The Concept of a System for Predicting Emergency States of a Hydropneumatic Suspension Units by Using Pressure Measurement in the Oil Chamber

The paper discusses issues related to hydropneumatic suspension units (HSU), which are the basic element of suspension in tracked vehicles. The first chapter presents the basic functions of the suspension in this type of vehicles and its advantages and disadvantages. It was presented why the progressive characteristics of the hydropneumatic suspension unit are important. The second chapter presents current design solutions in the construction of a hydropneumatic suspension unit and discusses the construction of suspension in tracked vehicles. The importance of the hydraulic damper was presented on the example of the pressure drop characteristics depending on the flow. A detailed analysis of the operation of the hydropneumatic suspension unit was also carried out, considering the work of individual HSUs on a tracked vehicle. In the third chapter, it was pointed out that the current design of the HSU basically does not allow for the identification of its efficiency. The need to develop a system for predicting emergency states was confirmed. The article discusses important assumptions that should be met by the system for predicting emergency states of control arms. In the following part, the concept of the system for detecting emergency states by measuring the oil pressure in the hydro-pneumatic HSU is presented. It has been proven that the registered pressure drop in the oil chamber in the static position of the hydropneumatic suspension unit may be a parameter indicating a failure of this element. Finally, a possible way of installing a pressure transducer was presented, and an algorithm was developed that could be the basis for the operation of the system for predicting emergency states.