Patent ID: 6471196
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B60G,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for controlling the level of a vehicle body of a motor vehicle with a level control system having a plurality of actuator elements with which the level of the vehicle body can be lowered by discharging an actuating means from said actuator elements, the level control system including a control unit and the method comprising the steps of:determining a first level of said vehicle body relative to a reference point directly before a discharge operation; providing force sensors introduced into the tires of the motor vehicle for determining wheel contact forces; when said force sensors determine that a low or no wheel contact force is present in advance of initiating said discharge operation, then disabling the initiation of said discharge operation; initiating a discharge operation of said vehicle body when said first level lies above a pregiven level; after initiating a discharge operation, checking in said control unit as to whether said vehicle body has lowered from said first level in accordance with an input; interrupting said discharge operation when said vehicle body has not lowered from said first level in accordance with said input; in advance of initiating said discharge operation, carrying out a plausibility consideration as to whether the initiation of said discharge operation can lead to a lowering of said vehicle body; and, initiating the discharge operation only when said plausibility consideration is satisfied.