PASSIVELY CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE RIDE HEIGHT SUSPENSION

摘要

A suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a suspension corner connecting the road wheel to the vehicle body. The suspension corner maintains contact between the road wheel and a road surface. The suspension system includes a bladder arranged at the suspension corner for pumping a fluid in response to forces generated at the wheel and holding a volume of the fluid. The suspension system also includes a reservoir in fluid communication with the bladder for selectively accumulating the fluid pumped by and releasing the fluid to the bladder. The suspension system additionally includes a valve for selectively retaining the accumulated fluid in and releasing thereof from the reservoir. The height of the bladder varies in response to the volume of fluid being held by the bladder to set a ride height of the vehicle at the suspension corner.

主权项

1. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body; a road wheel configured to maintain contact with a road surface; a vehicle suspension corner connecting the road wheel to the vehicle body and configured to maintain contact between the road wheel and the road surface; a bladder arranged at the suspension corner, characterized by a variable height, and configured to pump a fluid in response to forces generated at the road wheel and hold at least a volume of the fluid; a reservoir in fluid communication with the bladder and configured to selectively accumulate the fluid pumped by the bladder and release the fluid to the bladder; and a valve in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured to selectively retain the accumulated fluid in and release the accumulated fluid from the reservoir; wherein the height of the bladder varies in response to the amount of the fluid being held by the bladder, thereby setting a height of the vehicle body relative to the road surface at the suspension corner.