LATERALLY TILTABLE, MULTITRACK VEHICLE

• US 20140252734A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: SPAHL, Robert, HALFMANN, Edmund, GERHARDT, Torsten, SIMON, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.509
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/00 Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045
• 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 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/016 Yawing condition
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/06 with only three wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/04 Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and three wheels. The first and second wheels are assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair. A first cylinder unit supports the first wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body and a second cylinder unit supports the second wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body. Each cylinder unit includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder connected in series. Each first cylinder has a first diameter and each second cylinder has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The first and second cylinder units are fluidly connected to each other. Fluid is transferable between cylinder units between a first cylinder of the one cylinder unit and a second cylinder of the other cylinder unit.

Claims

1. A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

three wheels;

first and second wheels of the three wheels being assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair;

a first cylinder unit supporting the first wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body and a second cylinder unit supporting the second wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body, each cylinder unit operating with a pneumatic or hydraulic fluid,

wherein each cylinder unit includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder connected in series, each first cylinder having a first diameter and each second cylinder having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, a piston being axially and displaceably guided in each of the first and second cylinders,

wherein the first and second cylinder units are fluidly connected to each other such that fluid is transferable between the first and second cylinder units by the pistons; and

wherein fluid is transferable between cylinder units from a first cylinder of the first cylinder unit into the second cylinder of the second cylinder unit, and fluid is transferable from the second cylinder of the first cylinder unit into the first cylinder of the second cylinder unit, and wherein fluid is further transferable between cylinder units from a first cylinder of the second cylinder unit into the second cylinder of the first cylinder unit, and wherein fluid is further transferable from the second cylinder of the second cylinder unit into the first cylinder of the first cylinder unit.

2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston of the second cylinder has a through opening which can be opened and closed, and through which fluid can be exchanged between the first and second cylinders of the same cylinder unit.

3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the through opening can be closed by the piston of the first cylinder.

4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston of the second cylinder is connected to a sleeve-like piston rod, which is guided in the first cylinder, the piston of the first cylinder being displaceably guided in the sleeve-like piston rod.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder units form wheel control parts, wherein each wheel of the wheel pair is suspended on the vehicle body by a respective wheel control part.

6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each wheel of the wheel pair is mounted on the respective cylinder unit in a manner which is resilient and damped in terms of oscillations.

7. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fourth wheel, the third and fourth wheels being assigned to a common axle to form a second wheel pair.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein one wheel pair forms steerable front wheels and the second wheel pair forms rear wheels of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

10. A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle comprises:

a vehicle body;

three wheels, wherein first and second wheels of the three wheels are assigned to a common axle to form a first wheel pair;

a first cylinder unit supports the first wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body;

a second cylinder unit supports the second wheel of the wheel pair on the vehicle body;

wherein each cylinder unit includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder connected in series, each first cylinder having a first diameter and each second cylinder having a second diameter larger than the first diameter,

wherein the first and second cylinder units are fluidly connected to each other and fluid is transferable between the cylinder units via a first cylinder of the one cylinder unit and a second cylinder of the other cylinder unit and vice versa.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.