Method and system for floating a vehicle

Details Method and system for floating a vehicle Method and system for floating a vehicle

1999-10-15

2001-02-13

Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)

Motor vehicles

Surface effect vehicles

C180S089100, C280S005500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186257

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to methods and systems for free-floating upper vehicle parts from lower vehicle frames.
The suspension of a vehicle allows it to drive smoothly over a bumpy road. The wheels may jolt up and down, but springs between the wheel axles and the body of the car flex and take up the force of the jolts. This ensures that the force of the bumping is not transferred to the vehicle cab. Springs alone produce a bouncing motion, so the suspension also contains dampers, commonly known as shock absorbers. These slow the movement of the springs to prevent the vehicle and its occupants bouncing up and down.
Current suspension systems require a rigid mechanical link between the vehicle body and the vehicle frame, as shown very schematically in FIG.
1
. Typically, each pair of wheels
10
are coupled together via an axle
12
to form the lower part of the vehicle frame. Of course, vehicles have several axle/wheel sets. The upper vehicle part
14
is then suspended above the wheels
10
and axle
12
via suspension elements
16
. The upper vehicle part
14
is typically further mechanically linked to at least one axle
12
via the steering wheel linkage
18
, which controls steering of the wheels
10
in response to rotation of steering wheel
20
. However, with many of the vehicle systems being converted to electronic controls, such as electronic steering, there is no longer a need for rigid links.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and system for free-floating the vehicle frame from the wheels is disclosed.
A primary floating device is coupled to one of an upper vehicle part and a lower vehicle frame of a vehicle for floating the upper vehicle part freely separate from the lower vehicle frame. A plurality of sensors sense appropriate road inputs. An electronic control unit is coupled to the primary floating device and the sensors for generating control signals based on the sensed road inputs for controlling the primary floating device to minimize movement of the upper vehicle part with respect to the lower vehicle frame. The electronic control unit controls the primary floating device to control a height between the upper vehicle part and the lower vehicle frame.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the primary floating device comprises an air-cushion generating device that provides a cushion of air between the upper vehicle part and the lower vehicle frame. The electronic control unit, in response to the sensed road inputs, controls a height of the air cushion.
In an alternative embodiment, the primary floating device comprises an electromagnetic device that generates an electromagnetic field between the upper vehicle part and the lower vehicle frame. Here, the electronic control unit controls a strength of the electromagnetic field accordingly.
In yet another embodiment, a plurality of the primary floating devices are concentrated at various locations between the upper vehicle part and the lower vehicle frame to provide fast response to the control signals in controlling dynamic forces associated with the vehicle.
These and other features of the present invention can be understood from the following specification and drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3261418 (1966-07-01), Bertin
patent: 3950038 (1976-04-01), Wood
patent: 4440253 (1984-04-01), Pernum
patent: 4567957 (1986-02-01), Johnson
patent: 4673050 (1987-06-01), Zschocke

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