Adjustable vehicle suspension system
A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping profile and a driver actuatable input. The driver actuatable input may be positioned to be actuatable by the driver in the absence of requiring a removal of either of the hands of the driver from a steering device of the vehicle.
1 . A control system for an electronically adjustable shock of a recreational vehicle, the control system comprising:
a controller;
a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the controller, the plurality of inputs including a first input including a driver actuatable input having an actuated state and an unactuated state; and
an output operatively coupled to the controller and adapted to be operatively coupled to the electronically adjustable shock of the recreational vehicle, wherein the controller is configured in use to:
at a first time with the driver actuatable input in the unactuated state provide a signal through the output to the electronically adjustable shock to alter a compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on a second input to the controller of the plurality of inputs,
at a second time subsequent to the first time and in response to the driver actuatable input in the actuated state provide a signal through the output to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock to increase a compression damping of the electronically adjustable shock, and
at a third time subsequent to the second time and in response to the driver actuatable input returning to the unactuated state provide a signal through the output to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on the second input to the controller of the plurality of inputs,
wherein the driver actuatable input returns to the unactuated state subsequent to the second time and prior to the third time; and
wherein the third time is at least a preset time period after the driver actuatable input returns to the unactuated state.
2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the compression damping remains increased for a time period of from the second time to a release of the driver actuatable input plus the preset time period.
3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the driver actuatable input may be actuated while a driver of the recreational vehicle grips a steering input of the recreational vehicle.
4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured in use to be coupled to a damping control activator.
5 . The control system of claim 4 , wherein the damping control activator is a solenoid valve.
6 . The control system of claim 5 , wherein the solenoid valve is configured to control a damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock.
7 . A method for controlling an electronically adjustable shock of a recreational vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of inputs including a first input from a driver actuatable input having an actuated state and an unactuated state and a second input;
at a first time with the driver actuatable input in the unactuated state, providing a signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter a compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on the second input;
at a second time subsequent to the first time and in response to the driver actuatable input being in the actuated state, providing a signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock to increase a compression damping of the electronically adjustable shock;
detecting the driver actuatable input returning to the unactuated state subsequent to the second time; and
at a third time subsequent to the second time and in response to the driver actuatable input returning to the unactuated state, providing a signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on the second input,
wherein the third time is at least a preset time period after the driver actuatable input returns to the unactuated state.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
maintaining the compression damping as increased for a time period of from the second time to a release of the driver actuatable input plus the preset time period.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
actuating the driver actuatable input while a driver of the recreational vehicle grips a steering input of the recreational vehicle.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the recreational vehicle includes a controller that:
receives the plurality of inputs;
at the first time, provides the signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on the second input;
at the second time, provides the signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock to increase the compression damping of the electronically adjustable shock;
detects the driver actuatable input returning to the unactuated state subsequent to the second time; and
at the third time, provides the signal to the electronically adjustable shock to alter the compression damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock based on the second input.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller controls a damping control activator.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the damping control activator is a solenoid valve.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the solenoid valve controls a damping characteristic of the electronically adjustable shock.