AU2004202993A1 - Wide based suspension - Google Patents

Description

FROM RJMORWOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:25PM

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD PATENT WIDE BASED SUSPENSION The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04 FROM RJMORWOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:25PM PS 1 Wide Based Suspension System.

This invention relates to improvements in stability of Road Transport Vehicles.

The main intention of this invention is to make roads and highways safer for the travelling public by improving the stability of Heavy Transport Vehicles, Fuel Tankers, Double-decker Cattle Transports and the like, which in turn reduces the chance of a loaded vehicle rolling after taking evasive action to avoid a collision, or simply trying to negotiate a corner too quickly. There have been many proposals to improve road transport stability by using many versions of suspension systems most of which are a narrow based type suspension, being that the suspension system or mechanism is usually placed under chassis rail or at least in between a pair of wheels on any given axle.

The narrow based suspensions have inherent stability shortcomings by nature of the load-bearing member, which has more difficulty in stabilising a high load than a wide based suspension member would have.

The stability problems would be vastly improved by relocating the suspension members to the extreme outside edge of any given vehicle.

These suspension members could be made from springs, air bags, cables or other construction methods or materials.

The most favoured form of suspension member would most likely be air bags as they have proven to be superior to other forms, giving a better ride, comfort, less damage to fi-eight and being regarded as a road friendly suspension.

It will be necessary to re-arrange suspension components and vehicle cross member supports to accept this Wide Based Suspension System.

It is sometimes normal practice to have only two airbags for each axle and generally speaking, transport vehicles do not have airbags on the steering or front axle/s, where in normally, transport vehicles COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04 FROM RJMORWOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:26PM P7 2 have parabolic or leaf springs on the front axles and airbag suspensions to rear of these.

To assist with understanding the concept, reference will be made to relevant drawings at each point of discussion on each corresponding section of improvement.

In the drawings: DRAWING 1 FIG.1 shows one example of a wide based suspension system according to this concept as viewed from above.

DRAWING 1 FIG. 2 shows the same concept as FIG. 1 in a side view.

Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the suspension components 1 and 2 are situated at the very extreme edge of the vehicle.

FIG. 2 shows the same suspension components I and 2 as in FIG. 1, which is effectively showing the positioning of the suspension components I and 2 in front of and behind each individual axle.

It is proposed that this concept can be used on the construction of new vehicles or even modifying or upgrading used vehicles and will improve stability by utilising wide based air bag or other springing systems on all axles, further more it is understandable that if two (2) pairs or four air bags or other suspension components were utilized for each individual axle these suspension components could be of a lighter weight construction.

DRAWING I FIG.I shows the difference in width from current Narrow Based Suspension of approximately 950 m. m. to the Wide Based Suspension width of approximately 2300 m. m.

On vehicles that have a Wide Based Suspension System installed one is then able to construct a mechanism system, where in relation to articulated vehicles, load is transferred from an articulated trailer through above mentioned Wide Based Suspension System giving a much improved stability at articulation point at the forward end of semi- trailers both on prime movers and dollies of multiple trailer units or road trains.

DRAWING 2 FIG.3 and FIG.4 shows that by installing a roller 6 on each extreme side of load carrying Prime Mover and or dollies and a COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04 FROM RJMORWOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:26PM PE running surface 7 or platform 7 to the underside of semi-trailer for a roller 6 to run along as articulation occurs, which in effect gives a vertical line of load carrying support at extreme width of trailer down to the roadway through the above mentioned wide based suspension components I and 2 and 3. These rollers 6 need to be attached to suspension cross members directly above the load carrying suspension components 1 and 2 and 3, also these rollers 6 need to be able to rotate on an axis 5 in line with articulation point 4 or turntable 4 pivot point 5 in a horizontal plane 5 across the vehicle which allows vehicle to flex at the coupling point 4 to negotiate hills and hollows on the roadways. This system would utilize existing quick hitch turntables 4 already in use, allowing them to be converted for use on a wide based suspension 1 and 2 and 3 vehicle, these quick hitch turntables 4, in some countries are also known as a fifth whecl 4.

DRAWING 3 FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 shows a better way to achieve an articulation point for a wide based suspension land 2 and 3 vehicle is install or construct a totally new type of turntable 4 which will be called an articulation frame 9 because it doesn't look anything like a turntable 4.

One way to describe the construction method of building an articulation frame 9 is to have three large circles or rings of steel or metal, of which, each circle will just fit inside each other, being the first or outside circle is just a little larger than the second circle so that the second circle will fit inside the before mentioned outside circle. Then a third circle is made to fit neatly inside the second circle, which then makes the second circle the centre or the middle of the three circles. The outside or largest circle needs to be almost big enough in radius or circumference to be as wide as the vehicle it is to be fitted to. These circles need to be made of a matcrial suitable for the application and robust enough to satisfy engineering requirements.

