Chassis damping systems

(Road imperfections | Irregular roads | Road irregularities | Bumpy roads), different car loads, acceleration forces in (bends | turns), when swerving and braking, these are situations driver and (car | vehicle) can't avoid and which (influence | have a strong influence on) the driving (behaviour | situation) and therefore driving safety.

The way the vehicle reacts is (decisively | heavily | significantly) dependant on the design of the chassis. And the fact that under extreme conditions a vehicle with conventional chassis design (just | merely) (behaves more or less (properly | appropriately) | ... the reaction of ... is more or less (clear | appropriate) | shows a more or less appropriate reaction), (makes one thing (obvious | clear) | tells us one thing | (highlights | emphasi(s|z)es) one thing):

(By using|Exclusively with) mere mechanical soltutions, high riding comfort simultaneously (incorporating|combined with) high riding stability can only be reali(s|z)ed (with restrictions|with concessions|to a limited extent).

By the use of electronics, these two actually contradictory (requirements | demands | claims) can be met almost without compromising. Integrated in a system of sensors and hydraulically (controlled | driven | actuated) electronics (permits | allows | makes ... possible) an active, intelligent chassis design.

In co-operation with Arvin Group Siemens has developed two cushion systems - for maximum comfort, safety and (manageability | handling) of the vehicle.

Adaptive system for chassis damping

Using the system the driver has the choice between an automatically controlled or a harder more sportive damping. Electronics (thus | in that process) controls the degree of damping in four steps (using | via) motor (actuators | operators) in the (shock absorbers | hurters).

In automatic mode various sensors (continuously | continually) measure the driving (condition | state) of road and vehicle. (In function of | Depending on) that the (control (unit | device) | control module | controller) (gradually | stepwise | step-by step) (adjusts | changes | puts) the - under normal conditions more comfortable, (softer | gentler) setting from soft to medium (and/or | or) hard [, respectively]. (During | In) that process the shock absorber pairs of the front- and rear axle are [being] (controlled | adjusted) separately. This (brief | short-time) (switching | switching-over | change) of the (damping | cushioning) to" hard", e.g. when steering or applying the brakes, increases [the] driving stability and (enhances | improves) (in doing so | by that) the (controllability | masterability | manageability) and the safety of the vehicle. Additionally, vibrations of the chassis are [being] (decreased | diminished).

If the driver (selects | switches to | chooses) the more (sporting | sporty) setting of the (damping | cushioning) system, (the system will automatically switch | it automatically changes) to the (hardest | toughest) of the four stages and (thus providing | thereby to) maximal driving stability.

Adaptive chassis damping and (level[l]ing | level | ride-height) control

This system (adjacent (graphic | diagram | figure) | graphic beside | see accompanying graphic) combines the advantages of the adaptive damping (and | with) a 3 step (level[l]ing | level | ride-height) control.

(Level[l]ing | Level | Ride-height) control

The (level[l]ing | height setting) of the vehicle is (adjusted via | performed by | done by) the control electronics and an air hydraulics system. (Depending on ... | ...) The driver has, depending on the desired (handling characteristics | driveability), the choice between three [height] levels:

• The mean position is (designed | planned | set for | rated for | adjusted | conceived | laid out | created) for normal road conditions. (Different | Differing) loading and strain conditions are (balanced | adjusted | compensated for | ruled out) (optimally | perfectly | in the best possible way).

• The aero position shortens the (suspension | springing) distance and (thus | in doing so) (reduces | lowers off) the vehicle's superstructure. (This results in a (fuel | gas) saving of up to 5 % | Thereby a (fuel | gas) saving of up to 5 % can be (attained | reached | achieved)).

• In the off-road-position the (height level | ride-height) is (raised | increased) above "normal" and (results in | yields) improved driving conditions on (rough | bad) (roads | road sections) and in (cross country drives | (trips | journeys) off-road).

Adaptive chassis damping

The automatic damping system (functions | operates at) all three steps of (level | ride-height) control. Under normal driving conditions it (takes care for | ensures | results in | provides for | accounts for) soft, comfortable damping forces. If sensors and electronics detect that the driving condition (demands | requires) more stability, the shock absorbers (will be | are) switched (at short-time notice | briefly) within 10 milliseconds to "hard". Depending on driving conditions the controlling of the 4 shock absorbers (are currently controlled (together | simultaneously) | is done at present conjointly) - future solutions will (provide for | be (constructed | built | designed) to have) a separate control.

Adaptive chassis damping and ride-height control, total system

1 height level

2 throttle [valve] position

3 selector switch

4 brake switch

5 steering angle sensor

6 driving speed

7 electric airpump

8 air valves