Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-10
2001-12-04
Nguyen, Tan (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S033000, C701S037000, C073S011040, C073S011080, C280S005514
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327525
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present application generally relates to diagnostic testing of vehicle suspension systems and, more particularly, to a method of testing the ride control of an adjustable suspension on a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automotive vehicles commonly employ a suspension system connected between the road wheels and the body of the vehicle. Some vehicles employ an adjustable suspension that is adjustable to a plurality of ride control modes to vary the stiffness of the vehicle suspension. For example, the suspension may be adjusted to vary the shock absorption stiffness to any one of a firm (stiff) mode, an intermediate (normal) mode, and a plush (soft) mode. The various ride control modes allow the vehicle suspension to be adjusted to suit the particular needs of the passengers, depending on the conditions of the roadway and the passengers' comfort level, to thereby enhance the vehicle driving experience.
In order to select a ride control mode, the vehicle operator may manually enter the desired mode, or the vehicle may automatically change modes based on sensed conditions. According to one adjustable suspension system, a change in selection of the ride control mode changes the size of an orifice in a fluid flow path within each of the shock absorbers associated with the rear and/or front suspension of the vehicle. The change in the size of the orifice, in turn, adjusts the hydraulic fluid flow rate within the shock absorber which changes the stiffness of the shock absorber and therefore changes the suspension stiffness.
Conventional shock absorbers typically have a limited operating life, and therefore may need to be replaced when they no longer function properly. In order to determine if a shock absorber needs to be replaced, the conventional diagnostic testing approach typically involves a technician applying force to the vehicle fender, or elsewhere on the vehicle body, while the suspension is set to a first ride mode, and visually detecting the rocking movement response of the vehicle. The technician then selects a different ride mode and repeats the visual inspection. If the visual inspection detects a sufficient difference in vehicle rocking between the different modes, the shock absorber is determined to operate adequately. In an insufficient difference is detected, the suspension is determined to be defective. The conventional suspension testing approach therefore involves subjective interpretation by the technician which may not be consistently reliable.
It is therefore desirable to provide for an accurate test procedure for testing the ride control of suspension components on a vehicle to determine whether the ride control adjustment is functioning properly. In addition, it is desirable to provide for a test procedure for testing vehicle suspension components that does not require subjective interpretation by a technician.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a method of testing a ride control suspension component of a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of setting a vehicle suspension to a first ride mode, raising the first suspension to a first height, lowering the first suspension, and measuring a parameter during the lowering of the first suspension. The method also includes the steps of setting the first suspension to a second ride mode which is different than the first ride mode, raising the first suspension to the first height, lowering the first suspension, and measuring a second parameter during the lowering of the first suspension. The method further includes comparing the first and second parameters, and determining the condition of a suspension component based on the comparison. The test method determines whether the ride control modes are functioning properly.
These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3987659 (1976-10-01), McKenney et al.
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patent: 5056024 (1991-10-01), Stuyts
patent: 5109692 (1992-05-01), Fitzgerald
patent: 5648902 (1997-07-01), Honda
patent: 5919238 (1999-07-01), Lavey
patent: 5985453 (1999-02-01), Harada et al.
Dwan Patrick Joseph
Pauli Allen Joseph
Brown Gregory P.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Nguyen Tan
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