JPS6121812A - Ground clearance adjuster of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent occurrence of the burning accident of a compressor, and various solenoids by giving warning information to interrupt the ground clearance adjusting function when signal output from a controller to the various solenoid valves continues to be generated for the specified period or more. CONSTITUTION:Ground clearance is increased and reduced by sending air inside a reserve tank 3 to the air containing parts of suspensions FL, FR, RL and RR. When each of the signals from ground clearance sensors A-D continues to be generated for the specified period or more, a controller 5 controls supply of current for solenoid valves L1-L6 responding to the signals on the bases of the input of the signals. A logic circuit 51 which is integrated in the controller 5 determines whether or not the input signals from the sensors A-D has been already input if the output of signals from the controller to the valves L1-L6 is kept to the done for the specified period or more. According to the determined result, a warning lamp is lit up or blinked and supply of current for the controller 5 is cut off to interrupt the ground clearance adjusting function.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device for an automobile.

Conventional technology In vehicle wheel suspension systems that use air suspensions that utilize the volumetric elasticity of air sealed inside, the vehicle height can be raised by supplying air from the outside to the air sealed portions of the air suspension. By discharging the enclosed air to the outside, the vehicle height can be lowered.

Therefore, conventionally, vehicle height sensors are provided in the air suspensions of all the front, rear, left, and right wheels, and air supply and exhaust are performed independently for each air suspension based on the up signal or down signal of each vehicle disease sensor. Accordingly, a vehicle height adjustment device that always maintains the vehicle posture in a normal state has been developed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-1128).
(See Publication No. 17).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In a vehicle height adjustment device like the one in Kitagi, when an up signal is input to the control device from the vehicle height sensor installed in the air suspension, the solenoid valve of the reserve tank is opened. At the same time as outputting an output signal, an output signal is issued to open the air suspension solenoid valve for air supply and exhaust that generated the up signal, and air is supplied from the reserve tank to the air suspension to raise the vehicle height.
When the down signal is input, an output signal is generated to open the exhaust solenoid valve, and an output signal is also generated to open the air supply and exhaust solenoid valve of the air suspension that the down signal has generated, and the air in the air suspension is diverted to the outside. The vehicle height is lowered to reduce emissions.

Furthermore, when the air pressure in the reserve tank falls below a predetermined value, a solenoid valve for driving the compressor is operated in response to a signal from the pressure sensor to drive the compressor and maintain the air pressure in the reserve tank at a predetermined value.

In the above case, if the air suspension malfunctions, for example, air leaks from the piping, the solenoid valve for supply and exhaust of the air suspension that issues the up signal is open, but no matter how long it takes, sufficient air is not supplied. Since the supply/exhaust solenoid valve remains open, there is a problem that the solenoid valve may burn out. Such problems may also occur in compressors, compressor drive control solenoids, and the like.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a control system in which a vehicle height sensor is provided in each suspension section of a plurality of wheels, and the vehicle height of each suspension is raised or lowered based on an up signal or a down signal from each vehicle height sensor. In a vehicle equipped with this device, when the output signals from the control device to various solenoid valves, etc. continue for a predetermined period of time (for example, about 10 minutes), a warning light is turned on or blinks, and the power to the control device is turned off. This is characterized by the provision of a logic circuit that stops the high adjustment function.

Operation The present invention employs the above-described configuration, so that the output signal from the control device to the air suspension air suspension solenoid valve, etc. is not output for a predetermined period of time (for example, 10 If this continues for more than a minute), the warning light will turn on or flash to alert you that a failure has occurred in the Dry Eight, prompting you to repair the failure part, and also turn off the power to the control device to adjust the vehicle height due to the failure. It is possible to prevent abnormal control of equipment and burnout accidents of compressors, various solenoid valves, etc.

Example The details of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In Figure 1, 1 is a compressor, 2 is a dryer, 3
is a reserve tank, and when the compressor L is driven, air is press-fitted and stored in the reserve tank 3 via the dryer 2 and the solenoid valve Ll, and the vehicle height sensors installed on the front, rear, left and right air suspensions FL, FR, RL, and RR. Based on the signals A, B, C, and D, the air stored under pressure in the reserve tank 3 is transferred to each air suspension FL, FR, and RL.

