US3604725A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic suspension and steering system for vehicles
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-20
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained oleopneumatic strut suspension system for wheeled vehicles accommodating steering of the wheels and including a pneumatic spring-opposing movement of a fluidsupported piston. In the preferred embodiment the gas spring has a bladder disposed in a porous member such as a perforated tube to minimize damage thereto. The system also includes an additional fluid supply source to compensate for the loading of the vehicle and a bypass around the piston to enable limited movement of the piston before adding additional fluid or acting against the gas spring device. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a steering mechanism mounted on the upper end of the cylinder to rotate the piston to turn the wheel mounted thereon in response to a steering input or force.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymon L Goff
- 👤 Frederick Eugene Dion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G17/048; B60G15/00; B60G15/08; B60G15/12; B60G15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A suspension system for mounting a ground-engaging wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising: a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members and having means forming a cylinder with at least one end thereof closed; a piston adapted for attachment to the other of said members, said piston being disposed in said cylinder and defining therewith a chamber between said one end and the piston; a gas spring having a gas-filled flexible bladder disposed in a fluid reservoir; and passageway means interconnecting said gas spring to said chamber at a predetermined distance from said one end of said cylinder so that movement of the piston toward said one end of said cylinder is opposed by said gas spring and movement of said piston past said passageway means towards saId one end is opposed by a cushion formed by fluid trapped at said one end of the cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A suspension system for mounting a ground-engaging wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising: a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members and having means forming a cylinder with at least one end thereof closed; a piston adapted for attachment to the other of said members, said piston being disposed in said cylinder and defining therewith a chamber between said one end and the piston; a gas spring having a gas-filled flexible bladder disposed in a fluid reservoir; and passageway means interconnecting said gas spring to said chamber at a predetermined distance from said one end of said cylinder so that movement of the piston toward said one end of said cylinder is opposed by said gas spring and movement of said piston past said passageway means towards saId one end is opposed by a cushion formed by fluid trapped at said one end of the cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
A suspension system according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is a load-supporting chamber, wherein said piston defines a second chamber with said cylinder, said second chamber is connected to the gas spring by second passageway means including a valve means to prevent flow from the gas spring to the second chamber so that fluid is forced from either chamber into the reservoir of the gas spring during reciprocation of the piston in the cylinder but is returned only to the load supporting chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
A suspension system for mounting a ground-engaging wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members, said housing having means defining a cylinder, a piston adapted for connection to the other of the members, said piston being reciprocably disposed in said cylinder and defining a pair of fluid chambers therewith, a gas spring comprising a bladder means containing a predetermined volume of pressurized compressible fluid disposed in a fluid reservoir, passageway means interconnecting each of said chambers with said gas spring means connecting one of said pair of chambers including valve means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring to the one chamber so that an increased pressure applied to the fluid in each of said chambers during reciprocation of said piston in said cylinder is applied against said said bladder means to oppose the reciprocation, means regulating the amount of fluid in each of said chambers to compensate for changes in the loading of the vehicle, and means communicating fluid between said chambers enabling a limited relative movement between said cylinder and piston whereby relative movement between said cylinder and piston greater than the predetermined limited amount is opposed by the pressure of the fluid in the bladder means of the gas spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
220 words
A suspension system for mounting a ground-engaging wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members, said housing having means defining a cylinder, a piston adapted for connection to the other of the members, said piston being reciprocably disposed in said cylinder and defining a pair of fluid chambers therewith, a gas spring comprising a bladder means containing a predetermined volume of pressurized compressible fluid disposed in a fluid reservoir, passageway means interconnecting each of said chambers with said gas spring means connecting one of said pair of chambers including valve means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring to the one chamber so that an increased pressure applied to the fluid in each of said chambers during reciprocation of said piston in said cylinder is applied against said said bladder means to oppose the reciprocation, means regulating the amount of fluid in each of said chambers to compensate for changes in the loading of the vehicle, and means communicating fluid between said chambers enabling a limited relative movement between said cylinder and piston whereby relative movement between said cylinder and piston greater than the predetermined limited amount is opposed by the pressure of the fluid in the bladder means of the gas spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A suspension system according to claim 3, wherein said housing is adapted to be attached to said basic support frame member and wherein means adapted for connection to a steering input is mounted on the top of said housing and includes means extending into said cylinder to rotate said piston in response to the steering input.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A suspension system according to claim 4, wherein said means extending into said cylinder includes means forming a slidable connection between said piston and said connector means enabling relative movement therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A suspension system according to claim 5, wherein said slidable connection includes substantially frictionless bearing means acting between said extending means and said piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A suspension system according to claim 3, wherein the other of said pair of chambers is a load-supporting chamber of said system and said passageway means interconnecting said load-supporting chamber to said gas spring permits flow of fluid in either direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A suspension system according to claim 7, wherein said passageway means interconnecting said other chamber to said gas spring includes axially spaced port means in said cylinder so that a flow of fluid from said other chamber to said gas spring means is reduced as said piston approaches the end of said cylinder to increase the resistance to the movement of said piston in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A suspension system according to claim 8, wherein said port means are axially spaced from the end of said cylinder to provide a fluid cushion to prevent metal-to-metal contact between said end of said cylinder and said piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A suspension system according to claim 7, wherein said fluid-regulating means includes valve means enabling the fluid to enter the one chamber during a pressure drop therein and bleed valve means actuated by said piston for draining fluid from said cylinder when the pressure of the fluid therein is greater than that required to support the load applied to said system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A suspension system according to claim 10 Wherein said gas spring and said fluid-regulating means are contained in said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A suspension system for mounting a dirigible wheel to a base support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing for connecting to the basic support structure in fixed assembly, and having a cylinder formed therein, a piston reciprocally and rotatably carried in said cylinder, and having a piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder means on said piston for connecting the same fast to the dirigible wheel for joint turning movement therewith, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing one end of which is adapted for connection to steering for rotating same and the other end of which extends into the other end of said cylinder, means interconnecting said shaft and said piston for joint rotation and for relative axial shifting.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
123 words
A suspension system for mounting a dirigible wheel to a base support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing for connecting to the basic support structure in fixed assembly, and having a cylinder formed therein, a piston reciprocally and rotatably carried in said cylinder, and having a piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder means on said piston for connecting the same fast to the dirigible wheel for joint turning movement therewith, a shaft rotatably mounted on said housing one end of which is adapted for connection to steering for rotating same and the other end of which extends into the other end of said cylinder, means interconnecting said shaft and said piston for joint rotation and for relative axial shifting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The suspension system as defined in claim 12 wherein said interconnecting means comprises means forming a cavity in said piston for telescopically receiving said other end of said shaft, cooperating spline means formed on said shaft and on said piston in the wall of said cavity, and a plurality of balls disposed in said splines to provide an antifriction bearing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The suspension system as defined in claim 12 and including a gas-filled completely enclosed flexible bladder communicating with said cylinder and subject to the pressure in said cylinder for providing an air cushion for said piston.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
A suspension system for mounting a dirigible wheel to a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to a basic support structure of a vehicle, said housing having means defining a cylinder, a piston adapted for attachment to the dirigible wheel, said piston being disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder and defining a pair of chambers therewith, a gas spring means including a bladder means containing a predetermined volume of pressurized gas disposed in a fluid reservoir, passageway means interconnecting each of said chambers to said gas spring means with the passageway means connecting one of said pair of chambers including valve means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring to the one chamber so that movement of said piston in said cylinder is resisted by said gas spring means, and steering means mounted on the housing and connected to said piston, said steering means being adapted for connection to a steering system of said vehicle to rotate said piston in response to a steering input to transmit said input to the dirigible wheel so that said dirigible wheel is supported and steered by said suspension system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
193 words
A suspension system for mounting a dirigible wheel to a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to a basic support structure of a vehicle, said housing having means defining a cylinder, a piston adapted for attachment to the dirigible wheel, said piston being disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder and defining a pair of chambers therewith, a gas spring means including a bladder means containing a predetermined volume of pressurized gas disposed in a fluid reservoir, passageway means interconnecting each of said chambers to said gas spring means with the passageway means connecting one of said pair of chambers including valve means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring to the one chamber so that movement of said piston in said cylinder is resisted by said gas spring means, and steering means mounted on the housing and connected to said piston, said steering means being adapted for connection to a steering system of said vehicle to rotate said piston in response to a steering input to transmit said input to the dirigible wheel so that said dirigible wheel is supported and steered by said suspension system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A suspension system according to claim 15 wherein said steering means is connected to said piston by a telescopic connecting means enabling reciprocation between the said piston and said steering means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A suspension system according to claim 15 wherein said telescopic connecting means includes a spline shaft received in a splined bore with antifriction means disposed therebetween to minimize forces of the telescopic connecting means resisting reciprocation of said piston.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for hydrogaseous suspension of a wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members and having a cavity forming a cylinder, a piston disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder to form a pair of pressure chambers therewith, said piston having a rod extending out of the cylinder and adapted for attachment to the other of said members, a gas spring means including a reservoir with a bladder of a predetermined volume of pressurized gas disposed therein, means interconnecting each of the chambers with said gas spring means with the interconnecting means for one of said pair of chambers including means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring means to the one chamber so that relative movement between said members is resisted by the volume of pressurized gas in said bladder.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for hydrogaseous suspension of a wheel member to a member of a basic support structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of said members and having a cavity forming a cylinder, a piston disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder to form a pair of pressure chambers therewith, said piston having a rod extending out of the cylinder and adapted for attachment to the other of said members, a gas spring means including a reservoir with a bladder of a predetermined volume of pressurized gas disposed therein, means interconnecting each of the chambers with said gas spring means with the interconnecting means for one of said pair of chambers including means for preventing fluid flow from said gas spring means to the one chamber so that relative movement between said members is resisted by the volume of pressurized gas in said bladder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A suspension system according to claim 19 wherein said bladder is disposed in a porous member and contained thereby to minimize damage to the bladder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A suspension system according to claim 19 wherein said porous member is a perforated tube.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
288 words
A system for suspension of a wheel member to the member of a basic frame structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of the members and having a first cavity forming a cylinder with a first and second end, a second cavity adjacent said first cavity defining a reservoir, a bladder of pressurized gas disposed in said reservoir defining a gas spring means, a piston disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder to form a first and second pressure chamber extending between the piston and said first and second ends respectively, said piston having a rod extending out of the cavity and adapted for attachment to the other of the members, first passageway means interconnecting said first chamber of said cylinder to said reservoir, second passageway means interconnecting said second chamber of said cylinder to said reservoir, said second passageway means having check valve means permitting flow of a fluid from said second chamber to said reservoir, and fluid supply means having a first bleed passageway including valve means actuated by said piston enabling draining of fluid from said first chamber as the piston moves toward said second end, and second fluid supply means including check valve means enabling fluid to enter said second chamber as said piston moves toward said first end so that said first fluid supply means removes fluid from said first chamber to shift the piston to the desired equilibrium position and said second supply means enables the addition of fluid to said second chamber as a piston moves toward said first end of said cylinder, the relative movement of said piston in said cylinder being opposed by the pressurized gas in the bladder acting on fluid in said system.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
288 words
A system for suspension of a wheel member to the member of a basic frame structure of a vehicle comprising a housing adapted for attachment to one of the members and having a first cavity forming a cylinder with a first and second end, a second cavity adjacent said first cavity defining a reservoir, a bladder of pressurized gas disposed in said reservoir defining a gas spring means, a piston disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder to form a first and second pressure chamber extending between the piston and said first and second ends respectively, said piston having a rod extending out of the cavity and adapted for attachment to the other of the members, first passageway means interconnecting said first chamber of said cylinder to said reservoir, second passageway means interconnecting said second chamber of said cylinder to said reservoir, said second passageway means having check valve means permitting flow of a fluid from said second chamber to said reservoir, and fluid supply means having a first bleed passageway including valve means actuated by said piston enabling draining of fluid from said first chamber as the piston moves toward said second end, and second fluid supply means including check valve means enabling fluid to enter said second chamber as said piston moves toward said first end so that said first fluid supply means removes fluid from said first chamber to shift the piston to the desired equilibrium position and said second supply means enables the addition of fluid to said second chamber as a piston moves toward said first end of said cylinder, the relative movement of said piston in said cylinder being opposed by the pressurized gas in the bladder acting on fluid in said system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 21 wherein said cylinder includes means interconnecting said first and second chambers enabling limited relative movement of the piston therein at the equilibrium position without drawing in additional fluid from the second fluid supply means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |