System and method for vehicle stabilization

• US 10,675,936 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2019
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atv8, LLC
• Original Assignee: Atv8, LLC
• Inventors: Coombs, Joshua, Williams, Timothy, Meyers, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US16/659,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20200047580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/017 characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0526 Distributor units, e.g. for retractable wheels vehicles with retractable wheels per se B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/412 Pneumatic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/80 Manufacturing procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/81012 by injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/91 Assembly procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/402 Extra load carrying wheels, e.g. tag axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51 in suspension unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/172 Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/01 Attitude or posture control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/20 Stationary vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/00 : Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/12 : of telescopic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/15 : Pneumatic energy storages, e.g. pressure air tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/877 : With flow control means for branched passages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 : Sectional block structure

Abstract

A vehicle stabilization system including a frame; a wheel; a control arm connected to the frame and the wheel; a fluid spring connected to the frame and the control arm; a stabilizer connected to the frame and operable between a retracted and extended position; a reservoir; and a fluid manifold connected to the fluid spring and the chamber, fluidly coupling the spring interior and stabilizer chamber to the reservoir interior. A vehicle stabilization method including maintaining an orientation of the vehicle frame, coupling the frame to a support surface using a stabilizer by introducing a fluid to a chamber of the stabilizer, and retracting a wheel by reducing a quantity of fluid within a fluid spring coupling the wheel to the frame.

Claims

1. A stabilization system for a vehicle, the stabilization system comprising:

a pneumatic control manifold defining a manifold interior;

a fluid reservoir defining a reservoir interior, the reservoir interior configured to contain pressurized fluid;

a support member configured to mount to the vehicle;

a hydraulic lock defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the hydraulic lock comprising;

a volume of substantially incompressible working fluid sealed within the hydraulic lock, the volume of working fluid contained within the first and second chambers; and

a check valve separating the first chamber from the second chamber; and

an actuator mechanically connected to the support member, the actuator comprising an extendible member, wherein the extendible member bounds the second chamber; and

a pneumatic spring defining a spring interior, wherein;

the pneumatic spring comprises a first spring end and a second spring end opposing the first spring end;

the first spring end is connected to the support member proximal the second support end; and

the second spring end is mechanically coupled to a first member end of the extendible member;

wherein the system is operable between;

an extension mode, in which;

the check valve is configured to enable fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber and to substantially prevent fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber;

the manifold interior fluidly couples the spring interior to the reservoir interior;

in response to the application of pneumatic pressure within the spring interior, the second spring end moves away from the first spring end and the first member end moves along an extension direction, thereby increasing a volume of the second chamber; and

in response to increasing the volume of the second chamber, the working fluid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber via the check valve;

a locked mode, in which the check valve fluidly isolates the first chamber from the second chamber, thereby substantially preventing retraction of the first member end; and

a retraction mode, in which;

the check valve is configured to enable bidirectional fluid flow between the first and second chambers;

the second spring end retracts toward the first spring end, and the first member end retracts along a retraction direction opposing the extension direction, thereby decreasing the volume of the second chamber; and

in response to decreasing the volume of the second chamber, the working fluid flows from the second chamber to the first chamber via the check valve.

2. The stabilization system of claim 1, wherein the second spring end is configured to supply pneumatic pressure to a support surface, wherein the extension direction is substantially normal to the support surface.

3. The stabilization system of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator further comprises a floating piston comprising a first piston face and a second piston face opposing the first piston face, the second piston face bounding the first chamber;

the floating piston fluidly isolates the first chamber from a volume opposing the first chamber across the floating piston; and

in the extension mode, the manifold interior fluidly couples the first piston face to the reservoir interior.

4. The stabilization system of claim 3, wherein:

the extendible member comprises an interior sidewall substantially rigidly coupled to the first member end, the interior sidewall bounding the first and second chambers;

the actuator further comprises an exterior sidewall encircling the interior sidewall;

the interior sidewall comprises a travelling seal that forms a fluid seal with the exterior sidewall;

the exterior sidewall comprises a fixed seal that forms a fluid seal the interior sidewall, the fixed seal arranged along the extension direction from the travelling seal;

the interior and exterior sidewalls cooperatively define a retraction chamber between the fixed seal and the travelling seal; and

in the retraction mode, the retraction chamber is fluidly coupled to a pneumatic pressure source, thereby forcing the interior sidewall and the first member end to retract along the retraction direction.

5. The stabilization system of claim 4, wherein:

the pneumatic pressure source is the reservoir interior;

in the extension mode, the retraction chamber is fluidly coupled to the reservoir interior;

in the retraction mode, the first piston face is fluidly isolated from the reservoir interior;

a projection of the first piston face onto a normal plane defines an extension force area, wherein the normal plane is normal to the extension direction;

a projection of the travelling seal onto the normal plane defines a retraction force area; and

the retraction force area is less than the extension force area.

