Multi-track curve tilting vehicle

• US 6,250,649 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Braun, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/403,700
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 180/41, 280/5.5, 280/5.502, 280/5.504, 280/5.506, 280/5.508, 280/5.509, 280/6.157, 280/6.158, 280/124.103, 280/124.106, 280/5.507, 701/38, 701/37, 105/164
• US Class Current: 280/5.506
• 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 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01925 Pendulum-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/106 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure

Abstract

A tilting-body vehicle, in which the control system for the body tilt comprises an emergency system. In the event of a failure of a normally effective main system, the emergency system permits an emergency operation at least for a limited time. Three body positions are made possible depending on the transverse acceleration of the vehicle: namely, maximum tilt to the left, upright position and maximum tilt to the right. The emergency system is controlled via an inertia mass.

Claims

1. A multi-track tilting-body vehicle having a body which, when travelling on curves, is tiltable to an inside of a curve, comprising an actuator (8) for effecting the tilt, an automatic control system (22), for operating the actuator (8) to cause selected wheels to follow the body tilt, the automatic control system (22) being configured to continuously check for correct operation, to be automatically disconnected from the actuator (8) in the event of a malfunction so that a continuously working emergency system, which is cut off from the actuator (8) during normal operation, is connected to the actuator (8), wherein the emergency system has an inertia mass (24) arranged to react to transverse accelerations of the vehicle and to assume a center position when the transverse accelerations disappear, and two parallel control devices (17, 20), a first of the control devices which is actuated by the inertia mass (24) such that the first of the control devices (17) comes into effect when predetermined transverse accelerations occur and a second of the control devices (20) comes into effect when the transverse accelerations disappear, the first of the control devices (17) producing a maximum body tilt in a direction of the transverse acceleration and the second of the control devices (20) retracting the body tilt when the emergency system is connected to the actuator (8).

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (8) comprises a double-acting fluidic actuator and an accumulator (18) is operatively connected with the actuator (8) such that the accumulator (18) which comprises an energy storage device is shut off from the actuator (8) during normal operation by a shut-off valve (12) continuously spring-loaded in an open position thereof.

3. The according to claim 2, wherein the actuator (8) is hydraulic.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first of the control devices comprises circuit has a valve arrangement (17) actuatable by the inertia mass (24), arranged between the accumulator (18), and the actuator (8), and, when the transverse acceleration is negligible, shuts off both sides of the actuator (8) and, when the predetermined transverse acceleration occurs, connects one side of the actuator (8) to the accumulator (18) and another side of the actuator (8) to a relatively pressureless outlet (15) such that the body is tilted to a maximum extent in the direction of the transverse acceleration.

5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the second of the control devices comprises has a shut-off valve (21) controllable by the inertia mass (24) and opened when the transverse acceleration disappears, and, in series with said shut-off valve (21), a control valve (20), controllable by the body tilt and, depending on the direction of the body tilt, connecting the one or the other side of the actuator (8) to the accumulator (18) and connecting a respectively remaining side of the actuator (18) to a relatively pressureless outlet (15) such that a body tilt is retracted.

6. The vehicle according to one of claim 1, wherein the inertia mass (24) and the control devices (17, 21) actuated thereby are arranged on a platform (26) which is continuously approximately horizontal or is held horizontal.

7. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an autonomously powered pressure source (14) is provided in addition to or in place of the accumulator (18).

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an energy storage device (18) which is configured to be continuously recharged during normal operation is operatively associated with the emergency system.