REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WITH ROTARY DEVICES FOR LATERALLY TILTABLE MULTITRACK VEHICLES

• US 20160244094A1
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: SPAHL, Robert, SOUSCHEK, Rainer, SIMON, Marc, HALFMANN, Edmund, GERHARDS, Thomas, HINTZEN, Ralf, MAINZ, Daniel, SAEGER, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,023,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/05 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 2204/8304 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: 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 suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle may include a balancer system extending between first and second trailing arms. The suspension system may further include a rotary device acting between the trailing arms. One of the balancer system and the rotary device may be configured to provide a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle and the other of the balancer system and the rotary device may be configured to suppress resonant vertical motion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

a balancer system extending between first and second trailing arms; and

a rotary device acting between the trailing arms,

wherein one of the balancer system and the rotary device is configured to provide a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle and the other of the balancer system and the rotary device is configured to suppress resonant vertical motion of the vehicle.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first and second trailing arms are parallel to one another.

3. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein, when the suspension system is in use, the first and second trailing arms are each configured to extend between a rear wheel of the vehicle and a frame rail of the vehicle.

4. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the balancer system is configured to provide the torque and the rotary device is configured to suppress resonant vertical motion.

5. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the balancer system comprises a balancer control arm, a hinged control arm connected to the balancer control arm, and an actuator attached to the hinged control arm.

6. The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the rotary device comprises a rotary spring/damper element.

7. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the balancer system is configured to suppress resonant vertical motion and the rotary device is configured to provide the torque.

8. The suspension system of claim 7, wherein the balancer system comprises two vertical spring/damper elements connected to opposite ends of a balancer control arm.

9. The suspension system of claim 8, wherein the vertical spring/damper elements each include a shock absorber and a coil spring.

10. The suspension system of claim 7, wherein the rotary device comprises a rotary actuator.

11. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator is axle mounted.

12. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator is body mounted.

13. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein, when the suspension system is in use, the first and second trailing arms are configured to connect to respective first and second drive shafts of the vehicle.

14. The suspension system of claim 1, further including a gear positioned within a path of the rotary device.

15. The suspension system of claim 14, wherein the gear is a differential with a ratio of about −

1.

16. A rear suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

first and second trailing arms, each trailing arm extending between a rear wheel of the vehicle and a frame rail of the vehicle;

a balancer system extending between the trailing arms, the balancer system being configured to create a torque to influence a leaning angle of a body of the vehicle; and

a rotary device acting between the trailing arms, the rotary device being configured to suppress a resonant vertical motion of the body of the vehicle.

17. The suspension system of claim 16, wherein the balancer system comprises a balancer control arm, a hinged control arm connected to the balancer control arm, and an actuator attached to the hinged control arm.

18. The suspension system of claim 16, wherein the rotary device comprises a rotary spring/damper element.

19. A rear suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

first and second trailing arms, each trailing arm extending between a rear wheel of the vehicle and a frame rail of the vehicle;

a balancer system extending between the trailing arms, the balancer system being configured to suppress a resonant vertical motion of a body of the vehicle; and

a rotary device acting between the trailing arms, the rotary device being configured to create a torque to influence a leaning angle of the body of the vehicle.

20. The suspension system of claim 19, wherein the balancer system comprises two vertical spring/damper elements connected to opposite ends of a balancer control arm.

21. The suspension system of claim 19, wherein the rotary device comprises a rotary actuator.

22. A method of stabilizing a tiltable, multitrack vehicle, the method comprising:

distributing a first load, during a roll motion of the vehicle, via a first mechanism positioned within a rear suspension of the vehicle to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle; and

distributing a second load, during a jounce/rebound motion of the vehicle, via a second mechanism positioned within the rear suspension of the vehicle to suppress a resonant vertical motion of the vehicle, wherein the second mechanism provides a different load path than the first mechanism.

23. The suspension system of claim 22, wherein distributing the first load comprises distributing the first load via either a balancer system or a rotary device.

24. The suspension system of claim 22, wherein distributing the second load comprises distributing the second load via either a balancer system or a rotary device.