SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE CHASSIS CONTROL

• US 20140312580A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Andrew Gale
• Original Assignee: David Andrew Gale
• Inventors: Gale, David Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,381,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.509
• 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 21/106 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• 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 2202/416 using a pump, e.g. in the line connecting the lower chamber to the upper chamber of the actuator
• 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 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/08 the arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/00 Steering devices steering devices specially adapted for one particular kind of cycle specified in groups B62K1/00 - B62K17/00, see the relevant group
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle comprising a chassis, two surface-engaging front wheels, at least one surface-engaging rear wheel and a propulsion unit for driving either the front wheels or the rear wheel or wheels. Each front wheel being connected to the chassis by means of a front wheel support assembly, wherein the front wheel support assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder associated with each front wheel. Each hydraulic cylinder comprises a housing connected to one of the chassis and the front wheel support assembly, and a piston connected to the other of the front wheel support assembly and the chassis. The piston is moveable within the housing and arranged to divide the hydraulic cylinder into first and second chambers each having respective ports arranged to allow hydraulic fluid to enter and exit the respective chamber, the ports of the first chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication and the ports of the second chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication such that movement of hydraulic fluid from the first or second chamber of one hydraulic cylinder to the respective first or second chamber of the other hydraulic cylinder displaces the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders in opposing directions relative to the respective housings to enable the vehicle to tilt.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a chassis, two surface-engaging front wheels, at least one surface-engaging rear wheel and a propulsion unit for driving either the front wheels or the rear wheel or wheels, each front wheel being connected to the chassis by means of a front wheel support assembly, wherein the front wheel support assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder associated with each front wheel, each hydraulic cylinder comprising:

a housing connected to one of the chassis and the front wheel support assembly; and

a piston connected to the other of the front wheel support assembly and the chassis, the piston being moveable within the housing and arranged to divide the hydraulic cylinder into first and second chambers each having respective ports arranged to allow hydraulic fluid to enter and exit the respective chamber,

the ports of the first chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication and the ports of the second chambers of each hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication such that movement of hydraulic fluid from the first or second chamber of one hydraulic cylinder to the respective first or second chamber of the other hydraulic cylinder displaces the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders in opposing directions relative to the respective housings to enable the vehicle to tilt.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a central member movable therewith and the front wheel assembly further comprising;

an upper support member independently pivotably connected to the central member and to a respective wheel hub; and

a lower support member independently pivotably connected to the central member and to a respective wheel hub.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the support members comprises a wishbone arrangement.

5. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the support members comprises two independently movable sections, each section being connected between a hub and the central member.

7. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the support members comprises a single member extending between wheel hubs.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a control device is provided to enable a user to steer the vehicle and the control device is connected to the wheel hubs by means of one or more pairs of linkage arms or a hydraulic connection.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the control device is connected to a steering column, the steering column being connected to the linkage arms by means of a gear linkage.

11. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the control device is selectively disengageable such that the front wheels are free to castor.

13. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising two surface-engaging rear wheels, each rear wheel being connected to the chassis by a rear wheel support assembly comprising:

a rear wheel support for allowing movement of the respective rear wheel relative to the chassis; and

a rear hydraulic cylinder, the rear hydraulic cylinder comprising;

a housing connected to one of the chassis and the rear wheel support; and

a piston connected to the other of the rear wheel support and the chassis, the piston being moveable within the housing and arranged to divide the hydraulic cylinder into first and second chambers each having respective ports arranged to allow hydraulic fluid to enter and exit the respective chamber,

the ports of the first chambers of each rear hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication and the ports of the second chambers of each rear hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication such that movement of hydraulic fluid from the first or second chamber of one rear hydraulic cylinder to the respective first or second chamber of the other rear hydraulic cylinder displaces the pistons of the rear hydraulic cylinders in opposing directions relative to the respective housings.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the front hydraulic cylinders and the rear hydraulic cylinders share a common hydraulic circuit.

17. A vehicle according to claim 13, wherein each rear hydraulic cylinder further comprises a hydro-pneumatic damper.

18. A vehicle according to claim 17, wherein each hydro-pneumatic damper comprises a chamber and a flexible membrane, the flexible membrane dividing the chamber into a hydraulic portion and a hydro-pneumatic portion.

19. A vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the hydraulic portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the respective hydraulic cylinder.

21. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one hydraulic cylinder further comprises resilient means arranged to bias the vehicle towards the upright position.

22. A vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the resilient means comprises a coil spring.

24. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a body connected to said chassis and defining a fully enclosed interior space of the vehicle arranged to accommodate a driver.

28. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one wheel support assembly comprises a pump arrangement to pump hydraulic fluid between hydraulic cylinders.

44. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one wheel is arranged to tilt with said chassis in use.

4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15-16. -16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

25-27. -27. (canceled)

29-43. -43. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. A wheel support arrangement for a vehicle comprising a chassis arranged to tilt with respect to the road surface, the wheel support arrangement comprising:

at least one wheel support member pivotably connected to the chassis at a first end;

a suspension hub assembly pivotably connected to the wheel support member at a second end of said wheel support member and arranged to pivot with respect thereto, wherein the suspension hub assembly comprises;

a first hub member pivotably connected to the wheel support member;

a second hub member operable to receive a surface-engaging wheel rotatable about an axis, said second hub member being slidably connected to said first hub member and being linearly movable with respect to said first hub member along a suspension axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said surface-engaging wheel; and

a damper arrangement arranged to damp linear movement of said second hub member with respect to said first hub member along said suspension axis.

47. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said suspension axis is arranged at an angle in the range of −

10 to 25 degrees from the vertical direction when said chassis is in an upright position.

48. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 47, wherein said suspension axis is arranged at an angle in the range of −

10 to 25 degrees from the vertical direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

49. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said suspension axis is longitudinally offset from said axis of rotation of said surface-engaging wheel.

50. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said suspension axis is located forwardly of said axis of rotation of said surface-engaging wheel.

52. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein the second hub member is rotatable with respect to said first hub member about a steering axis substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said surface-engaging wheel to effect steering of said surface-engaging wheel.

53. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said suspension hub assembly comprises a sliding pillar suspension arrangement such that said second hub member is slidably connected to said first hub member about a pillar forming part of the first hub member.

54. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said damper arrangement is located on said pillar.

55. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said second hub member is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of said pillar such that said steering axis is coincident with said suspension axis.

56. A wheel support arrangement according to claim 46 wherein said suspension hub assembly comprises a ball spline suspension arrangement, said second hub member being linearly movable along a grooved pillar attached to said first hub member.

51. (canceled)

57-64. -64. (canceled)