Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1991-04-22
1993-07-27
Valenza, Joseph E.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280 611, 2801122, 280772, 280DIG1, B60G 1126
Patent
active
052305295
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to motor vehicles.
In particular the invention relates to an active roll control arrangement for a motor vehicle already equipped with wheel suspension systems. For example, such wheel suspension systems can comprise springs and dampers.
The handling and ride characteristics of road vehicles are essentially a compromise because the wheel suspension systems cannot manage to the fullest extent all the different types of motion of the motor vehicle.
Usually wheel suspension systems incorporating springs and dampers provide adequate handling and ride qualities while the vehicle is travelling in a straight line. When the motor vehicle turns a corner there is a tendency for the motor vehicle to roll about its longitudinal axis under the application of lateral forces incurred by the cornering motion.
The conventional spring and damper wheel suspension system will be designed to try and minimise the degree of roll, and sometimes further arrangements such as anti roll bars are fitted to further minimise the degree of roll. However, a degree of roll is usually encountered causing uncomfortable movement to drivers and passengers and unwelcome motion of loose objects in the motor vehicle. It is therefore desirable that the motor vehicle remains level in a lateral sense while the vehicle is cornering.
Accordingly, the present invention is concerned with providing a roll control arrangement for a vehicle which is already equipped with a known form of wheel suspension device or devices and which is active only during vehicle cornering to correct the vehicle roll and to maintain the vehicle substantially level in the lateral sense during vehicle cornering.
An active roll control system for attachment to a vehicle, the vehicle having existing wheel suspension means to support the vehicle dead weight and damping means to attenuate dynamic loads applied to the vehicle, the active roll control system comprising between at least one pair of front or rear pairs of vehicle wheels, at least one actuating means being secured to effect displacement between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle, and means responsive to loads applied to the actuating means to generate a signal. The actuating means operates as a function of the signal so that loads are applied to the vehicle suspension means independently of the wheel existing damping means to oppose any dynamic loads tending to roll the vehicle. The actuating means comprises a double acting hydraulic actuator, the actuator being connected to the suspension means of at least one pair of vehicle wheels by an actuating linkage. The actuating linkage is arranged to move the suspension means of one vehicle wheel of the pair of vehicle wheels in one direction and the suspension means of the other vehicle wheel of the pair in the opposite direction to maintain the vehicle in a substantially level position about its longitudinal axis.
An actuating means can be provided for one or both pairs of vehicle wheels, and the actuating means can comprise a double acting hydraulic actuator.
The attachment of the hydraulic actuator can include a linkage arranged so that upon operation of the hydraulic actuator, the vehicle is maintained substantially level about its longitudinal axis.
The attachment of the hydraulic actuator can be between the vehicle and the wheel suspension means of the motor vehicle or between the wheel suspension means of the motor vehicle, for example the two independently suspended front wheels of a motor vehicle.
The means responsive to the loading of the actuating means can generate an electric signal and can include signal processing means for the signal.
The signal processing means can comprise a computer arranged to receive electric input signals from a source independent of the loading of the actuating means.
The signals from the independent source can comprise signals from a lateral accelerometer and the signals from the means responsive to the loading of the actuating means can originate from a load cell.
The supply of hydraulic fluid to the h
REFERENCES:
patent: 5015009 (1991-05-01), Ohyama et al.
Harvey-Bailey Engineering Ltd.
Valenza Joseph E.
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