Suspension apparatus for vehicles
A suspension apparatus can include a knuckle configured to be connected to a wheel, an active damper unit configured to connect the knuckle to a body, a first motor configured to apply rotational force to the active damper unit, a first reducer located between the active damper unit and the first motor configured to transmit the rotational force of the first motor to the active damper unit, and a height adjustment unit connected to the first reducer.
1 . A suspension apparatus comprising:
a knuckle configured to be connected to a wheel;
an active damper unit configured to connect the knuckle to a body;
a first motor configured to apply rotational force to the active damper unit;
a first reducer located between the active damper unit and the first motor configured to transmit the rotational force of the first motor to the active damper unit; and
a height adjustment unit connected to the first reducer,
wherein the first reducer is configured to transmit the rotational force of the first motor to the active damper unit and the height adjustment unit via the first reducer.
2 . A suspension apparatus comprising:
a knuckle configured to be connected to a wheel;
an active damper unit configured to connect the knuckle to a body;
a first motor configured to apply rotational force to the active damper unit;
a first reducer located between the active damper unit and the first motor configured to transmit the rotational force of the first motor to the active damper unit; and
a height adjustment unit connected to the first reducer, wherein the first reducer includes a planetary gear set.
3 . The suspension apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the active damper unit comprises:
a rod having one end fixed to the body;
a first ball nut provided at a remaining end of the rod;
a first ball screw coupled to the first ball nut and configured to receive the rotational force of the first motor; and
a case fixed to the knuckle and configured to support the rod and the first ball screw while surrounding at least part of the rod and at least part of the first ball screw so as to be rotatable relative to the rod and the first ball screw.
4 . The suspension apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rod has a space formed therein so that at least part of the first ball screw is located in the space.
5 . The suspension apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a rebound stopper provided within the case and configured to restrict upward movement of the rod in a height direction; and
a bump stopper provided within the case and configured to restrict downward movement of the rod in the height direction.
6 . The suspension apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a second reducer coupled to a carrier of the planetary gear set and configured to transmit the rotational force of the first motor to the first ball screw.
7 . The suspension apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a housing fixed to the case to rotatably support the planetary gear set and the second reducer.
8 . The suspension apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fourth reducer coupled to the first ball nut; and
a second damper or second motor connected to the fourth reducer.
9 . The suspension apparatus of claim 2 , wherein an output shaft of the first motor is connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear set.
10 . The suspension apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a first damper connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear set by penetrating the first motor.
11 . The suspension apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the height adjustment unit comprises:
a torsion bar having one end connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear set;
a clutch or latch solenoid connected to a remaining end of the torsion bar;
a third reducer connected to the clutch or the latch solenoid;
a second ball screw coupled to the third reducer and supported by the active damper unit so as to be rotatable with respect to the active damper unit and restrained in a vertical direction;
a second ball nut coupled to the second ball screw;
a lower spring seat fixed to the second ball nut;
an upper spring seat configured to be fixed to the body; and
a spring provided between the lower spring seat and the upper spring seat.
12 . The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the clutch or the latch solenoid is configured to selectively connect the remaining end of the torsion bar to the third reducer, or to fix the remaining end of the torsion bar.
13 . The suspension apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clutch is configured to connect the remaining end of the torsion bar to the third reducer only if a first torque of the torsion bar due to the rotational force of the first motor is greater than a second torque transmitted to the third reducer by a load of the spring.
14 . The suspension apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the suspension apparatus is configured such that, if the clutch connects the remaining end of the torsion bar to the third reducer so that the second ball screw is rotated, the lower spring seat is moved in an upward direction.
15 . The suspension apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the clutch is configured to fix the remaining end of the torsion bar if a first torque of the torsion bar due to the rotational force of the first motor is smaller than a second torque transmitted to the third reducer by a load of the spring.
16 . The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein an upper end of the torsion bar is rotatably supported by the active damper unit; and
wherein the clutch or the latch solenoid and the first motor are fixed to the active damper unit.
17 . The suspension apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the ring gear of the planetary gear set and the one end of the torsion bar are connected by a belt.
18 . A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a spring, wherein a first spring end is fixed relative to the vehicle body;
a rod, wherein is a first rod end is fixed relative to the vehicle body;
an active damper adjustably coupled to a second rod end of the rod;
a height adjustment device adjustably coupling the active damper to a second spring end of the spring;
a first motor; and
a first reducer coupled between the active damper and the first motor such that a rotational force of the first motor can be transmitted to the active damper via the first reducer, wherein the first motor is also coupled to the height adjustment device via the first reducer, such that the first motor can selectively drive adjustments of the active damper and the height adjustment device.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the height adjustment device comprises a clutch device configured to selectively connect the rotational force of the first motor to other components of the height adjustment device.
20 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the first reducer comprises a planetary gear set,
wherein the height adjustment device comprises:
a torsion bar having one end connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear set;
a clutch or latch solenoid connected to a remaining end of the torsion bar;
a third reducer connected to the clutch or the latch solenoid;
a second ball screw coupled to the third reducer and supported by the active damper so as to be rotatable with respect to the active damper and restrained in a vertical direction;
a second ball nut coupled to the second ball screw;
a lower spring seat fixed to the second ball nut, wherein the lower spring seat retains the second spring end of the spring; and
an upper spring seat configured to be fixed to the vehicle body and retains the first spring end of the spring.