Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1996-11-12
1998-11-24
Dickson, Paul N.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
28012413, 280124167, B60G 1118, B60G 21045, B60G 2105
Patent
active
058397418
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in the suspension system for vehicles, and specifically relates to systems in which the suspension elements of the respective wheels are mutually interactive, so as to provide substantially consistent wheel loading on the wheels not directly influenced by wheel travel, and providing improved overall ride and handling characteristics for motor vehicles.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent times there has been a trend towards resilient sprung suspension systems, incorporating variable damping rates and adjustable spring rates, in an attempt to improve vehicle stability and reduce movement of the vehicle body relative to the surface being traversed.
Some other more advanced suspension systems, commonly referred to as active or semi active suspension systems, incorporate a number of sensors which monitor information such as, vertical wheel travel and body roll, as well as speed, acceleration, steering and braking commands. This and other data is processed by an on-board computer (ECU) which instructs hydraulic or pneumatic actuators to extend or contract at high speed to raise or lower the wheels to follow the uneven terrain, while the vehicle body follows a more level path, without bouncing, rolling and pitching.
These active suspension systems require an intelligent back-up system and call for a substantial input of external energy, drawn continually from the vehicle's engine, to operate the actuators that effect the adjustments to the suspension system.
The active suspension systems described are not only expensive to manufacture and maintain in operation but are subject to electronic and hydraulic failures, such as leaking hydraulic seals, due to the extreme complexity of these suspension systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a vehicle suspension system which enables the vehicle to exhibit many of the benefits of the active suspension systems but which is of simple construction and can be utilised for long periods without the associated expenses and complexities of an active suspension system, that require frequent adjustments and servicing.
With this object in view there is provided a vehicle suspension system comprising two laterally spaced forward wheel assemblies and two laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies together supporting a vehicle body, each wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel mounting connecting the wheel to the vehicle body for movement relative to the body in the generally vertical direction, respective first mechanical coupling means interconnecting each wheel assembly to the laterally adjacent wheel assembly, respective second mechanical coupling means interconnecting each wheel assembly to the longitudinally adjacent wheel assembly, each said first and second mechanical coupling means being adapted to urge in response to movement of one wheel assembly in a substantially vertical direction a movement of the other wheel assembly connected to said same mechanical coupling means in the opposite direction, whereby said first and second mechanical coupling means together control pitch and roll of the vehicle body and to maintain substantially consistent loading on all wheels and thereby maintain traction on all wheels.
The respective first and second mechanical coupling means provide a mechanism whereby, when relative movement occurs in the vertical direction between one wheel and the vehicle body, an opposite movement is urged between the longitudinally adjacent and laterally adjacent wheels respectively. If the mechanical coupling means possesses resilience, the degree of movement will be different, the difference being related to the degree of resilience in the mechanical coupling means and the loading on the relevant wheels.
In a construction where all of the mechanical coupling means are rigid, the suspension system will provide substantially complete avoidance of both roll and pitch control of the vehicle body as the vehicl
REFERENCES:
patent: 2099819 (1937-11-01), Mercier
patent: 2941815 (1960-06-01), Muller
patent: 3147990 (1964-09-01), Wettstein
patent: 3298709 (1967-01-01), Mercier
patent: 3338327 (1967-08-01), Bishop
patent: 4014561 (1977-03-01), Tomiya et al.
Dickson Paul N.
Kinetic Limited
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