Hydraulically compensated stabilizer system

• US 6,929,271 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: King, Thomas S., Dutzi, Robert K., Trotter, Jason K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/037,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: B60/G02.1/073, 280/124.104, 280/124.106, 280/124.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 188/322.22
• US Class Current: 280/124.106
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/073 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/41 Fluid actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/13 with the spring, i.e. coil spring, or damper horizontally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8306 Permanent; Continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/02 Trucks; Load vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/61 Load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/63 Location of the center of gravity

Abstract

The present technique provides a stabilizer system comprising a plurality of piston cylinder assemblies, which have multiple interconnected chambers to provide cross compensation between suspension members coupled to those piston cylinder assemblies. The piston cylinder assemblies may have two or more chambers separated by pistons, which move in response to a load imposed on the suspension member coupled to that piston cylinder assembly. As the piston moves in response to movement of the corresponding suspension member, a fluid pressure is transmitted to another suspension member to distribute the load between the two suspension members.

Claims

1. A stabilizer system for a suspension system, comprising:

first and second piston-cylinder assemblies each comprising a set of variable chambers, wherein at least one of the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies comprises a spring assembly, wherein the set of variable chambers have inversely variable volumes, wherein each of the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies comprise a closed cylinder, a piston assembly movably disposed in the closed cylinder, and at least first and second chambers of the set of variable chambers disposed on opposite sides of the piston assembly, wherein the piston assembly for at least one of the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies comprises first and second pistons disposed about an intermediate chamber; and

first and second conduits each coupled to a desired chamber from each set of variable chambers;

wherein the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies are configured to stabilize first and second movable suspension members without active control.

2. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the desired chambers comprise inverse pairs of the first and second chambers from the sets of variable chambers.

3. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second chambers comprises a linkage member having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the piston assembly and the second end extending through a wall of the closed cylinder for coupling to a desired one of the first and second movable suspension members.

4. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate chamber is configured to compensate for volume differentials between first and second pairs of the desired chambers coupled via the first and second conduits, respectively.

5. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate chamber comprises a spring assembly.

6. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pistons is fixed to a linkage member extending through a wall of the closed cylinder for coupling to a desired one of the first and second movable suspension members.

7. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies comprise a plurality of closed cylinders each comprising a piston assembly movably disposed therein and first and second chambers of the set of variable chambers disposed on opposite sides of the piston assembly.

8. The stabilizer system of claim 7, wherein the desired chambers for each of the first and second conduits comprise a desired pair of the first chambers.

9. The stabilizer system of claim 8, comprising a variable volume chamber assembly.

10. The stabilizer system of claim 9, wherein the variable volume chamber assembly comprises a diaphragm.

11. The stabilizer system of claim 9, wherein the variable volume chamber assembly comprises a spring-loaded piston-cylinder assembly.

12. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the set of variable chambers comprise a fluid.

13. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the set of variable chambers comprise a gas.

44. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the first and second piston-cylinder assemblies comprise a working medium that is moved through the first and second conduits only in response to loads on the first and second movable suspension members.

45. The stabilizer system of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly comprises a coil spring.

14. A vehicle suspension stabilizer, comprising:

a plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprising variable chambers, a spring assembly, and linkage members configured for coupling to movable suspension members, wherein multiple sets of the variable chambers are passively fluidly coupled to distribute forces between the movable suspension members;

wherein each of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises a closed cylinder, a piston assembly movably disposed in the closed cylinder, and first and second chambers of the variable chambers disposed on opposite sides of the piston assembly; and

wherein the piston assembly for at least one of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises at least two pistons disposed about an intermediate chamber.

15. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 14, wherein the multiple sets of the variable chambers comprise a first coupled set of the first chambers from a first desired set from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

16. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 15, wherein the multiple sets of the variable chambers comprise a second coupled set of the first chambers from a second desired set from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

17. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 14, wherein the multiple sets of the variable chambers comprise a first inversely coupled pair of the first and second chambers from a first desired pair from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

18. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 17, wherein the multiple sets of the variable chambers comprise a second inversely coupled pair of the first and second chambers from a second desired pair from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

19. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 17, wherein the multiple sets of the variable chambers comprise a second inversely coupled pair of the second and first chambers from the first desired pair.

20. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 14, wherein the intermediate chamber comprises a resistance mechanism.

21. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 20, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a spring assembly.

22. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 20, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a fluid.

23. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 14, comprising a resistance mechanism disposed between at least one of the multiple sets.

24. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 23, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a diaphragm.

25. The vehicle suspension stabilizer of claim 23, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a spring-loaded piston-cylinder assembly.

