Variable-load suspension for light vehicles

Claim 2

A suspension system for wheeled vehicles having a body subject to wide variations in vehicle load, comprising: selected wheels each being rotatably supported by independent axle means, each axle means being carried on one end of an arm having a substantially horizontal normal disposition, the other end of each arm being pivotally secured to the body for vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the body, a telescopic unit for each wheel having a spring and damper connected between opposite ends of the unit to act in lines of action along substantially the same line, one end of the unit being pivotally connected to the arm adjacent its axle-connected end and the other end of the unit bearing a roller, a curved track secured to the body for guiding the roller therealong means on the arm for sensing its inclination from its normal disposition, and motor driven means controllingly connected to the unit and responsive to the sensing means for inclining the unit in one direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in one direction by a load change and for inclining the unit in the other direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in the opposite direction by a load change, whereby the effective spring and damper constants of the unit are increased and decreased according to the inclination of the arm from its normal disposition in one direction anD the other in response to changes in the load and the track being so shaped that each point on the track which causes the effective spring and damper constants to be proportional to the load simultaneously creates just sufficient spring force to support the body with a normal clearance above the road by compensating for changes in the unit length caused by changes in the load.

Claim 3

A suspension system for wheeled vehicles having a body subject to wide variations in vehicle load, comprising: selected wheels each being rotatably supported by independnet axle means, each axle means being carried on one end of an arm having a substantially horizontal normal disposition, the other end of each arm being pivotally secured to the body for vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the body, a telescopic unit for each wheel having a spring and a damper connected between opposite ends of the unit to act in lines of action along substantially the same line, the telescoping unit spring being a compression spring, one end of the unit being pivotally connected to the arm adjacent its axle connected end and the other end of the unit being pivotally connected to a connecting rod, the other end of the rod being pivotally connected to the body at a center spaced from and lower than the connection between the unit and the arm, means on the arm for sensing its inclination from its normal disposition, and motor driven means controllingly connected to the unit and responsive to the sensing means for inclining the unit in one direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in one direction by a load change and for inclining the unit in the other direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in the opposite direction by a load change, whereby the effective spring and damper constants of the unit are increased and decreased according to the inclination of the arm from its normal disposition in one direction and the other in response to changes in the load, and the pivot center of the lower end of the rod and the rod length being carefully chosen for guiding the upper ends of the unit and the rod along a path for compensating for changes in unit length caused by changes in the load, whereby the clearance between the body and the road is substantially constant under varied loads.

Claim 4

A suspension system for wheeled vehicles having a body subject to wide variations in vehicle load, comprising: selected wheels each being rotatably supported by independnet axle means, each axle means being carried on one end of an arm having a substantially horizontal normal disposition, the other end of each arm being pivotally secured to the body for vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the body, a telescopic unit for each wheel having a spring and a damper connected between opposite ends of the unit to act in lines of action along substantially the same line, the telescoping unit spring being a compression spring, one end of the unit being pivotally connected to the arm adjacent its axle connected end and the other end of the unit being pivotally connected to a connecting rod, the other end of the rod being pivotally connected to the body at a center spaced from and lower than the connection between the unit and the arm, means on the arm for sensing its inclination from its normal disposition, and motor driven means controllingly connected to the unit and responsive to the sensing means for inclining the unit in one direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in one direction by a load change and for inclining the unit in the other direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in the opposite direction by a load change, whereby the effective spring and damper constants of the unit are increased and decreased according to the inclination of the arm from its normal disposition in one direction and the other in response to changes in the load, and the pivot center of the lower end of the rod and the rod length being carefully chosen for guiding the upper ends of the unit and the rod along a path for compensating for changes in unit length caused by changes in the load, whereby the clearance between the body and the road is substantially constant under varied loads.

Claim 5

A suspension system for wheeled vehicles having a body subject to wide variations in vehicle load, comprising: selected wheels each being rotatably supported by independent axle means, each axle means being carried on one end of an arm having a substantially horizontal normal disposition, the other end of each arm being pivotally secured to the body for vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the body, a telescopic unit for each wheel having a spring and a damper connected between opposite ends of the unit to act in lines of action along substantially the same line, the telescoping unit spring being a tension spring, the arm having an extension therefrom projecting away from the pivotal connection of the arm to the body, one end of the unit being pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm extension and the other end of the unit being pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod the other end of the rod being pivotally secured to the body at a center spaced from the arm extension, means on the arm for sensing its inclination from its normal disposition, and motor driven means controllingly connected to the unit and responsive to the sensing means for inclining the unit in one direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in one direction by a load change and for inclining the unit in the other direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in the opposite direction by a load change, whereby the effective spring and damper constants of the unit are increased and decreased according to the inclination of the arm from its normal disposition in one direction and the other in reSponse to changes in the load; and the pivot center of the rod and the respective lengths of the rod and the arm extension all being carefully chosen for guiding the pivotally connected ends of the rod and the unit along a path for compensating for changes in unit length caused by changes in the load, whereby the clearance between the body and the road is substantially constant under varied loads.

Claim 6

A suspension system for wheeled vehicles having a body subject to wide variations in vehicle load, comprising: selected wheels each being rotatably supported by independent axle means, each axle means being carried on one end of an arm having a substantially horizontal normal disposition, the other end of each arm being pivotally secured to the body for vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the body, a telescopic unit for each wheel having a spring and a damper connected between opposite ends of the unit to act in lines of action along substantially the same line, the telescoping unit spring being a tension spring, the arm having an extension therefrom projecting away from the pivotal connection of the arm to the body, one end of the unit being pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm extension and the other end of the unit being pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod the other end of the rod being pivotally secured to the body at a center spaced from the arm extension, means on the arm for sensing its inclination from its normal disposition, and motor driven means controllingly connected to the unit and responsive to the sensing means for inclining the unit in one direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in one direction by a load change and for inclining the unit in the other direction to restore the arm to its normal disposition when the arm is inclined in the opposite direction by a load change, whereby the effective spring and damper constants of the unit are increased and decreased according to the inclination of the arm from its normal disposition in one direction and the other in reSponse to changes in the load; and the pivot center of the rod and the respective lengths of the rod and the arm extension all being carefully chosen for guiding the pivotally connected ends of the rod and the unit along a path for compensating for changes in unit length caused by changes in the load, whereby the clearance between the body and the road is substantially constant under varied loads.