WO2009089600A1

WO2009089600A1 - Monitoring device of shock absorber wear

Info

Publication number: WO2009089600A1
Application number: PCT/BR2008/000338
Authority: WO
Inventors: Narciso Ichano Junior; Wagner Adriano Faber
Original assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
Priority date: 2008-01-14
Filing date: 2008-11-12
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: AR069391A1; BRPI0800399A2

Abstract

New device to be applied to automotive suspension in general, in special shock absorbers. Which enables the monitoring of the shock absorber's movements in relation to its life span, allowing that the same be checked and changed before it is damaged. This device endorses a preventive maintenance of the vehicle's shock absorbers, offering greater safety for the vehicle and users.

Description

MONITORING DEVICE FOR SHOCK ABSORBER WEAR The present report encompasses the detailed description along with illustrative pictures of a new device to be applied to automotive suspensions in general, especially shock absorbers. It enables the monitoring of the shock absorber movements in relation to its life span, in a way that allows the shock absorber to be checked and changed before it is damaged. This device endorses the preventive maintenance of the vehicle's shock absorbers, offering greater safety for the vehicle and its users.

Measuring the shock absorber durability applied to an automotive suspension, estimated by the vehicle's mileage or by visual verification, it is not always an easy task. Even if the shock absorber be it estimated by the mileage already travelled by the vehicle, this type of measurement does not take into consideration the important variables to the life span of this component, such as: type of pavement, the vehicle's velocity, driving adverse conditions, time spent on the road, etc. On the other hand, if the verification of these components is visual, the confirmation o a problem in a determined component can only be checked after the same is already damaged, which end being a corrective maintenance instead of a preventive one, and could cause accidents and/or serious problems in the future. The best way of estimating the life span of a shock absorber is measuring the work already performed through the monitoring of the performance cycles of the shock absorber according to the suspension, which is the purpose offered by the devise here presented.

The Pl 0316359-8, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF SHOCK ABSORBERS, describe a method and system for the diagnosis of shock absorbers, where the present invention referrers to a system for the diagnosis of shock absorbers (7) in a vehicle (2), where at least on of the wheel axels of the vehicles is on air suspension, comprising a control unit (5) and at least one measuring device (4) connected to the control unit (5), in which the measuring device (4) measures a signal that corresponds to the oscillations of the vehicle's wheel suspension and that the control unit (5) analyses the characteristic resonance frequency of the vehicle's wheel suspension.

The Pl 0417839-4, PROPORTIONAL AIR PRESSURE SHOCK ABSORBER, describes an air pressure proportional shock absorber, where a suspension system includes an air spring and a shock absorber place between the parts with and without springs of a vehicle. A vehicle height sensor sends signals to a control system, in which, it adjusts the height of the vehicle by increasing or decreasing air pressure in the spring. This same air pressure is attributed to the shock absorber, in order to increase the shock absorption rate for high loads and decrease the storage rate for low loads. The air pressure for the shock absorber is provided for a set of valves that controls the fluid outflow between the shock absorber's work chamber and a spare chamber.

The Pl 0000929-6 describes a mechanical system that detects suspension defects of automotive vehicles with eccentric axel movement. In which the chassis-platform (1 ) is build from steel profiles, presented in a single block system with all the parts forming a single volume or with each of the mobile cradles (2) separated from installation in loco, placed according to the distance adjustment between axles (3) and moved by articulated arms (4) and levers (5), that are attached to the wheels of the eccentric axles (6) by the eccentric axles (7) and to them reducers are mounted (8) with the reducer motors (9) and speed variators (10), that are connected to the movement command and control panel (11), that are on the mobile bases (12) in which possesses motors to regulate the cradles' course amplitude (13); connected to the suspension axels of the automotive vehicle's wheels, the noise or vibration sensor was verified (14), and connected to the mobile cradles (2) there are the vertical displacement sensors (15) and lastly the visualization panel (16), such system enables the detection of suspension defects of an automotive vehicle; and

The Pl 0700362-5, MONITORING DEVICE OF AUTOMOTIVE SUSPENSION WEAR, describes a new device to be applied to automotive suspension in general. Which allows the monitoring of the suspension components, in relation to it's life span, providing the user an exact verification of the status of each component, allowing that the component be checked and changed before it is damaged. This device provides a preventive maintenance offering greater safety for the vehicle and the users.

Thus, as noticed there is not a specific device to be applied in the vehicle's shock absorbers, be of cargo and/or street, which allow the monitoring of the shock absorbers and suspension components, in relation to its life span, for preventive maintenance. Commercially, the life of the shock absorbers for automotive suspension is estimated based on the vehicle's mileage, which reference is not effective due to its disregard of important work conditions of the suspension. From this premise, it becomes necessary the availability of a device that is capable of estimating the life of this component based on the work performed by the suspension through the number of actuation cycles. Sensing the necessity of having a device that can monitor and control in an effective preventive way the life span of the shock absorber of automotive vehicles is why the MONITORING DEVICE OF SHOCK

ABSORBERS was researched, idealized and fulfilled, and the object of this present patent.

Next reference to the figures that follow this descriptive report, for better understanding and illustration of what is seen:

Figure 1 shows the suspension's articulation schematics of an automotive vehicle. Figure 2 shows the schematics of the monitoring device of shock absorber wear of an automotive vehicle, object of the present patent, highlighting its main component and disposition form.

Figure 3 illustrates the diagram of the functioning blocks of the monitoring device of shock absorber wear, object of the present patent. Next a non restrictive preferential form of constructing the present monitoring device of automotive shock absorber wear is described, object of the patent, where the configuration and application could vary to the adequate form to each desired vehicle model; describing one of the constructive possibilities that leads to fulfilling the described object and the way it works. The monitoring device of an automotive shock absorber wear, object of the present patent, comprises in an electro-electronic device, placed strategically in the vehicle's suspension, in especial the shock absorbers, that monitor the number of relevant cycles, that are the actuations of the suspension related to the presented irregularities in pavements in general, and that eventually could cause some damage to the suspension components. Where the information is made available to the vehicle's driver letting him know when the changing of a component is recommended.

The monitoring device of an automotive shock absorber wear in its totality consists of a sensor and a display placed in the vehicle. For the measuring of the suspension's work cycles, the sensor (1) can be mounted in the shock absorber (2) or anywhere in the suspension that the monitoring of such excitations is possible, one in each set of the vehicle's suspension (total of four). The performed measurements by the sensors are monitored by an internal electrical circuit of the device, informing by way of sound or visual (local), according to the number of cycles, indicating to the user the part that has to be inspected and/or replaced.

The measurement performed by this device is of an informative character, based in the number of the suspension's actuation cycles and not by the actual condition of the suspension's shock absorber, serving as a parameter to the user that allow the preventive maintenance of the automotive shock absorbers.

The automotive suspension system work with the intent of filtering the imperfections provided by irregular flooring, making the chassis and consequently the passengers feel less of these irregularities as possible. To perform such function the suspension works oscillating up and down in a way that it keeps up with such irregularities that the wheel faces, according to what Figure 1 shows. This task performed by the suspension is only possible due to the articulation permitted between parts that move in synch with the wheel. The work principle of the monitoring device of automotive shock absorber wear, here presented, consists in the installation of sensor element in the shock absorber that monitoring is required, since those are the ones that offer better installation conditions and offer a better movement course without interference in the functioning of the other components. As the shock absorber oscillates with the suspension as a whole, the sensor element detects these movements, which are called "cycles", and count them with an internal electronic circuit as pulses. As the pulses are counted, the total number of cycles is stored and monitored, where it will indicate through a luminous or sound signal the present situation of the shock absorber to the user.

Several types of sensors can be used in this device, some of the more adequate examples found on the market can be mentioned, non- restrictive to the functioning of the device as a whole, they are; the Piezoelectric sensors, sphere sensors, Condenser sensors, the Flexible spring sensors, magnetic sensors and still the Hall effect.

This monitoring device of automotive shock absorber wear, object of the present patent, in the way it was presented in it's configuration and functioning characteristics, measures the number of relevant cycles of the suspension's movement in an automotive vehicle, which represent the real work of the suspension, where the parameters make the estimate of life of an automotive vehicle possible, enabling a reliable and preventive maintenance. Compared to todays commercially used reference, which is based on the vehicle's mileage, this device is much more effective due to its principle the measuring of relevant work cycles of the suspension.

Thus, by the configuration and functioning characteristics, described above, it is clearly noticeable that the MONITORING DEVICE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOCK ABSORBER WEAR is an innovative and unique equipment for the Status of Technique that is surrounded by innovation conditions, inventive activity and unseen industrializations, which earns the Privilege of Invention Patent.

Claims

1 - MONITORING DEVICE OF SHOCK ABSORBER WEAR characterized by it is an electro-electronic device, placed strategically on the vehicle's suspension, especially in the shock absorber, it monitors the number of relevant cycles, that are the suspension's actuation in relation to the irregularities presented by the pavement in general, and that effectively could cause some damage to the suspension components; where this information is made available to the vehicle's driver keeping him informed of when de exchange of a component is recommended. 2 - MONITORING DEVICE OF SHOCK ABSORBER WEAR, according to claim 1 , characterized by being constituted in a measuring sensor of the suspension's work cycles and a display in the vehicle, where the sensor (1 ) can be mounted on the shock absorber (2) or anywhere in the suspension that the monitoring of these excitations is possible, one in each set of the vehicle's suspension (total of four); where the measurements taken by the sensor are monitored by an internal electronic circuit of the device, informing in the display in a visual (local) or sound, according to the number of cycles, indicating the user which part has to be inspected and/or replaced.

3 - MONITORING DEVICE OF SHOCK ABSORBER WEAR, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the sensors can be from several models non-restrictive to the functioning of the device such as: the Piezoelectric sensors, sphere sensors, Condenser sensors, Flexible spring sensors, magnetic sensors or still the Hall effect.