DEVICE FOR DAMPING ROCKING MOVEMENTS OCCURRING IN A CHASSIS

• US 3,861,696 A
• Filed: 06/01/1972
• Issued: 01/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axel Gerhard Varne Gustafsson
• Original Assignee: Axel Gerhard Varne Gustafsson
• Inventors: Gustafsson, Axel Gerhard Varne
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/258,776
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124F,124R,6H,111,112R,6R 180/79.2R
• US Class Current: 280/5.515
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/033 characterised by regulating means acting on more than one spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/04 fluid spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/06 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/08 characterised by use of gyroscopes gyroscopes for stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements B62D37/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for damping the rocking movements of a vehicle chassis. A damping means is provided which is operatively connected between the chassis and each vehicle wheel, and such damping means includes a means for varying the damping effect thereof. The apparatus further includes a means which is responsive to rocking movement of the chassis which generates a manifestation representative of such rocking movement. A control means which may comprise a plurality of hydraulic valves is governed by the aforesaid manifestation from the rocking responsive means to increase the damping effect on the upward and downward movement of the associated wheel relative to the chassis.

Claims

1. Apparatus for damping the rocking movements of a vehicle chassis comprising:

said chassis being provided with at least four cheels, one at each corner, and a damping means operatively connected between the chassis and each vehicle wHeel which wheel is further connected by means of suspension apparatus to the chassis, said damping means including means for varying the damping effect thereof, means responsive to the angular velocity of the chassis about a predetermined axis for generating a manifestation representative of such rocking movement and with said manifestation having a sign indicative of the direction of such angular velocity, and control means governed by the magnitude of said manifestation and its sign for selectively increasing or decreasing the damping effect of said damping means on the upward and downward movement of the associated wheel relative to the chassis.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said responsive means comprises a member for sensing angular velocity of the chassis about a horizontal axis at right angles to the direction of movement of the chassis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means is controlled by said manifestation when the chassis is depressed to increase the damping forces for the front wheels when these move inwardly toward the chassis while concurrently increasing the damping forces for the rear wheels when these move outwardly from the chassis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means is controlled by said manifestation when the chassis is elevated to increase the damping forces for the front wheels when these move outwardly from the chassis while concurrently increasing the damping forces for the rear wheels when these move inwardly toward the chassis.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said responsive means comprises a gyro responsive to the angular velocity of the chassis about said axis for generating said manifestation.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said chassis at both its front and rear wheels includes a flexibly suspended mass.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the member (8) for sensing angular velocity comprises a pendulum suspended in the chassis.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the pendulum coacts with a further pendulum in order to obtain an appropriate damping of the pendulum function.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the member (8) for sensing angular velocity comprises a flywheel suspended in the chassis.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the flywheel actuates a generator so that the speed of this will be proportional to the relative speed between the flywheel and the chassis.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the flywheel drives a cam curve via a relatively flexible friction clutch, it then being possible for the cam curve and the pendulum to be actuated to two limiting positions, in which limiting positions it actuates switches, which transmit signals to the control member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that forces occurring in the suspension member for the flywheel are sensed with the aid of signal converters which coact with an electronic unit which transmits a signal to the control member.

13. Apparatus for damping the rocking movements of a vehicle chassis as it moves over an uneven supporting surface comprising:

means responsive to a rocking motion of said chassis;

a damping means operatively connected between the chassis and each vehicle wheel which wheel is further connected by means of suspension apparatus to the chassis, each said damping means providing a predetermined damping effect for the associated wheel in the absence of any rocking of the vehicle chassis;

control means for varying the damping effect of each said damping means, said control means being controlled by a rocking of said chassis as sensed by said responsive means so as to;

a. increase the damping effect only on inward movements of said wheel relative to said chassis on only those damping means associated with a part of the vehicle which is moving downwardly towards the supporting surface;

And b. increase the damping effect only on outward movements of said wheel relative to said chassis on only those damping means associated with a part of the vehicle chassis which is moving upwardly away from said supporting surface.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the means responsive to rocking motion comprises a mass flexibly suspended in the chassis for sensing rocking movements in the form of vertical translational movements, and means operatively connected to said mass for generating a signal which is supplied to said control means.