is converted into an absolute vertical velocity output signal (V abs ) by said signal processing circuit, said absolute vertical velocity signal (V abs ) and said relative body suspension deflection output signal (X rel ) are directed into said controller (R"), said controller (R") directs an output signal (FLLS) to said first control element (LF) to control said first control element, said absolute vertical velocity signal (V abs is also directed into controller (R") said and said controller (R") directs an output signal (SA) to said second control element (B Sa ) to control said second control element.