It is possible to raise the vehicle height by supplying the air to each of the air sealing parts of the RR, or to lower the vehicle height by opening the exhaust solenoid valve L2 and discharging the air sealed in the air sealing parts to the outside. It is now possible to do so.

L3, L4, L5, and L6 are air supply/exhaust solenoid valves that respectively control the air supply/exhaust to each air sealing portion of each air suspension FL, FR, RL, and RR.

4 is a pressure sensor which, when the air pressure in the reserve tank 3 falls below a predetermined value, activates the drive control solenoid L7 of the compressor l to drive the compressor l and maintain the air pressure in the reserve tank 3 at a predetermined value. It looks like this.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a control device, and the control device 5 controls the input of the signals when each signal (down signal or up signal) of the vehicle height sensors A, B, C, D exceeds a set time (for example, about 10 seconds). Controls energization to each solenoid valve (Ll to L6) that adapts to the signal,
For example, the air supply/exhaust solenoid valve and exhaust valve L2 of an air suspension equipped with a vehicle height sensor that has issued a down signal may be opened to discharge air from the air suspension to lower the vehicle height, or the vehicle height sensor that has issued an up signal may be opened. The air supply/exhaust solenoid valve and solenoid valve Ll of the air suspension equipped with are opened to supply air in the reserve tank 3 to the air suspension to raise the vehicle height, and the solenoid L is opened based on the signal from the pressure sensor 4.
It controls the energization to 7.

Furthermore, the control device 5 receives a signal from a changeover switch 6 for changing the vehicle height from a normal vehicle height to a high vehicle height, and also receives a signal from a vehicle speed sensor 7. For example, when driving on a rough road, by switching the changeover switch 6 from normal to high, the control device 5 issues a signal to supply air to each air suspension, raising the vehicle height, and driving on a rough road. It is designed to prevent accidents such as the vehicle body touching the ground while driving, and for example, when driving at high speed, the vehicle speed sensor 7
The control device 5 issues a signal to discharge the air from the air-sealed portion of each air suspension to the outside, thereby lowering the height of the vehicle and improving high-speed running stability.

Note that 8 represents a power source, and 9 represents a power switch.

In a vehicle equipped with the vehicle height adjustment device as described above, the present invention detects that a failure occurs in the driver when the output signals from the control device to various solenoid valves, etc. are lost for a predetermined period of time (for example, about 10 minutes) or more. The control device M5 is provided with a logic circuit 51 that generates a warning signal to notify the user and also generates a signal to stop the operation of the control device 5.

- An example of the control system by the logic circuit 51 is as shown in the block diagram of FIG.

That is, the logic circuit 51 receives output signals from the control device to various solenoid valves, etc. for a predetermined period of time (for example, 1
Vehicle height sensor A, B, C, D
Determine whether the input signal from is input,
When an up signal and a down signal are input at the same time, a warning light is turned on or off to warn the driver that a failure has occurred, and the power to the control device 5 is turned off to stop the vehicle height adjustment function. It is configured like this.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention configured as described above, when the output signal from the control device of the vehicle height adjustment device to the suspension air supply/exhaust solenoid valve, etc. remains unchanged for a predetermined period of time or more, it is possible to notify the driver that a failure has occurred. This system not only provides a warning and prompts for early repair, but also stops the operation of the vehicle height adjustment device, which can prevent the number of cars burning out compressors, various solenoid valves, etc., and can bring great practical effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an air suspension air supply/exhaust control system showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control mode using a logic circuit. 1... Compressor, 2... Reserve tank, 5...
...Control device, 51...Logic circuit, 7.
...Vehicle speed sensor, A, B, C, D...Vehicle height sensor, F
L, FR, RL, RR...air suspension. that's all

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a car that is equipped with a vehicle height sensor in each of the suspension parts of a plurality of wheels, and a control device that raises or lowers the vehicle height of each suspension based on the up signal or down signal of each vehicle height sensor, the suspension can be controlled from the control device. A logic circuit that activates a warning means when the output signal to the supply/exhaust solenoid valve and the drive control member of the compressor continues for a predetermined time or more, turns off the power to the control device, and stops the vehicle height adjustment operation. A vehicle height adjustment device for an automobile, characterized by the following: