Passive and active suspension with optimization of energy usage
View Patent ↗A hydraulic actuator includes a shock absorber and a control system that is separate from the shock absorber and which generates damping loads for the hydraulic actuator. The control system generates the damping load by using a pair of variable valves, a pair of check valves, an accumulator, a pump/motor and a flow controller. The forces are generated in all four quadrants of compression/rebound and active/passive. A device which recuperates the energy generated by the hydraulic actuator can be incorporated into the hydraulic actuator to generate energy in the form of electrical energy.
1. A hydraulic actuator comprising:
a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber;
a piston slidably disposed within said pressure tube, said piston dividing said fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
said upper working chamber having an upper flow port and said lower working chamber having a lower flow port;
a control system disposed outside of said fluid chamber generating damping forces for said hydraulic actuator, said control system being in direct fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers; and
said control system including a flow controller, a first adaptive valve in direct fluid communication with said upper flow port of said upper working chamber, and a second adaptive valve in direct fluid communication with said lower flow port of said lower working chamber, said first and second adaptive valves configured to enable a range of flows and pressure drops for different flow rates, to thus enable an active damping force to be generated by said control system; and
said flow controller in fluid communication with a motor/pump, said upper working chamber and said lower working chamber, and further being in direct flow communication with said upper and lower working chambers.
2. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 1 , wherein said control system comprises:
a first plurality of check valves in fluid communication with said upper and lower flow ports of said upper and lower working chambers; and
said motor/pump in fluid communication with said first and second adaptive valves.
3. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 2 , further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with said motor/pump; and
wherein the accumulator is further in direct flow communication with both of the first and second adaptive valves.
4. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 2 , wherein said first plurality of check valves are disposed between said upper and lower working chambers, a first one of said first plurality of check valves prohibiting fluid flow from said upper working chamber to said lower working chamber, a second one of said first plurality of check valves prohibiting fluid flow from said lower working chamber to said upper working chamber.
5. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 2 , further comprising an energy recuperating device in fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers.
6. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 5 , wherein said energy recuperating device comprises:
a second plurality of check valves in fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers; and
a turbine/generator in direct fluid communication with said first plurality of check valves and said second plurality of check valves.
7. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with said motor/pump.
8. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising an energy recuperating device in fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers.
9. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 8 , wherein said energy recuperating device comprises:
a second plurality of check valves in fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers; and
a turbine/generator in direct fluid communication with said first plurality of check valves and said second plurality of check valves.
10. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 9 , wherein said turbine/generator is in fluid communication with said accumulator and with said motor/pump.
11. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 8 , wherein said energy recuperation device comprises:
a plurality of check valves in fluid communication with said upper and lower working chambers; and
a turbine/generator in direct fluid communication with said plurality of check valves and said control system.
12. The hydraulic actuator according to claim 11 , wherein said plurality of check valves are disposed between said upper and lower working chambers, a first one of said plurality of check valves prohibiting fluid flow from said upper working chamber to said lower working chamber, a second one of said plurality of check valves prohibiting fluid flow from said lower working chamber to said upper working chamber.