MECHANICAL DEVICE FOR TILT CONTROL

• US 20110148052A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Veleance
• Original Assignee: Veleance
• Inventors: Gaillard-Groleas, Jerome, Quemere, Jacques
• Application Number:
  US13/054,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/6.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/073 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/122 Trikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32254 Lockable at fixed position

Abstract

The invention relates to a device that comprises:

• • a box 100;
  • a tilting frame 200; and
  • a passive joint 300 that enables tilting of the frame relative to the box; and
  • joint locking means 400.

The device further comprises:

• • an accelerometer (500) for measuring the transverse acceleration to which said tilting frame (200) is subjected; and
  • a control circuit for activating the locking means if the transverse acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a tricycle, provided with said device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a box (100;

PG-PD);

a tilting frame (200;

PV-PR);

a passive joint (300;

BIRG-BIRD) allowing tilting of said frame relative to said box; and

means (400, MG, MD, MB1, MB2, BM, KL) for locking said joint;

the device being characterized in that it further comprises;

an accelerometer (500) for measuring the transverse acceleration to which said tilting frame (200;

PV-PR) is subjected; and

a control circuit (450) for activating said locking means if said transverse acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means (400, MG, MD) are arranged between the box (100;

PG-PD) and said tilting frame (200;

PV-PR).

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said box (PG-PD) is deformable, and the device includes a reference rod (VA;

HA), said locking means (MB1, MB2;

BM) being arranged between that reference rod and said tilting frame (PV-PR).

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that, said box (PG-PD) is deformable, and said locking means (KL) are arranged between two elements (BSVG, BIVD) of this box disposed at either end of said tilting frame (PV-PR).

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that, said box (PG-PD) is of the superposed double-triangle type, and said locking means (KL) are arranged between an arm (BSVG) of an upper triangle and an arm (BIVD) of a lower triangle, these two triangles being disposed at either end of said tilting frame (PV-PR).

6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means comprise a double-acting actuator (400, 401, MG, MD, MB1, MB2, BM, KL).

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the two chambers (431, 432) of said double-acting actuator (400) are connected by two unidirectional pipes (435, 445) in opposite directions each including a valve (437, 447).

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that each of said unidirectional pipes (435, 445) includes a check valve (436, 446).

9. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two chambers (431, 432) of said double-acting actuator (401) are connected by a single pipe (455) including a single valve (457).

10. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that said control circuit (450) is adapted, if said transverse acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, to close that one of said valves (437, 447, 457) that authorizes movement of said actuator (400, 401) in the direction of that acceleration.

11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that said control circuit (450) is adapted to determine the opening of said valve (437, 447, 457) as a function of the modulus of said transverse acceleration.

12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that, said control circuit (450) also having access to the longitudinal speed (600) of the device, it is adapted to determine the opening of said valve (437, 447, 457) as a function of the modulus of said longitudinal speed.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said control circuit (450) is adapted to close said valve (437, 447, 457) completely if the modulus of said longitudinal speed is in a predetermined range.

14. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said control circuit (450) is adapted to open the valve or valves (437, 447, 457) completely if the modulus of said longitudinal speed is zero or below a predetermined threshold.

15. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control circuit (450) includes a filter downstream of said accelerometer (500).

16. A vehicle equipped with a device according to claim 1.

17. A vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that it is a tricycle.