APPARATUS FOR OFFSETTING CENTRIFUGAL FORCE AFFECTING MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 3,608,925 A
• Filed: 05/07/1969
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter H. Murphy
• Original Assignee: Peter H. Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friaglia, Leo
• Application Number:
  US04/822,546
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 280/112,112.1,6,6.1,6.11,124F
• US Class Current: 280/5.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention is a suspension for motor vehicles and the like which adjustably controls the wheel height of the vehicle relative to the chassis during turns. Sensors convert vehicle turn angle and velocity information into electrical signals for initiating pressure changes in selected expansible springs for adjustably offsetting the centrifugal force occurring during turns.

Claims

1. Apparatus for adjusting the relative lateral height of a wheeled vehicle in response to turns comprising, extensible supports suspending the vehicle wheels from the vehicle chassis, power means connected to said supports and arranged to extend said supports on one side of the vehicle and to simultaneously allow retraction of said supports on the opposite side of the vehicle, and sensor means operative in response to both vehicle velocity aNd turn angle for actuating said power means to offset the vehicle tilt reaction to turns in either direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, said sensor means generates a control signal, and said power means is connected for energization by said control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control signal includes a component derived from the vehicle turn angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control signal includes a component derived from the vehicle velocity.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said velocity component of said control signal is proportional to the square of the velocity.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control signal includes a component derived from arc length segments through which the vehicle is turning.

7. Apparatus for offsetting centrifugal force experienced by a vehicle during a turn comprising, a plurality of extensible supports joining the vehicle wheels to the vehicle chassis, a fluid reservoir conduit means for connecting said fluid reservoir to said extensible supports, control valve means for regulating the flow of fluid with respect to said reservoir and said conduit means, said control valve capable of directing proportional quantities of fluid to the hydraulic supports undergoing compression during a turn in response to a control signal, and analog circuit means for generating a control signal in said control valve means proportional to the magnitude of centrifugal force a vehicle experiences in making a turn.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control signal generation means includes a first sensor for sensing vehicle velocity and producing a first proportional signal in response thereto, a second sensor for sensing vehicle turn angles and producing a second proportional signal in response thereto and means for multiplying said first and second proportional signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a squaring circuit receives said second signal proportional to velocity and transmits said signal after squaring to said analog circuit means.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further defined by a pump connecting said valve to said hydraulic reservoir for pumping said hydraulic supports when actuated by said valve.