DRAWING 3 FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 The next step is to cut the three circles at a point a little more than in half or cutting at about 4 (four) o'clock 10 and 8 (eight) o'clock 12 and discarding the pieces taken out of between 4 o'clock 10 and 8 o'clock 12. The outside and inside now semi-circles 9 are to be fixed or mounted onto the prime-mover or dolly which ever is applicable so COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04 FROM RJMORWOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:27PM P9 4 the towing unit and to the front as apposed to the rear of the articulation point 13, these outside and inside semi-circles are to guide the centre or remaining semi-circle 9 which is to be mounted or fixed to the underside of the semi-trailer 8, which when the before mentioned semi-trailer 8 is attached or coupled to its towing prime-mover or dolly the centre semi-circle 9 slots or locks into its working position which is in between the previous mentioned outside and inside semicircles 9.

The centre semi-circle 9 has several unlockable locking plates mounted to the underside, which, when rotated on there own mounting pin the locking plates then lay parallel or in line with centre semi-circle 9 allowing semi-trailer 8 to be un-coupled. When reverse or coupling operation is required Prime Mover or Dolly is manoeuvred underneath parked semi-trailer 8 and then centre semicircle 9 is lowered into operational position between outside and inside semi-circle 9 and then locking plates are rotated and locked in position to prevent accidental uncoupling.

The above mentioned outside and inside semi-circles 9 at attachment point need to have a pivot 14 or rotatable mounting 14 to allow movement for vehicle to travel up and down to negotiate hills and hollows in similar style to the older model or deleted turntable 4. These pivots 14 will be fixed or mounted at a far wider position adjacent to or almost at extreme width of the vehicle.

The articulation frame 9 pivots 14 are in effect at the same position as the previously mentioned rollers 6 (DRAWING 2 FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

This concept totally eliminates the older style turntable 4 and the need for rollers 6 to convert narrow based articulation 4 and suspension system to the far more stable Wide Based Articulation Frame 9 and Suspension System (DRAWING 1 FIG. I and FIG. 2).

This new Articulation Frame 9 allows a much more stable and safer unit to be operated with less moving parts and lighter weight which then in turn allows more profitable freight load to be carried, than is required to utilize the older type existing turntable 4 and before COMS 10 No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04 FROM RJMORJOOD FAX NO. Jul. 04 2004 04:27PM mentioned roller 6 system to match up with Wide Based Suspension System 1 and 2.

DRAWING 3 FIG 7 An added advantage of this new articulation frame 9 is that an anti-jack-knifing device 16 can be easily added by simply fixing or mounting a stopper 16 or block 16 to the underside of semi- trailer 8 at a point called six o'clock, when viewing from the rear of articulation point 9. The block 16 simply engages or stops the ends of previously mentioned out-side and in-side semi-circles 9, which are fixed to towing vehicle and rotate about ;an imaginary axis 13 at a centre point of the articulation frame 9, in turn limiting the amount of articulation 9 travel available therefore limiting the possibility of a disastrous jackknife situation.

The before mentioned imaginary axis 13 is equal to or the same point as the older style king pin or towing point which couples with similar older style turntable 4, because there is no longer any need for any coupling system at this central point 4, semi-trailers 8 can therefore be manufactured from lighter gauge cross member material because the new Articulation Frame 9 allows the load bearing points to be spread to the extreme width of vehicle instead of concentrating :1 load bearing point at close to centre of semi-trailer 8 as in older type narrow based turntables 4, this also allows for lighter weight materials to be used which allows for more load to be carried as previously mentioned.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04

I

Claims (7)

1. A vehicle suspension load carrying device being situated in proximity to the widest part of a vehicle, each load carrying device can be operated or controlled by air, hydraulic, steel leaf spring or many other forms of construction material.

2. Each load carrying device described in claim 1 can be attached to or resting against necessary cross member, beams or suspension components.

3. The load carrying devices as claimed in claims 1 and 2 can have any number of said devices per each axle.

4. In conjunction with before claimed suspension components in claims 1, 2 and 3 a suspension stability roller can be positioned adjacent to an alignment with turntable kingpin which in turn contacts with underside of above load carrying device whereby providing added stability.

Furthermore the before mentioned turntable and roller system in claim 4 can be replaced with an articulation frame, being comprised of large diameter semi circular sections placed in alignment with each other.

6. When the articulation frame before mentioned in claim 5 is fitted there can then be mounted or positioned an anti jack-knifing device in line with before mentioned large diameter semi circular sections whereby in the operation of articulation the centre section will rotate in a direction towards the mounted anti jack-knifing device, when rotating section contacts anti jack-knifing device articulation can no longer happen in that direction whereby minimising danger to operators.

7. The suspension and articulation components are substantially hear in described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Rodney George Morwood 2 nd July 2004. Joan Elizabeth Morwood COMS ID No: SBMI-00815330 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:27 Date 2004-07-04