Roll correction system with countersteer compensation

• US 5,662,356 A
• Filed: 04/26/1995
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TLC Suspension
• Original Assignee: TLC Suspension
• Inventors: Lund, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,792
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 280/689, 280/772, 280/112.2, 280/6.12, 280/6.1, 280/709, 280/710, 280/714, 280/723, 267/187, 267/191, 267/277
• US Class Current: 280/5.502
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0555 including an actuator inducing vehicle roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/106 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1224 End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/80 Interactive suspensions; arrangement affecting more than one suspension unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/412 of steering wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/20 Spring action or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/212 Transversal; Side-slip during cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A roll correction system for use in a vehicle including a body, wheels, and a suspension coupling the body to the wheels includes a roll correction apparatus hydraulically actuated by a hydraulic signal indicative of a roll direction. A hydraulic signal source provides the hydraulic signal conditioned to indicate a roll position in response to a first steering direction. A countersteer correction element maintains the condition of the hydraulic signal to indicate the roll direction in response to countersteer in a second steering direction opposite the first steering direction as would occur, for example, in a skid.

Claims

1. A roll correction system for use in a vehicle including a body, wheels, a suspension coupling the body to the wheels, and a steering assembly, comprising:

a roll correction apparatus which is hydraulically actuated by a hydraulic signal indicative of a roll direction;

a hydraulic signal source connected to the roll correction apparatus, the hydraulic signal source including means mechanically linked to the steering assembly and responsive to a first steering direction for providing a hydraulic signal conditioned to indicate a roll direction; and

a countersteer correction means for maintaining the condition of the hydraulic signal to indicate the roll direction in response to countersteer in a second steering direction opposite the first steering direction.

2. The roll correction system of claim 1, further comprising means responsive to vehicle speed for preventing provision of the hydraulic signal to the roll correction apparatus in response to a vehicle speed less than a predetermined vehicle speed.

3. The roll correction system of claim 2, wherein the roll correction apparatus includes at least one cylinder and piston assembly for acting between the body and suspension of the vehicle.

4. The roll correction system of claim 3, wherein the hydraulic signal source includes a valve with a cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, and a plurality of ports distributed along, and opening into, the cylinder for generating the hydraulic signal in response to movement of the piston within the cylinder, the linked means including a mechanical coupling connecting the piston to the vehicle steering assembly for movement therewith.

5. The roll correction system of claim 1, wherein the roll correction apparatus includes at least one cylinder and piston assembly for acting between the body and suspension of the vehicle.

6. The roll correction system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic signal source includes a valve with a cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, and a plurality of ports distributed along, and opening into, the cylinder for generating the hydraulic signal in response to movement of the piston within the cylinder, the linked means including a mechanical linkage connecting the piston to the vehicle steering assembly for movement therewith.

7. The roll correction system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic signal source responds to the second steering direction by reversing the condition of the hydraulic signal, and the countersteer correction means includes:

first means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a vehicle centrifugal force;

second means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a condition of the hydraulic signal;

third means connected to the first and second means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a countersteer condition; and

valve means connected to the third means for reversing the condition of the hydraulic signal provided by the hydraulic signal source in response to the electrical signal indicative of the countersteer condition.

8. The roll correction system of claim 1, further including:

a vehicle speed sensor;

a lockout speed indicator;

a signal generator coupled to the vehicle speed sensor and to the lockout speed indicator for generating a lockout signal when vehicle speed is above lockout speed; and

valve means connected to the signal generator for enabling operation of the countersteer correction means in response to the lockout signal.

9. The roll correction system of claim 8, wherein the hydraulic signal source responds to the second steering direction by reversing the condition of the hydraulic signal, and the countersteer correction means includes:

first means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a vehicle centrifugal force;

second means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a condition of the hydraulic signal;

third means connected to the first and second means for generating an electrical signal indicative of a countersteer condition; and

valve means connected to the third means for reversing the condition of the hydraulic signal provided by the hydraulic signal source in response to the electrical signal indicative of the countersteer condition.

10. The roll correction system of claim 9, wherein the roll correction apparatus includes at least one cylinder and piston assembly for acting between the body and suspension of the vehicle.

11. The roll correction system of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic signal source includes a valve with a cylinder, a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder, and a plurality of ports distributed along, and opening into, the cylinder for generating the hydraulic signal in response to movement of the piston within the cylinder, the linked mean including a mechanical linkage connecting the piston to the vehicle steering assembly for movement therewith.