Trim-correcting devices for vehicles

Claim 2

A trim-correcting device for automobile vehicles having a chassis and body, comprising: a hydraulic jack coupling each wheel suspension of at least one of the front or rear sets of wheels to the vehicle body; means for supplying fluid under pressure to each jack; means for discharging fluid from each jack; a time-delay action detection device for determining the height of the chassis with respect to the ground, said detection device cooperating with said supplying means and said discharging means; means for distributing fluid under pressure to each jack in response to the differential position of said jacks; throttling members for the discharge flow from the jacks; a common control independent of that of the supply alone, coupling the detection device to the supplying means and discharge means, for simultaneously actuating said supplying and discharge means to correctly lower the trim of the vehicle.

Claim 3

A trim-correcting device for automobile vehicles having a chassis, comprising: a hydraulic jack coupling each wheel suspension of at least one of the front or rear sets of wheels to the vehicle body; means for supplying fluid under pressure to each jack; means for discharging fluid from each jack; a time-delay action detection devices for determining the height of the chassis with respect to the ground, said detection device cooperating with said supplying means and said discharging means; means for distributing fluid under pressure to each jack in response to the differential position of said jacks; wherein the distributing means comprises, in a body fixed on the body of the vehicle, two concentric distribution members, a core and a rotor, rotatable with respect to each other and respectively connected by a rod system to the parts which are movable with respect to the body of each jack of the set of wheels considered, these members and the distributor body forming two zones of radial distribution passages spaced apart axially, each of which constitutes a three-way distributor, the first zone comprising an inlet channel coupled to a source of supply of fluid under pressure placed under the control of the said time-delayed detection device, and an outlet channel coupled to each jack, the second zone comprising two inlet channels connected to the jacks and an outlet channel connected to a discharge valve for the jacks, placed under the control of the said time-delayed detection device, the arrangement of the core and the rotor being such that any angular displacement of one with respect to the other, corresponding to a different condition of load on the wheel suspensions of the set of wheels, tends to close one of the said channels connected to one of the jacks and to open the other, non-return valves being provided between the outlet channels of the first zone and the jacks and between the jacks and the inlet channels of the second zone.

Claim 4

A trim-correcting device for automobile vehicles having a chassis, comprising: a hydraulic jack coupling each wheel suspension of at least one of the front or rear sets of wheels to the vehicle body; means for supplying fluid under pressure to each jack; means for discharging fluid from each jack; a time-delay action detection devices for determining the height of the chassis with respect to the ground, said detection device cooperating with said supplying means and said discharging means; means for distributing fluid under pressure to each jack in response to the differential position of said jacks; wherein the distributing means comprises, in a body fixed on the body of the vehicle, two concentric distribution members, a core and a rotor, rotatable with respect to each other and respectively connected by a rod system to the parts which are movable with respect to the body of each jack of the set of wheels considered, these members and the distributor body forming two zones of radial distribution passages spaced apart axially, each of which constitutes a three-way distributor, the first zone comprising an inlet channel coupled to a source of supply of fluid under pressure placed under the control of the said time-delayed detection device, and an outlet channel coupled to each jack, the second zone comprising two inlet channels connected to the jacks and an outlet channel connected to a discharge valve for the jacks, placed under the control of the said time-delayed detection device, the arrangement of the core and the rotor being such that any angular displacement of one with respect to the other, corresponding to a different condition of load on the wheel suspensions of the set of wheels, tends to close one of the said channels connected to one of the jacks and to open the other, non-return valves being provided between the outlet channels of the first zone and the jacks and between the jacks and the inlet channels of the second zone.

Claim 5

A trim-correcting device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that, in each of the said zones of the distributing means, the rotor forms with the body three angularly-spaced cavities into which the said three channels deliver, and has three conduits for providing communication of these cavities with two intercommunicating cavities formed between the core and the rotor, one of the said intercommunicating cavities overlapping two of the said conduits of the rotor which correspond to the two channels connected to the jacks, for equalizing the load of the wheel suspensions of the set of wheels.

Claim 6

A trim-corrector device for automobile vehicles having a chassis and body, comprising: a hydraulic jack coupling each wheel suspension of at least one of the front or rear sets of wheels to the vehicle body; means for supplying fluid under pressure to each jack; means for discharging fluId from each jack; a time-delay action detection device for determining the height of the chassis with respect to the ground, said detection device cooperating with said supplying means and said discharging means; means for distributing fluid under pressure to each jack in response to the differential position of said jacks; wherein the distributing means comprises, in a body fixed on the vehicle body, two concentric distribution members forming a rotor and an interior core rotatably mounted with respect to each other, a control means for said distributing means comprising, for each of said distribution members, an angular-positioning rod system coupling said member to a part of the corresponding jack movable with respect to the vehicle body, said members and the distributor body constituting a three-way distributor comprising one inlet channel coupled to the supply means and two outlet channels coupled to said jacks, the arrangement of the distribution passages between the core and the rotor being such that any angular displacement of one with respect to the other corresponding to the differential state of the jacks tends, upon discharge, to close the supply channel of the jack which tends to be discharged less rapidly, the supply channel of the jack which tends to be discharged more rapidly, remaining open.

Claim 7

A trim-corrector device for automobile vehicles having a chassis and body, comprising: a hydraulic jack coupling each wheel suspension of at least one of the front or rear sets of wheels to the vehicle body; means for supplying fluid under pressure to each jack; means for discharging fluId from each jack; a time-delay action detection device for determining the height of the chassis with respect to the ground, said detection device cooperating with said supplying means and said discharging means; means for distributing fluid under pressure to each jack in response to the differential position of said jacks; wherein the distributing means comprises, in a body fixed on the vehicle body, two concentric distribution members forming a rotor and an interior core rotatably mounted with respect to each other, a control means for said distributing means comprising, for each of said distribution members, an angular-positioning rod system coupling said member to a part of the corresponding jack movable with respect to the vehicle body, said members and the distributor body constituting a three-way distributor comprising one inlet channel coupled to the supply means and two outlet channels coupled to said jacks, the arrangement of the distribution passages between the core and the rotor being such that any angular displacement of one with respect to the other corresponding to the differential state of the jacks tends, upon discharge, to close the supply channel of the jack which tends to be discharged less rapidly, the supply channel of the jack which tends to be discharged more rapidly, remaining open.

Claim 8

A trim-correcting device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the distributing means comprises a distribution unit for ensuring selective supply to the jacks, said unit comprising an electro-magnetic control with an electric detection contact for determining the differential condition of the jacks.

Claim 9

A trim-correcting device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the said electric detection contact for determining the differential state of the jacks comprises two co-operating elements respectively fixed to an angular positioning rod system which couples them to a corresponding part of the jack, movable with respect to the vehicle body.

Claim 10

A trim-corrector device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that it comprises, for each jack, two electric contact breakers actuatable for pre-determined extreme cylinder volumes, the contact-breaker assemblies co-operating with two relays effecting the control of the supply and discharge means in dependence on the height-detection device.