EP0321310A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Vehicle suspension
Assignee: Whitnash PLC
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Filing: 1988-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-19
Abstract
Abstract The vehicle suspension comprises first and second pairs of wheels 10, 11 connected to a vehicle structure by respective first and second pairs of fluid filled struts 15, 24. The first pair of struts is connected to the second pair of struts through fluid flow paths P′, P˝ whereby changes in fluid pressure applied to one strut of the first pair will be transmitted to one strut of the second pair to resist roll of the vehicle. A control valve 32′, 32˝ is provided in each path P′, P˝ to control the fluid flow along its path. Each valve includes a valve member 39 movable against a resistance in response to pressure in the upstream part of the path at which the valve member will move to allow fluid to flow along the path between the struts 15, 24 of that path can be varied by operation of the load ratio control means 61.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Arnold Bass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/033; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/80; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/20; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/01; B60G2800/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A vehicle suspension on a wheel mounted structure comprising first and second pairs of wheels (10, 11) connected to the structure by respective first and second pairs of fluid filled struts (15, 24), the first pair of struts being connected to the second pair of struts through fluid flow paths (P′, P˝) whereby changes in fluid pressure applied to one of the first pair of struts will be transmitted to one of the second pair of struts to resist roll of the structure characterised in that control valve means (32′, 32˝) is provided in each path (P′, P˝) to control the fluid flow along its path, each control valve means includes a valve member (39) movable against a resistance in response to pressure in part (38) of said path, and a variable load ratio control means (61) is provided to enable the load required to move the valve member (39) against the resistance to be varied whereby the pressure in said part (38) of the path (P′) at which the valve member (39) will move to allow fluid to flow along the path (P′) between the struts (15, 24) of that path can be varied by operations of the load ratio control means (61).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A vehicle suspension on a wheel mounted structure comprising first and second pairs of wheels (10, 11) connected to the structure by respective first and second pairs of fluid filled struts (15, 24), the first pair of struts being connected to the second pair of struts through fluid flow paths (P′, P˝) whereby changes in fluid pressure applied to one of the first pair of struts will be transmitted to one of the second pair of struts to resist roll of the structure characterised in that control valve means (32′, 32˝) is provided in each path (P′, P˝) to control the fluid flow along its path, each control valve means includes a valve member (39) movable against a resistance in response to pressure in part (38) of said path, and a variable load ratio control means (61) is provided to enable the load required to move the valve member (39) against the resistance to be varied whereby the pressure in said part (38) of the path (P′) at which the valve member (39) will move to allow fluid to flow along the path (P′) between the struts (15, 24) of that path can be varied by operations of the load ratio control means (61).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 1 in which the valve member (39) is movable against the resistance through the load ratio control means (61).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 2 characterised in that the load ratio control means comprises pivotally mounted lever means (62, 63) which provides a load transmission device whereby an input load applied one portion (63) of the lever means provide an output load at another portion (62) of the lever means at a desired input to output load ratio.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 3 characterised in that lever means comprises first and second pivotally mounted and co-operable levers (62, 63), one of which receives in input load and the other of which provides the output load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 4 characterised in that one of the levers (63) is of variable length to enable the ratio between input and output loading to be varied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle suspension according to any preceding characterised in that the resistance is provided by a second valve member (39a) to which is applied fluid under pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle suspension according to any preceding characterised in that the resistance is provided by a second valve member (39a) to which is applied fluid under pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 6 characterised in that pressure of fluid in a second part (72) of the flow path (P′) downstream of the first said valve member (39) is applied to the second valve member (39a) to provide the resistance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
A vehicle suspension according to any preceding claim characterised in that the valve member (39, 39a) includes a non-return valve (47, 47a) which is arranged to open and allow fluid to flow along the path (P′) between the first strut (15) and the second strut (24) as a result of movement of the valve member (39) against the resistance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 8 characterised in that the pressure of fluid downstream of the first valve member (39) causes the second valve member (39a) to resist further movement of the first valve member and when pressure in the path upstream and downstream of the first valve member (39) is balanced the load applied by the second valve member (39a) results in the non-return valve (47) of the first valve member closing to prevent further flow of fluid along the path (P′) between said first strut (15) and the second strut (24).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 9 characterised in that at least the first valve member (39) undergoes a shuttling movement until the point of balance is reached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vehicle suspension according to any of Claims 6 to 10 characterised in that the first valve member (39) moves against the resistance of the second valve member (39a) to control the flow of fluid in one direction along the path (P′) between and first strut (15) to the second strut (24) and in the same way the second valve member (39a) moves against a resistance provided by the first valve member (39) to control flow of fluid in an opposite direction along the path (P′) the load ratio control means (61) also controlling the load required to move the second valve member (39a) against the resistance provided by the first valve member (39).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicle suspension according to Claim 11 characterised in that each path (P′, P˝) includes two path sections (46, 70), flow along the first (46) one of which is controlled by the first valve member (39) whereby fluid flowing in said one direction along the path flows through the first section, and flow along the second of which is controlled by the second valve member (39a) whereby fluid flowing in said opposite direction along the path flows through the second section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle suspension according to any preceding claim characterised in that the load ratio control means (61) for each control valve means (32′, 32˝) are ganged together to enable both load ratio control means to be adjusted simultaneously.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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