Search Results

Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and light duty trucks have gained in popularity for the last several years and the demand for more car-like behavior has increased, accordingly. Two areas for potential improvement are vehicle stability and maneuverability while parking. 4WS (4 wheel steering system) is known as an effective solution to stability and low speed maneuverability. In this paper, we identify a new systematic design method of two degree of freedom vehicle state feedback control algorithm that can improve vehicle stability, and show its control effects for a SUV with trailer towing. Low speed maneuvering is improved when the rear tires are steered in negative phase relative to the front tires. However with a large rear steer angle at low speed, the vehicle's rear overhang tracks a wider swing-out path than a 2WS vehicle. For this concern, we propose a new swing-out reduction control algorithm.

A new variable displacement pump has been developed. This pump can variably change its discharged flow rate in accordance with the revolution changes of an automotive engine from idling engine speed to 6000rpm. It can quickly discharge oil necessary for controlling the autmotive active suspension system. This pump is of a swash plate, axial piston type which controls optimal fluid flow in time by using a pressure sensing control valve. Further, in order to improve the quietness in the vehicle system, the pulsation of the pump pressure was reduced and this pump's utility was realized for automobile use. This is a report on how the pump was introduced for commercial automobile use.

An active suspension system controls a spring constant and an attenuater in real time using a power supply. Generally, the hydraulic pressures are used for transmitting the power. Therefore, a highly reliable and inexpensive control system has been required for a commercial use. This has been achieved by developing a mechanical fluid servo valve which comprises a simple combination of a solenoid valve and a spool valve. The technical problem of the valve vibrations has been solved through the numerical analyses, the fluid flow visualization tests and the vehicle tests.

This paper reports the results of a study into a preview control that uses the displacement of the road surface in front of the vehicle to improve for front and rear actuator responsiveness delays, as well as delays due to calculation, communication, and the like. This study also examined the effect of a preview control using the eActive3 electric active suspension system, which is capable of controlling the roll, pitch, and warp modes of vehicle motion.

AISIN SEIKI CO., Ltd. Started the production of electronically controlled hydraulic automatic transmissions for medium-duty trucks and buses in 1989. The number of vehicles on the Japanese market in which this system is adopted is increasing steadily. After re-examining market needs, AISIN SEIKI CO., Ltd. has newly developed an electronically controlled hydraulic automatic transmission A580 which focuses on improved input capacity, driving performance and fuel economy for medium-duty trucks and buses and lessens learnt from experience.

Drive train components (transmission, differential gears, etc.) can be made smaller and lighter if the excessive torque exerted on them can be reduced during the quick start of a vehicle. An orifice put in the hydraulic clutch piping path is an effective method. However, increased oil viscosity at low temperatures (0°C or below) makes the “pedal feel” worse. In order to increase the orifice diameter for better “pedal feel”, a shape memory alloy spring, for operation at low temperatures, was developed by adding cobalt to the nickel-titanium alloy. Consequently, a Variable-Orifice valve, using the shape memory alloy spring, is practical.

This paper reports that estimation accuracy of suspension stroke velocity is increased by considering the damping force delay characteristics to an observer. Thereby ride comfort is improved, using the simple and low-cost semi active suspension systems that use only three vertical acceleration sensors.