6. The stabilization system of claim 4, wherein:

the pneumatic pressure source is the reservoir interior;

in the retraction mode, the manifold interior fluidly couples the retraction chamber to the reservoir interior; and

in the extension mode, the retraction chamber is fluidly isolated from the reservoir interior.

7. The stabilization system of claim 3, further comprising a tube connected to the check valve, wherein:

the tube rigidly couples the check valve to the support member;

the floating piston encircles the tube;

a tube interior of the tube is fluidly coupled to a check valve control region of the check valve; and

in the retraction mode, the manifold interior fluidly couples the check valve control region to the reservoir interior, thereby opening the check valve, enabling bidirectional fluid flow between the first and second chambers.

8. The stabilization system of claim 7, wherein, in the extension mode:

the extendible member moves a first distance along the extension direction; and

the floating piston moves a second distance, greater than the first distance, along the extension direction.

9. The stabilization system of claim 1, further comprising a tube connected to the check valve, wherein:

a tube interior of the tube is fluidly coupled to a check valve control region of the check valve; and

in the retraction mode, the manifold interior fluidly couples the check valve control region to the reservoir interior via the tube interior, thereby opening the check valve, enabling bidirectional fluid flow between the first and second chambers.

10. The stabilization system of claim 9, wherein, in the locked mode, the system is further operable between:

an interlocked state, in which a force component, exerted on the extendible member along the retraction direction, increases a working fluid pressure within the second chamber, thereby preventing the check valve from opening and preventing the system from operating in the retraction mode; and

an unlockable state, in which the check valve is operable to open in response to a pneumatic force arising from fluidly coupling the check valve control region to the reservoir interior.

11. The stabilization system of claim 10, wherein:

the force component arises from a support force exerted by a support surface; and

the system is further operable to transition from the interlocked state to the unlockable state in response to fluidly coupling the spring interior to the reservoir interior, wherein the support surface exerts a second support force on the pneumatic spring in response to fluidly coupling the spring interior to the reservoir interior, thereby reducing a magnitude of the force component.

12. A stabilization system for a vehicle, the stabilization system comprising:

a pneumatic control manifold defining a manifold interior;

a fluid reservoir defining a reservoir interior, the reservoir interior configured to contain pressurized fluid;

a support member configured to mechanically couple to the vehicle;

a hydraulic lock defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the hydraulic lock comprising;

a volume of substantially incompressible working fluid sealed within the hydraulic lock, the volume of working fluid contained within the first and second chambers; and

a check valve separating the first chamber from the second chamber; and

an actuator comprising;

an extendible member defining a hydraulic chamber, the extendible member comprising;

a first member end;

a sidewall statically connected to the first member end, the sidewall bounding the hydraulic chamber; and

a volume of substantially incompressible working fluid sealed within the hydraulic chamber;

a static piston mechanically connected to the support member, wherein;

the static piston is arranged within the sidewall;

the static piston separates the hydraulic chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

the static piston comprises a check valve arranged between the first and second chambers; and

a floating piston comprising a first piston face and a second piston face opposing the first piston face;

wherein;

the second piston face bounds the first chamber; and

the first member end bounds the second chamber;

wherein the system is operable between;

an extension mode, in which;

the check valve is configured to enable fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber and to substantially prevent fluid flow from the second chamber to the first chamber;

the manifold interior fluidly couples the first piston face to the reservoir interior; and

in response to the application of pneumatic pressure on the first piston face;

the floating piston moves into the first chamber along a piston path, thereby decreasing a volume of the first chamber;

the extendible member moves along an extension direction, thereby increasing a volume of the second chamber; and

the working fluid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber via the check valve;

a locked mode, in which the check valve fluidly isolates the first chamber from the second chamber, thereby substantially preventing retraction of the first member end; and

a retraction mode, in which;

the check valve is configured to enable bidirectional fluid flow between the first and second chambers;

the floating piston retracts along a reverse piston path opposing the piston path, thereby increasing the volume of the first chamber;

the extendible member retracts along a retraction direction opposing the extension direction, thereby decreasing the volume of the second chamber; and

the working fluid flows from the second chamber to the first chamber via the check valve.

13. The stabilization system of claim 12, further comprising a pneumatic spring defining a spring interior, wherein:

the pneumatic spring comprises a first spring end and a second spring end opposing the first spring end; and

the second spring end is mechanically coupled to the first member end of the extendible member;

wherein, in the extension mode;

the manifold interior fluidly couples the spring interior to the reservoir interior;

in response to the application of pneumatic pressure within the spring interior and on the first piston face, the second spring end contacts a support surface and a distance between the first and second spring ends increases; and

in response to the second spring end contacting the support surface and the distance between the first and second spring ends increasing, a vehicle height between the frame of the vehicle and the support surface increases.

