Method and system for extending the mobility of a vehicle

• US 20050248107A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Schoenhenz, Jean-Claude, Begou, Pierre-Alain, Roos, Gijsbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/43.230
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/113 Tyre related sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8102 diagonally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/32 of only one vehicle part or side
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/182 Traction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/214 by varying the load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a system for extending the mobility of a vehicle, which consists in substantially reducing the load borne by a wheel of the vehicle when the pressure in the tyre of the said wheel is abnormally low.

Claims

1. Method for extending the mobility of a vehicle, which consists in substantially reducing the load borne by a wheel of the vehicle when the pressure in the tyre of the said wheel is abnormally low.

2. Method according to claim 1, which consists in inducing a disequilibrium of the load diagonals, in order to reduce substantially the load borne by the said wheel.

3. Method according to claim 2, which consists in acting upon the ground contact elements of the undamaged diagonal so as to increase the load borne by that diagonal.

4. Method according to claim 2, which consists in reducing the mean static load on the damaged wheel by at least 10% and preferably by at least 30%.

5. Method according to claim 2, which essentially consists in reducing the load peaks on the damaged wheel.

6. Method according to claim 2, which consists in acting upon the load distribution by means of an anti-roll device.

7. Method according to claim 6, which consists in acting upon the load distribution by means of the anti-roll device associated with the undamaged axle.

8. Method according to either of claims 6 or 7 above, which consists in acting upon the load distribution by means of an active anti-roll device.

9. Method according to claim 2, which consists in acting upon the load distribution by means of a level corrector comprising at least two actuators, preferably pneumatic, each acting on one side of the vehicle.

16. System for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising means for detecting an insufficient pressure in a tyre and means for substantially reducing the load borne by the corresponding wheel.

18. System according to claim 16, also comprising means for alerting the driver.

10. Ground contact device for a vehicle comprising means for substantially varying the part of the load borne by one diagonal relatively to the part borne by the other diagonal.

11. Ground contact device according to claim 10, the said means comprising a suspension system which is at least semi-active.

12. Ground contact device according to claim 10, the said means comprising a ratchet mechanism arranged so that it can restrict the expansion movement of the suspension of a wheel.

13. Ground contact device according to claim 10, the said means comprising a screw mechanism connected in series with a suspension spring, the said screw mechanism being controlled by an electric motor so as to adjust the static load on the corresponding wheel.

14. Ground contact device according to claim 10, comprising a hydraulic shock absorber whose flow in expansion can be significantly reduced in order to reduce the dynamic load on the corresponding wheel.

15. Ground contact device according to claim 10, comprising a hydraulic shock absorber whose flow in compression can be significantly increased in order to reduce the mean load on the corresponding wheel.

17. System according to claim 16, comprising a device according to claim 10.