Tilt control apparatus for vehicles

• US 5,979,616 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cloud Farm Associates LP
• Original Assignee: Cloud Farm Associates LP
• Inventors: Smith, Stewart Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US09/020,063
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 188/266.2, 188/266.1, 188/282.4, 188/282.3, 188/266.5, 188/322.13, 188/322.15, 188/322.22, 188/322.14, 280/DIG. 1, 280/124.103, 280/124.104, 280/124.106, 280/5.5, 280/5.502, 280/5.507, 280/5.508, 280/5.51, 280/5.512, 280/5.513, 280/5.515 , 280/5.514, 280/5.506, 701/38, 701/37, 701/41, 701/45, 701/48
• US Class Current: 188/266.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/04 fluid spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/11 Mounting of sensors thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/113 Tyre related sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/114 Steering column mounted sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/115 Wheel hub bearing sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/40 Steering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/412 of steering wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/144 Fiber optic sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/172 Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/20 Switches, e.g. mercury or ball type switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/20 Manual control or setting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/702 Improving accuracy of a sensor signal
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/08 Sensor arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/34 Special valve constructions F16F9/44, F16F9/50 take precedence; filtering details F16F9/3285 ; valves in general F16K; Shape or construction of throttling passages
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/46 allowing control from a distance , i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall attachment of valve units to cylinders F16F9/325
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/512 Means responsive to load action, i.e. static load on the damper or dynamic fluid pressure changes in the damper, e.g. due to changes in velocity F16F9/504, F16F9/516 take precedence; non-automatic damper adjustment from a distance using servo control, the servo pressure being created by the flow of damping fluid F16F9/465; self-pumping fluid springs in vehicle suspensions B60G17/044

Abstract

A device for sensing the angular or turning movement of a moving vehicle is disclosed. At a pre-set point in the turn, the sensing device will provide a signal to the suspension system to change from "soft" to "stiff" suspension and thus prevent any further tilting of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, a transverse axle and a body comprising, on each side of the vehicle, a chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid, a movable piston at one end of and within said chamber and attached to one of said structural elements;

the other end of said chamber being attached to the other of said structural elements of the vehicle;

a fixed plate within said chamber having a sealable opening to separate fluid within said chamber into two portions above and below said fixed plate;

sealing means within said chamber adapted to seal said sealable opening;

a steering wheel disposed between the two sides of the vehicle within a steering column rotatable through an angle from 0 to 180 degrees;

sensing means within said steering column to sense rotation of said steering wheel and a pre-set minimum speed of said vehicle, such that when rotation of said steering wheel is below about 20 degrees or beyond about 160 degrees, at or above said pre-set minimum speed, said sensing means will send a signal to said sealing means;

thereby, when activated by said sensing means, said sealing means will seal said sealable opening in said plate to prevent flow of said fluid from one portion to the other portion of said chamber, whereby tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element is prevented.

2. Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, a transverse axle and a body comprising, on each side of the vehicle, a chamber being partially filled with hydraulic fluid;

a movable piston at one end of and within said chamber and attached to one of said structural elements;

the other end of said chamber being attached to the other of said structural elements of the vehicle;

a fixed plate within said chamber having a sealable opening to separate said fluid within the chamber into two portions above and below said fixed plate;

sealing means within said chamber adapted to seal said sealable opening;

wheels mounted at each end of said axle and sensing means placed at the front and back of said axle adapted to sense the turning of said wheels to the right and left and to sense a pre-set minimum speed of said vehicle;

such that when said sensing means senses a turn below about 20 degrees or above about 160 degrees at or above said pre-set minimum speed;

said sensing means will send a signal to said sealing means;

thereby, when activated by said sensing means, said sealing means will seal said sealable opening in said separating means to prevent flow of said fluid from one portion to the other portion of said chamber, whereby tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element is prevented.

3. Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, a transverse axle and a body;

a suspension system disposed between two said structural elements on each side of said vehicle;

a steering wheel disposed between the two sides of said vehicle within a steering column rotatable through an angle of from 0 to 180 degrees;

sensing means within said steering column to sense rotation of said steering wheel continuously at a pre-set minimum speed of said vehicle, such that when rotation of said steering wheel is beyond about 20 degrees or beyond about 160 degrees, at or above said pre-set minimum speed in accordance with the Table set forth below;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular"> TABLE ______________________________________ Turning Angle to Activate Suspension Vehicle Speed System Control (miles/hour) (degrees) ______________________________________ 120 1 100 2 80 3 60 6 40 7-8 20 9-10 10 13-15 ______________________________________

said sensing means will send a signal to said suspension system whereby the rate of movement of said one structural element, said body, toward said other structural element, said axle, is reduced sufficiently to prevent further tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element.

4. Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, transverse axle and a body;

a suspension system disposed between said two structural elements on each side of said vehicle;

wheels mounted at each end of said axle and sensing means placed at the front and back of said axle adapted to sense continuously the turning of said wheels to the right and left at a pre-set minimum speed of said vehicle such that when said sensing means senses a turn below about 20 degrees or above about 160 degrees at or above said pre-set minimum speed in accordance with the Table set forth below;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular"> TABLE ______________________________________ Turning Angle to Activate Suspension Vehicle Speed System Control (miles/hour) (degrees) ______________________________________ 120 1 100 2 80 3 60 6 40 7-8 20 9-10 10 13-15 ______________________________________

said sensing means will send a signal to said suspension system whereby the rate of movement of said one structural element, said body, toward said other structural element, said axle, is reduced sufficiently to prevent further tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element.

5. A vehicle having a suspension system disposed between a transverse axle and a body of said vehicle wherein the vehicle is equipped with means for controlling the suspension system, the improvement comprises means for continuously sensing angular or steering movement of said vehicle and means for activating said means for controlling said suspension system at a pre-set angle of movement of said vehicle depending upon the speed of the vehicle in accordance with the Table set forth below:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular"> TABLE ______________________________________ Turning Angle to Activate Suspension Vehicle Speed System Control (miles/hour) (degrees) ______________________________________ 120 1 100 2 80 3 60 6 40 7-8 20 9-10 10 13-15 ______________________________________

to convert the normally fast rate of movement of the body toward said axle to a slower rate of movement of said body toward said axle.