14. The stabilization system of claim 12, further comprising a leg comprising a first leg end and a second leg end, the leg connected to the extendible member proximal the first leg end, wherein:

in the extension mode, the second leg end moves away from the frame of the vehicle;

in the retraction mode, the second leg end retracts toward the frame of the vehicle; and

in the locked mode, the hydraulic lock substantially prevents the second leg end from retracting toward the frame of the vehicle.

15. The stabilization system of claim 12, further comprising an electronic controller that controls the pneumatic control manifold.

16. The stabilization system of claim 15, further comprising an electromechanical retraction mechanism electrically coupled to the electronic controller, wherein, in the retraction mode, the electromechanical retraction mechanism retracts the extendible member.

17. The stabilization system of claim 12, wherein:

the actuator further comprises an exterior sidewall encircling the sidewall;

the sidewall comprises a travelling seal that forms a fluid seal with the exterior sidewall;

the exterior sidewall comprises a fixed seal that forms a fluid seal the sidewall, the fixed seal arranged along the extension direction from the travelling seal;

the sidewall and the exterior sidewall cooperatively define a retraction chamber between the fixed seal and the travelling seal; and

in the retraction mode, the retraction chamber is fluidly coupled to a pneumatic pressure source, thereby forcing the extendible member to retract along the retraction direction.

18. The stabilization system of claim 17, wherein the exterior sidewall and the support member are of unitary construction.

19. The stabilization system of claim 12, further comprising a tube connected to the check valve, wherein:

a tube interior of the tube is fluidly coupled to a check valve control region of the check valve; and

in the retraction mode, the manifold interior fluidly couples the check valve control region to the reservoir interior via the tube interior, thereby opening the check valve, enabling bidirectional fluid flow between the first and second chambers.

20. The stabilization system of claim 19, wherein, in the locked mode, the system is further operable between:

an interlocked state, in which a force component, exerted on the extendible member along the retraction direction, increases a working fluid pressure within the second chamber, thereby preventing the check valve from opening and preventing the system from operating in the retraction mode; and

an unlockable state, in which the check valve is operable to open in response to a pneumatic force arising from fluidly coupling the check valve control region to the reservoir interior.

21. The stabilization system of claim 20, further comprising an active suspension mechanically coupling a wheel of the vehicle to the frame of the vehicle, the active suspension operable to change a wheel distance between the wheel and the frame, wherein:

the force component arises from a support force exerted by a support surface; and

the system is further operable to transition from the interlocked state to the unlockable state by increasing the wheel distance, wherein the support surface exerts a second support force on the wheel in response to increasing the wheel distance, thereby reducing a magnitude of the force component.

22. The stabilization system of claim 21, wherein the active suspension comprises a pneumatic spring, wherein the active suspension increases the wheel distance by fluidly coupling a spring interior of the pneumatic spring to the reservoir interior via the manifold interior.

23. A stabilization system for a vehicle, the stabilization system comprising:

a pneumatic control manifold defining a manifold interior;

a fluid reservoir defining a reservoir interior, the reservoir interior configured to contain pressurized fluid;

a support member configured to mechanically couple to the vehicle;

a hydraulics module defining a first chamber and a second chamber, the hydraulic lock comprising;

a volume of substantially incompressible working fluid sealed within the hydraulic lock, the volume of working fluid contained within the first and second chambers; and

a static piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber, the static piston defining an orifice that fluidly couples the first and second chambers; and

an actuator mechanically connected to the support member, the actuator comprising;

an extendible member comprising a first member end and a sidewall statically connected to the first member end, the sidewall and the first member end bounding the second chamber; and

a piston comprising a first piston face and a second piston face opposing the first piston face, the second piston face point bounding the first chamber;

wherein the system is operable between;

an extension mode, in which;

the manifold interior fluidly couples the first piston face to the reservoir interior; and

in response to the application of pneumatic pressure on the first piston face;

the piston moves into the first chamber along a piston path, thereby decreasing a volume of the first chamber;

the extendible member moves along an extension direction, thereby increasing a volume of the second chamber; and

the working fluid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber via the orifice; and

a retraction mode, in which;

the piston retracts along a reverse piston path opposing the piston path, thereby increasing the volume of the first chamber;

the extendible member retracts along a retraction direction opposing the extension direction, thereby decreasing the volume of the second chamber; and

the working fluid flows from the second chamber to the first chamber via the orifice.