JPS6359914B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle height adjustment device for a motorcycle.

In recent years, attempts have been made to install various fluid devices on motorcycles in order to improve their performance. For example, in order to improve the buffering function of a shock absorber, there is an air suspension in which the amount of expansion is changed by adjusting the supply and discharge of pressurized air using a pressurized air supply source such as a compressor. In motorcycles equipped with such air suspension,
A vehicle height detector is provided to detect a preset appropriate height, and when the vehicle height differs from the set height, the controller is activated by the detection signal to supply pressurized air to the air suspension. death,
It is possible to correct the amount of extension of the air suspension to an appropriate setting height and provide a comfortable ride without the feeling of bottoming out.

When performing such an adjustment, the adjusted vehicle height is different when the adjustment operation is performed when the vehicle is stopped and when the adjustment operation is performed while the vehicle is running. Therefore, in order to adjust the vehicle height to be appropriate while driving, it is necessary to perform the adjustment while the vehicle is under the same conditions as the driving conditions. However, in general, vehicle height adjustment operations are sometimes performed without such recognition, so with conventional devices, people often perform adjustment operations when the vehicle is stopped and even when the vehicle is empty. Therefore, it was not possible to set the vehicle to an appropriate height while the vehicle was in motion, resulting in poor ride comfort.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to always adjust the vehicle height to suit the driving conditions, and to make it possible to adjust the vehicle height to suit the driving conditions. A motorcycle that allows the driver to accurately recognize whether or not the vehicle height is adjusted, and also allows the driver to select whether or not to adjust the vehicle height based on the driver's preference depending on the driving conditions at the time. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-adjustment device.

The present invention achieves the above object by controlling the amount of pressurized fluid supplied and discharged from the shock absorber by a controller based on the detection signal of the vehicle height detector, and adjusting the amount of extension of the shock absorber to a predetermined set height. The vehicle height adjustment device is provided with an interlock circuit that locks the operation of the controller, and also includes a display that notifies that the vehicle height has deviated from the set height, and an adjustment operation switch that is turned on and off by driver operation. and the interlock circuit operates when at least the ignition switch is on, the vehicle height detector detects that the vehicle speed when the vehicle is running is less than a predetermined set speed, and the adjustment operation switch is turned on. , the controller is characterized in that it is configured to release the operation lock of the controller.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle equipped with an air suspension as a shock absorber. A main frame 2 and a down tube 3 extend diagonally rearward from the top and bottom positions of the head pipe 1, and an engine 4 is mounted below the down tube 3. Furthermore, an air suspension 6 is provided between the rear end of the main frame 2 and the upper end of the rear arm 5, as shown in detail in FIG. 8 is a buffer provided at the tip of the front fork 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-mentioned air suspension 6 has as its main parts a cylinder 20, a piston 21 fitted into the cylinder 20 so as to be movable up and down, and a rod 22 connected to the piston 21. . The cylinder 20 is filled with oil, and as the piston 21 moves up and down, the oil moves up and down the piston 21.
It flows to pass through holes provided inside, and the flow resistance generated at this time generates a buffering force. Further, a free piston 23 is fitted below the cylinder 20, and an inert gas is filled in a space within the lower cylinder 20 that is partitioned by the free piston 23.

On the other hand, a cylindrical case 24 connected to a rod 22 is fitted into the upper part of the cylinder 20 so as to be movable up and down. The inner wall of this case 24 and the cylinder 2
A rubber bellows 25 is provided between the housing and the outer wall of the housing, and an air chamber 26 is formed inside the bellows 25.
This air chamber 26 includes a compressor 12, which will be described later.
Pressurized air is forced in and acts as an air action. Further, a spring 28 is inserted between the lower end of the case 24 and a spring receiver 27 provided at the lower part of the cylinder 20. Therefore, by changing the amount of pressurized air supplied to the air chamber 26, the air suspension 6 moves the case 24 up and down to expand and contract the entire case, and this operation reduces the buffering force of the air suspension by the air chamber 26 and the spring. 28 buffering forces can be adjusted simultaneously.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the vehicle height adjusting device of the present invention based on the air suspension 6 described above, and FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the control logic of the interlock circuit of the same device.

In FIG. 3, 16 is a vehicle height detector, which detects the vehicle height of the motorcycle. Since the vehicle height is proportional to the amount of expansion and contraction of the air suspension 6, the vehicle height H detected by the vehicle height detector 16 is proportional to the amount of expansion and contraction of the air suspension 6. This vehicle height detector 16 inputs its detection signal to the controller 17. On the other hand, the compressor 12 driven by the motor 10 is
Air is sucked in from the atmosphere through an air filter 13, pressurized, and supplied to the air suspension 6 through a check valve 14. Further, a solenoid valve 18 is provided in a branching manner in the path between the check valve 14 and the air suspension 6, and pressurized air can be released through the solenoid valve 18. Control signals issued from the controller 17 described above are input to the motor 10 that drives the compressor 12 and the solenoid valve 18, respectively.

The above-mentioned controller 17 is provided with an adjustment operation switch 15. And this controller 17
When the adjustment operation switch 15 is turned on, the interlock circuit 40 (details of which will be described later) is activated.
It is configured to operate only when it is made ready for operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the control logic of the interlock circuit for the controller 17 described above.

In FIG. 4, 41 is an ignition switch, and 42 is a vehicle height detector. When the ignition switch 41 is in the ON signal and the detection signal of the vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle height detector 42 is below a predetermined vehicle speed V ₀ set for safety (V≦V ₀ ), that is, when both The control circuit 45 is powered on only when the signal is in the AND condition.
When the control circuit 45 is powered on, the vehicle height detector 16 issues a detection signal. When the vehicle height is the same as the set height, the indicator lamp 43 will not light up due to the detection signal at that time, but on the other hand, if the detection signal is that the vehicle height is different from the standard set height, the indicator lamp 43 will not light up. Perform display.

Therefore, when the latter display indicates that the vehicle height is inappropriate, when the driver turns on the above-mentioned adjustment operation switch 15 after seeing the display on the display lamp 43, this on signal and the vehicle height inappropriate signal are activated. becomes an AND condition, and the controller 17 issues a control signal to start vehicle height adjustment as described below. The ON signal of the adjustment operation switch 15 at this time is held for a certain period of time (about 1 minute) by the hold circuit 44, and is activated after the delay time has elapsed.

That is, when starting the adjustment as described above, if the vehicle height detected by the vehicle height detector 16 is lower than the set reference height, the control signal issued from the controller 17 starts the motor 10 and starts the compressor 12.
While the solenoid valve 18 is driven, the solenoid valve 18 remains closed as shown in FIG. Therefore, the air pressurized by the compressor 12 is supplied to the air suspension 6, and the amount of expansion is increased. When the amount of expansion reaches the reference length, the difference from the reference length becomes zero, and the control circuit 45 is turned off.

Conversely, when the vehicle height is higher than the reference height, the control signal from the controller 17 is sent to the solenoid valve 18.
The valve is opened, and the motor 10 remains stopped. Therefore, the pressurized air in the air suspension 6 is released via the solenoid valve 18, and when the amount of extension of the air suspension reaches the reference length, the control circuit 45 is turned off, so the solenoid valve 18 returns to its original state. The valve returns to the closed state, and the air suspension 6 is maintained at the set standard extension amount.

According to the vehicle height adjustment device described above, the controller 17 is activated by an adjustment start signal from the interlock circuit 40, but the interlock circuit 40 operates only when the ignition switch 41 is turned on and the vehicle is running. Furthermore, the adjustment switch 15 is turned on only when the vehicle speed is below a safe predetermined vehicle speed V ₀ and when the adjustment operation switch 15 is turned on by the driver. That is, the controller 17 is connected to the interlock circuit 40.
The system is designed so that control can only be activated when the switch is turned on. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to adjust the height of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped, the controller 17 cannot operate, and the adjustment can only be made while the vehicle is in a running state. Therefore, with the above-mentioned device, it is possible to adjust the vehicle height in a manner that always matches the driving conditions of the vehicle and in a safe driving state, and the adjustment result is adjusted to the appropriate vehicle height when driving. You will be able to do so.

Furthermore, in the above vehicle height adjustment device, when the vehicle height is not appropriate, the display lamp 43 lights up to notify the driver, so that the driver can accurately determine whether or not the vehicle height is appropriate. can be recognized. Further, the interlock circuit 40 releases the operation lock state for the controller 17 only when the ignition switch 41 is turned on, the vehicle speed detector 42 detects a predetermined speed, and the adjustment operation switch 15 is turned on by the driver's operation. As shown above, the display lamp 43
Even if the vehicle height is displayed as inappropriate, whether or not to adjust the vehicle height depends on the driving conditions at that time.
It is possible to have a variety of options that can be freely selected according to the driver's preference.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the on signal of the ignition switch 41 and the vehicle speed detector 4 are used as the signal for turning on the control circuit 45 in the interlock circuit 40 that enables the controller 17 to be controlled.
2 vehicle speed signals are used, but a 4th vehicle speed signal is also used.
As shown by the chain line in the figure, the storage signal of the main stand 46 that supports the vehicle may be added. That is, when the ON signal of the ignition switch 41, the vehicle speed signal of the vehicle speed detector 42, and the storage signal of the main stand 46 meet the AND condition, the control circuit 45 is turned on for the first time, and the controller 1 is turned on.
7 may be in a controllable state.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, a case has been described in which pressurized air is used as the pressurized fluid of the shock absorber, but the present invention is also applicable to shock absorbers that use other gases or liquids.

As described above, the present invention provides an automatic system in which the controller controls the amount of pressurized fluid supplied to and discharged from the shock absorber based on the detection signal of the vehicle height detector, and adjusts the amount of extension of the shock absorber to a predetermined height. In a vehicle height adjustment device for a two-wheeled vehicle, an interlock circuit is provided to lock the operation of the controller, and
A display to notify that the vehicle height has deviated from the set height and an adjustment switch that is turned on and off by the driver's operation are provided, respectively, and the interlock circuit is configured to operate at least when the ignition switch is on and when the vehicle height is set. The detector detects that the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined set speed when the vehicle is running, and when the adjustment operation switch is turned on, the controller is unlocked, so that when the vehicle is stopped, Vehicle height adjustment device does not work
Since the adjustment operation can only be performed under predetermined driving conditions, it is possible to always adjust the vehicle height to suit the driving conditions.

Furthermore, if the vehicle height is not appropriate, the display is designed to notify the driver of this, allowing the driver to accurately determine whether the vehicle height is appropriate. In addition, even if this display indicates that the vehicle height is inappropriate, whether or not to adjust the vehicle height is determined by
It is possible to have a variety of options, such as being able to select according to the driver's preference depending on the driving situation at that time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle equipped with the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the air suspension in the motorcycle, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle height adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating the control logic of the interlock circuit of the adjustment device. 6...Air suspension, 10...Motor,
12... Compressor, 15... Adjustment operation switch, 16... Vehicle height detector, 17... Controller, 40... Interlock circuit, 41... Ignition switch, 42... Vehicle speed detector, 43
...Indication lamp (indicator), 45...Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle height adjustment device in which a controller controls the amount of pressurized fluid supplied to and discharged from a shock absorber based on a detection signal from a vehicle height detector, and adjusts the amount of extension of the shock absorber to a predetermined set height. An interlock circuit is provided to lock the operation of the vehicle, and an indicator to notify that the vehicle height has deviated from the set height, and an adjustment switch that is turned on and off by the driver's operation. When at least the ignition switch is turned on, the vehicle height detector detects that the vehicle speed when the vehicle is running is less than a predetermined set speed, and the adjustment operation switch is turned on, the operation lock of the controller is released. A vehicle height adjustment device for a motorcycle configured to