DAMPING ARRANGEMENT FOR AN AXLE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Damping arrangement of an active chassis for an axle of a vehicle. A damping system cooperates with each wheel. Each of the damping systems has a damper having a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and a piston, a reversible hydraulic pump and an electric motor, and a hydraulic unit having a hydraulic reservoir and valves. The hydraulic pump and the hydraulic unit of the respective damping system cooperate with the hydraulic cylinder thereof such that, dependent upon the conveying direction of the hydraulic pump, a movement of the piston in a first actuation direction or in a second actuation direction can be provided. The electric motors of both damping systems are connected to and drivable by a common control device. A position sensor is associated with each electric motor to acquire the rotor position of the respective electric motor. A pressure sensor is associated with each hydraulic pump to acquire a pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2023 108 631.6, filed Apr. 4, 2023, the content of such application being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a damping arrangement of an active chassis of a motor vehicle for an axle of the motor vehicle, and to a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DE 10 2017 117 658 B4 and DE 10 2019 115 492 B4, which are each incorporated by reference herein, each disclose a damping system for a wheel of a motor vehicle, having a damper, a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor, a hydraulic reservoir, and multiple valves. The damper is formed from a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and a piston movable in a reciprocating manner within said cylinder. The hydraulic pump is coupled to hydraulic chambers of the hydraulic piston via hydraulic lines, wherein a movement of the piston in a first actuation direction or in a second actuation direction can be provided depending on the conveying direction of the hydraulic pump.

A damping arrangement of an axle of an active chassis has two damping systems, wherein one damping system cooperates with each wheel of the axle. Each damping system typically has a separate control device via which the respective electric motor can be driven.

DE 10 2019 118 384 A1, which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses an apparatus for providing hydraulic energy in a chassis system, comprising a first hydraulic pump, a first electric motor for driving said first hydraulic pump, a second hydraulic pump, a second electric motor for driving said second hydraulic pump and a common electronics unit. This common electronics unit is configured to drive the first and second electric motors and thus to operate the two hydraulic pumps.

EP 2 968 709 B1 and DE 10 2020 114 509 B3, which are incorporated by reference herein, disclose further damping systems of active chassis of a motor vehicle.

Damping arrangements of active chassis are subjected to highly dynamic loads in operation. In order to ensure a high level of ride comfort, a damping arrangement of an active chassis must be very precisely controllable and/or regulable under highly dynamic loads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Described herein is a damping arrangement for an axle of an active chassis of a motor vehicle, which can be controlled and/or regulated highly precisely even under highly dynamic loads. It is further intended to provide a motor vehicle having such a damping arrangement.

In the damping arrangement according to aspects of the invention, the electric motors of both damping systems are connected to a common control device and can be driven by the common control device.

In the damping arrangement according to aspects of the invention, a position sensor is respectively associated with each electric motor to detect the rotor position of the respective electric motor, and is connected to the common control device.

In the damping arrangement according to aspects of the invention, at least one pressure sensor for acquiring a pressure is also associated with each hydraulic pump and is connected to the common control device.

According to aspects of the invention, a common control device cooperates with the electric motors of both damping systems of the damping arrangement of an active chassis. Both electric motors are connected to and drivable by the common control device.

At least one position sensor cooperates with each electric motor to acquire the rotor position of the respective electric motor. At least one pressure sensor cooperates with each hydraulic pump to acquire a respective pressure.

Dependent upon the measurement signal of the respective position sensor and the respective pressure sensor, the control device drives the electric motors of both damping systems.

A highly precise regulation and/or control of the damping systems of the damping arrangement under highly dynamic loads are possible.

Preferably, the position sensors provide their respective measuring signals to the common control device, which drives the respective electric motor dependent thereon. The control device is, in particular, configured to determine a direction of rotation and/or a speed of rotation and/or a gradient over time of the speed of rotation of the respective electric motor from the measuring signals of the position sensors. Dependent upon the direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation and/or the gradient over time of the speed of rotation of the electric motors, the electric motors and thus the hydraulic pumps can be driven highly dynamically and highly accurately by the control device. A high level of ride comfort can be ensured even under highly dynamic loading of the damping arrangement.

Preferably, two pressure sensors are associated with each hydraulic pump to acquire a respective pressure, namely a first pressure sensor for sensing a pressure downstream of the respective hydraulic pump when viewed in the conveying direction and/or and a second pressure sensor for acquiring a pressure upstream of the respective hydraulic pump when viewed in the conveying direction. This serves to further increase the accuracy of the regulation and/or control of the damping systems of the damping arrangement.

Preferably, the common control device comprises a developer interface with access to the electric motors and/or position sensors and/or pressure sensors. Via the developer interface, the damping arrangement can be easily customized to a specific type of vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1shows, highly schematically, a damping arrangement according to aspects of the invention for two wheels of an axle of an active chassis of a motor vehicle. The damping arrangement of the active chassis has a damping system10a,10bfor each wheel.

Each of the damping systems10a,10bcomprises a damper11which is couplable to a wheel suspension system (not shown) for the respective wheel (not shown). Each damper11is formed by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder12and a piston13, wherein the piston13is movable back and forth in the hydraulic cylinder12(up and down inFIG.1). The hydraulic cylinder12designed as a double-acting hydraulic cylinder of each of the damping systems10a,10bcomprises a hydraulic chamber14,15on each side of the piston13.

Dependent upon which of the two hydraulic chambers14,15is being supplied with hydraulic oil and from which of the two hydraulic chambers15,14hydraulic oil is being discharged, the piston13can be displaced in either a first actuation direction or in an opposing second actuation direction. The first actuation direction of the piston13involves an actuation in the pulling direction and the second actuation direction of the piston13is an actuation in the pushing direction.

Each damping system10a,10bfurther comprises a hydraulic pump16that is drivable by a respective electric motor17. The hydraulic pump16and the electric motor17form a pump-motor unit18. The hydraulic pump16is a reversible pump that can be driven by the respective electric motor17in different directions of rotation in order to provide different conveying directions.

Each damping system10a,10bofFIG.1further comprises a hydraulic unit19having a hydraulic reservoir20as well as valves21,22,23,24. The valves21,22are check valves, and the valves23,24are damping valves. The hydraulic reservoir20of each of the damping systems10a,10bengages in each case between the check valves21,22and between the damping valves23,24on hydraulic lines of the hydraulic unit19which are coupled to the hydraulic chambers14,15.

Dependent upon the conveying direction of the hydraulic pump16and preferably also dependent upon the position of the valves21,22,23,24of each damping system, in order to displace the piston13in the first movement direction, that is the pulling direction, oil is supplied to the hydraulic chamber14and oil is removed from the hydraulic chamber15, or, in order to provide a second movement direction of the piston13in the second movement direction, that is the pushing direction, oil is supplied to the hydraulic chamber15and oil is removed from the hydraulic chamber14.

The hydraulic pump16of the pump-motor unit18of the respective damping system10a,10bis connected to the hydraulic unit19, comprising the hydraulic reservoir20and the valves21,22,23,24, of the respective damping system10a,10bwhich unit is preferably installed as a unit on the damper12and/or on the hydraulic cylinder13, via hydraulic lines25,26.

A common control device27cooperates with the pump-motor units18of the two damping systems10a,10bof the damping arrangement of the axle of the active chassis. According toFIG.1, the electric motors17of the two pump motor units18are drivable by the common control device17. This will now be considered in more detail making reference toFIG.2.

According toFIG.2, the electric motor17of each of the damping systems10a,10bis connected to the control device27via a respective interface28,29of the control device27, wherein inFIG.2, the respective phase lines30are connected between the respective electric motor17and the respective interface28,29for driving and/or current supply and/or voltage supply to the respective electric motor17.

A position sensor31is associated with each electric motor17. The respective position sensor31is connected to the common control device27via a respective data interface32,33of the common control device27. The respective position sensor31serves to acquire the rotor position and/or armature position of the respective electric motor17and provides its measurement signal via the respective data interface32,33of the common control device27.

Furthermore, at least one pressure sensor34,35is associated with each hydraulic pump16and thus each damping system10a,10b. This serves to detect the pressure in the respective hydraulic line25,26.

According toFIG.2, a first pressure sensor34and a second pressure sensor35is associated with each hydraulic pump16, wherein the first pressure sensor34is disposed in the hydraulic line26and the second pressure sensor35is disposed in the hydraulic line25and/or measures the pressure in the respective hydraulic line. Dependent upon the direction of rotation of the respective electric motor17and thus the conveying direction of the respective hydraulic pump16, one of the pressure sensors measures the pressure downstream of the respective hydraulic pump16and the other pressure sensor measures the pressure upstream of the respective hydraulic pump16.

Each of the pressure sensors34,35is connected to the common control device27via a respective data interface36or37, wherein the respective pressure sensor34,35provides its respective measurement signal via the respective data interface36or37of the common control device27.

The control device27is configured to drive the electric motors17of the damping systems10a,10b, specifically to control and/or regulate them, dependent upon the measurement signals of the position sensors31and dependent upon the measurement signals of the pressure sensors34,35. The control device may comprise a computer having a processor, controller, memory, software, etc.

The control device37is, in particular, configured to determine a direction of rotation and/or speed of rotation and/or a gradient over time of the speed of rotation of the respective electric motor17dependent upon the measurement signals of the position sensors31and to drive the two electric motors17of the two damping systems10a,10b, dependent thereon.

Based on these signals, the common control device27can provide an optimal damping behavior even under highly dynamic loads, specifically via a highly accurate and high-frequency regulation of the electric motors17and thus ultimately the hydraulic pumps16of the damping systems10a,10b.

In the preferred embodiment example shown, the common control device27further has a developer interface38via which an external computer39and/or a development computer can be connected to the common control device27. The developer interface38enables access to the electric motors17and/or position sensors31and/or pressure sensors34,35of the damping systems10a,10b. In this way, it is possible for the developer to adapt the damping arrangement to a specific configuration of a vehicle.

The damping arrangement described with reference toFIGS.1,2is associated with an axle of an active chassis of a motor vehicle. If the motor vehicle has multiple axles, such a damping arrangement is preferably associated with each axle.