46. The vehicle stabilizer system of claim 14, comprising a working medium that is moved between the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies without assistance by a pump.

47. The vehicle stabilizer system of claim 14, comprising a working medium that is moved between the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies without external feedback influence.

26. A method for stabilizing a suspension system, comprising:

mechanically coupling a plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies having a spring assembly to a plurality of movable suspension members; and

fluidly intercoupling chambers from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies, without active control between the chambers, to provide stabilization between the plurality of movable suspension members;

wherein each of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises a closed cylinder, a piston assembly movably disposed in the closed cylinder, and first and second chambers disposed on opposite sides of the piston assembly; and

wherein the piston assembly for at least one of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises at least two pistons disposed about an intermediate chamber.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein mechanically coupling the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises linking the piston assemblies to the plurality of movable suspension members.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein mechanically coupling the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises positioning the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies to facilitate interaction between the plurality of movable suspension members and the piston assemblies.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein fluidly intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a first conduit to a first chamber pair from a first pair of piston-cylinder assemblies from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein coupling the first conduit to the first chamber pair comprises intercoupling the first chambers from the first pair.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein fluidly intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a second conduit to a second chamber pair from a second pair of piston-cylinder assemblies from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein coupling the first conduit to the first chamber pair comprises intercoupling first and second chambers from the first pair.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein fluidly intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a second conduit to a second chamber pair of the first and second chambers from the first pair, the first and second chamber pairs comprising inverse pairs of the first and second chambers from the first pair.

34. The method of claim 26, comprising distributing a force, which is exerted on at least one member of the plurality of movable suspension members, between at least two members of the plurality of movable suspension members.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein distributing the force comprises fluidly transmitting the force through a desired stabilizer set of piston-cylinder assemblies of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies coupled to the at least two members.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein fluidly transmitting the force comprises facilitating balanced motion of the at least two members.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein facilitating balanced motion of the at least two members comprises utilizing the desired stabilizer set to provide multiple cross-compensation between the at least two members.

38. A method of forming a suspension stabilizer for a vehicle, comprising:

providing a plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies, each comprising multiple chambers and at least one spring assembly disposed about a piston assembly, wherein providing the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies comprises;

forming first and second closed chambers about the piston assembly and extending a linkage from the piston assembly through and outwardly from an outer wall of at least one of the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies; and

providing an intermediate chamber between first and second pistons of the piston assembly to compensate for volume differentials; and

passively intercoupling chambers of the plurality of the piston-cylinder assemblies to provide crosswise stabilization, without pumping assistance, between vehicle suspension members connectable to the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein providing the intermediate chamber comprises disposing a resistance mechanism between the first and second pistons.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein passively intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a first conduit to first chambers from a first pair of piston-cylinder assemblies from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein passively intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a second conduit to first chambers from a second pair of piston-cylinder assemblies from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein each of the first and second pairs are configured for hydraulic interaction with first and second members of the vehicle suspension members.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein passively intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a first conduit to first and second chambers from a first pair of piston-cylinder assemblies from the plurality of piston-cylinder assemblies.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein passively intercoupling chambers comprises coupling a second conduit to the first and second chambers from the first pair, the first and second conduits coupling inverse pairs of the first and second chambers from the first pair.

48. A system for stabilizing suspension of a vehicle, comprising:

a first cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a first piston movably disposed along the first cylinder, wherein the first piston has a first linkage extending through the first chamber and out of the first cylinder, wherein the first linkage is configured to couple with a first suspension member of the vehicle;

a second cylinder having a third chamber, a fourth chamber, and a fifth chamber, wherein the third and fourth chambers are separated by a second piston movably disposed along the second cylinder, wherein the fourth and fifth chambers are separated by a third piston movably disposed along the second cylinder, wherein the second piston has a second linkage extending through the third chamber and out of the second cylinder, wherein the second linkage is configured to couple with a second suspension member of the vehicle;

a spring disposed between the second and third pistons;

a first conduit coupled to the first chamber and to the fifth chamber; and

a second conduit coupled to the second chamber and to the third chamber, wherein the system is configured to stabilize the first and second suspension members without external feedback influence on the passage of a working medium passing through the first or second conduits.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the first and second conduits consist essentially of substantially continuous conduits configured to exchange a working medium between the first and second cylinders.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the first and second conduits are configured to exchange the working medium passively between the first and second cylinders without a pump of electronic control.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the first piston comprises a first piston member fixedly coupled to the first linkage, a second piston member offset from the first piston member, and a spring member disposed between the first and second piston members, wherein the first and second piston members define another separate chamber between the first and second chambers.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring.