Method and device for wheel camber adjustment

• US 7,673,883 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Baumaschinen GmbH (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Baumaschinen GmbH (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Damm, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US10/543,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,237 Days
• Field of Search: 180/433, 180/436, 280/5.521, 280/86.751, 280/86.757, 280124111-124113
• US Class Current: 280/5.521
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01908 Acceleration or inclination sensors characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/322 with a single pivot point and a straight axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/06 Cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/08 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/09 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/25 Stroke; Height; Displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0194 transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/006 Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor B62D7/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/02 the axle or housing being pivotally mounted on the vehicle , e.g. the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle B60G9/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a device for the adjustment of wheel camber in commercial vehicles, particularly wheeled construction vehicles used for earthworks, particularly on uneven ground. The camber angle is set inventively and automatically by means of a camber cylinder and a wheel pivot unit, as a function of at least one of the driving parameters. For this purpose, the driving parameters, e.g. the axle swing angle, the steering lock angle, the lateral force on the vehicle wheels on the front axle and the absolute inclination of the construction vehicle are detected by sensors, the output signals of which are fed to an electronic control unit as input parameters. The camber angle sets itself as a function of the setting signal from the electronic control unit by means of a camber cylinder and a wheel pivot unit, in accordance with specified control strategies. As well as the self-setting wheel camber adjustment system, the camber cylinder is embodied so that it can still be operated manually.

Claims

1. A device for the adjustment of wheel camber on commercial wheeled vehicles with an axle, comprising:

a camber cylinder directly articulated at a first end to and directly acting upon a wheel pivot unit separately from the frame and the camber cylinder connected at a second end to the axle;

an electronic control unit having at least one sensor and an actuator linked to the electronic control unit with a mechanical connection to the camber cylinder, the electronic control unit configured to control the camber cylinder to extend and retract so that an identical camber angle for both wheels on one axle is set automatically and simultaneously as a function of at least one driving parameter.

2. A device for the adjustment of wheel camber on commercial vehicles as described in claim 1, wherein the wheel camber adjustment device can also be set manually.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor mounted on the front axle and configured to detect the camber angle relative to a carriageway.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the steering lock angle relative to a carriageway and the least one driving parameter is the steering lock angle.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured for determining the lateral force relative to a carriageway and the least one driving parameter is the lateral force.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured for determining the axle swing angle relative to a carriageway and the at least one driving parameter is the axle swing angle, wherein the axle swing angle is the angle between the axle and the frame.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured for determining the absolute angle of inclination of the vehicle and the at least one driving parameter is the absolute angle of inclination.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator mechanically connected to the camber cylinder takes the form of a valve with or without secondary energy.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the electronic control unit having at least two sensors configured to detect at least two of the following driving parameters:

an axle swing angle between the axle and vehicle frame, a steering lock angle, lateral forces acting on the vehicle wheels on the front axle and the absolute inclination of the vehicle in relation to a horizontally-aligned carriageway;

the electronic control unit configured to process the parameters into a signal for controlling the camber cylinder, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to associate an independent processing weight to each driving parameter.