Patent US3625539A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3625539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle suspensions
Assignee: Rover Co Ltd
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Filing: 1969-08-19
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1989-08-19
Abstract
Abstract In an antiroll active vehicle suspension comprising hydraulic struts in series with springs, preferably gas springs, with the flow of fluid to and from the struts controlled by control units responsive to lateral acceleration. The struts for all the wheels on each side of the vehicle are controlled by a single unit common to that side of the vehicle. Where the vehicle is a road vehicle with steered front wheels the control units are near the front of the vehicle and respond to a feedback signal from the suspension linkage of the adjacent front wheel. The feedback signal is preferably through a spring and damper in parallel. There can be damping restrictions between the struts and air springs, and in pipes interconnecting the hydraulic systems of the different struts.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J Crouch
- 👤 Peter W R Stubbs
- 👤 Michael W Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; B60G17/01908; B60G17/01925; B60G17/0152
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
In a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheels arranged in two tracks, a suspension system comprising suspension units acting between said vehicle body and said wheels, each said suspension unit including a pressure fluid strut to and from which pressure fluid may flow to vary the loading thereof and spring means in series with said strut, said flow of pressure fluid to said pressure fluid struts arranged in one of said tracks being controlled by a control unit mounted on said vehicle body, each said control unit including valve means for controlling said flow of pressure fluid to vary the loading of said struts associated therewith to resist rolling movement of said vehicle body, and each said control unit further including an inertial mass mounted for responsive rotational movement to horizontal acceleration forces and arranged to actuate said valve means on said responsive movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
In a vehicle having a body and a plurality of wheels arranged in two tracks, a suspension system comprising suspension units acting between said vehicle body and said wheels, each said suspension unit including a pressure fluid strut to and from which pressure fluid may flow to vary the loading thereof and spring means in series with said strut, said flow of pressure fluid to said pressure fluid struts arranged in one of said tracks being controlled by a control unit mounted on said vehicle body, each said control unit including valve means for controlling said flow of pressure fluid to vary the loading of said struts associated therewith to resist rolling movement of said vehicle body, and each said control unit further including an inertial mass mounted for responsive rotational movement to horizontal acceleration forces and arranged to actuate said valve means on said responsive movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A suspension System according to claim 1 wherein each said control unit is mounted on said vehicle body adjacent one of said wheels, said one wheel is mounted on a suspension linkage, said suspension linkage is connected to said control unit by means arranged to transmit suspension movements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A suspension system according to claim 2 wherein each said control unit includes a pressure fluid passageway interconnecting said pressure fluid struts associated with said control unit, and said passageway includes a damping restriction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A suspension system according to claim 3 wherein said spring means of each said suspension unit comprises a gas spring, each gas spring of said suspension units in one of said tracks is connected to said passageway in said associated control unit, and said passageway includes further damping restrictions interposed between said first mentioned damping restriction and said valve means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A suspension system according to claim 4 wherein said inertial mass is mounted on a rotary damper having a horizontal axis, said rotary damper having a body rotatably mounted on said vehicle body and said means connected to said suspension linkage is arranged to transmit suspension movements to said damper body, said rotary damper having a spindle on which said inertial mass in mounted and acting between said damper body and said inertial mass in parallel is further spring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vehicle suspension system according to claim 5 wherein said inertial mass comprises a pendulum, and said valve means of each said control unit comprises a pair of spool valves, said spool valves being operable connected to said pendulum by actuating means that move the spool valves linearly in response to angular movement of said pendulum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A vehicle suspension system according to claim 6 wherein said control units are connected to a common source of pressure fluid, and said spool valves in each said control unit are mounted in a valve block, said valve block including a passageway for conducting pressure fluid from said common source to said valve spools, and including a passageway for conducting pressure fluid from said valve spools to a common return conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A vehicle suspension system according to claim 7 wherein each said control unit is mounted adjacent the front wheels of said vehicle, and at the rear of said vehicle means are provided for sensing the relative distance between the rear wheels and said vehicle body, said means controls the supply of pressure fluid to and from a pressure fluid strut arranged to maintain said relative distance substantially constant, and said means being connected to said common source of pressure fluid.
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) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |