FI112629B - Motor vehicle wheel suspension system - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheel suspension system comprises a wheel hub, with a traction motor(2) mounted on an axle beam(5), to which the wheel(1) has been attached. The traction motor is mounted on the axle beam articulately, mainly by mediation of a longitudinal suspension pin(3) of a vehicle located in the centreline of the wheel, in height direction at a space (1, 1i + 1ii) below the central axis(A) of the wheel in that the wheel is enabled, by adapting itself to the running ground, to tilt freely around the suspension pin irrespective of the tilting of the vehicle or equivalent, and/or of the axle beam. The suspension pin is installed horizontally and is so pivoted in the propulsion direction of the vehicle from the horizontal direction against the direction of rotation of the wheel that the wheel has a positive caster angle.

Description

112629

of the suspension

Hjulupphängningssystem 5

The present invention relates to a wheel suspension arrangement for a vehicle or the like, the wheel suspension arrangement comprising a wheel hub mounted on an axle beam or a traction motor to which the wheel is attached.

10

In prior art structures, the wheel is rigidly mounted on a portion of the axle body, whereby their geometrical structure has also determined the wheel inclination. In addition, the overall tilt of the vehicle has also affected the tilt of the wheel.

15

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new type of wheel support arrangement which avoids the disadvantages of known structures when driving under varying terrain conditions. In order to achieve the objects of the invention, the invention is essentially characterized in that the wheel hub or traction motor 20 is mounted on an axle beam articulated mainly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or the like. by means of a pivoting pin which is located substantially on the center line of the wheel, at an elevation at a distance below the center axis of the wheel so that the wheel can freely tilt around the pivot, adjusting to the running gear. ·. regardless of the inclination of the vehicle or similar and / or axle beam.

; 25

The most important advantage of the solution according to the invention is that it can be used to adjust the wheel inclination according to the chassis and to distribute the surface pressure: evenly. At the same time, friction can be utilized to the fullest. The design requires • i: a relatively wide ring for optimum operation without continuous forced steering.

30

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:. illustrating some structural alternatives of the invention.

1 * 1 «2 112629

Figure 1 is a front elevational and partially sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a wheel-suspension arrangement according to the invention applied to a separately sprung axle assembly.

Figure 2 is a partially sectional view of the structure of Figure 1, seen from Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a side view of a wheel support arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a view in accordance with Fig. 1 of a wheel support arrangement in the terrain.

Figures 5 and 6 show another preferred embodiment of the wheel support arrangement according to the invention.

Figures 1-4 of the drawing thus illustrate a wheel support arrangement according to the invention applied to a separately sprung axle assembly. In the structure of these figures, the axle set consists of "axle halves", i.e. pivot arms 5, pivotally mounted to a connecting piece 8 mounted on a vehicle body (not shown) 6 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, Of course, it is clear that the support arms 5 can also be separately attached to the connecting piece 8 with their own pivot pins. The support arms 5 are provided with spring elements 7, which in the representation of the figures are: * · '; used hydraulic cylinders 7, most preferably connected by hydraulic piping to an external pressure accumulator (not shown). In the illustration, the axle structure Γ: 25 is connected to the vehicle body structures by a vertical pin 9, around which the entire axle is pivotable for guiding. In such a controllable shaft, ·, the control mechanism can be coupled e.g. to the said vertical pin 9. ' · Or the coupling piece 8. It is obvious, of course, that the wheel support arrangement according to the invention can also be used with non-steered axles, although it is not shown in the figures of the drawing.

3, 112629

In the solution according to the invention, the wheels 1 of the vehicle or the like are suspended on the axle assembly as follows. The figures show a drive shaft for which the solution according to the invention is best suited and where the greatest advantages are obtained. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the support arm 5 has a traction motor 2 mounted on each wheel 5 1, most preferably a hydraulic motor (hydrostatic motor) which is pivotally attached to the shaft support arm 5 via a pin 3. The drive motor 2 is thus freely pivotable with respect to the support arm 5 about the pin 3. The shaft of the traction motor 2 is provided with a flange 2a to which the wheel 1 is attached. The axis of the traction motor 2 thus joins the center axis of the wheel 1, denoted by reference numeral A in Figure 10 1. As illustrated in Figure 1, the pin 3 through which the traction motor 2 is secured to the support arm 5 is substantially below the center axis A of the wheel. the aforesaid distance between the pin 3 and the central axis A of the wheel 1 is denoted by the reference 1. As shown in the figures, the direction 15 of the pin 3 is mainly the driving direction of the axle. Each wheel 1 will thus be able to tilt around the pin 3 so that the wheel 1 will be positioned in accordance with the roughness of the terrain or the like.

Figures 1-4 further show that the support arrangement is provided with a damper 4 with which the inclination of the wheel 1 can be suppressed if deemed necessary.

; ·, In the representation of the figures, the hydraulic cylinder 4 is used as a damping device, by means of which the inclination of the wheel 1 can be effectively controlled and where necessary the wheel 1 can be · · ·; lock in place so that its tilting around pin 3 is prevented. The wheel support arrangement is further provided with tilt restraints (not shown), which limit the inclination angle α of the wheels 1 'i': 25 to a desired value such that the wheel 1 cannot "fall over" even in difficult terrain conditions.

The following examines the structure in more detail, as well as the effect of structure dimensions on properties. The selected tire profile (= ratio of tire 30 outer diameter to center hole or tire width ratio to tire outer diameter: *) affects the height of the pin 3 from the chassis to the center of the wheel. Wheel ...: Improved Stability The lower link pin 3 is located, i.e. the ratio of the distance 1 between pin 4 112629 3 and wheel 1 center axle A to wheel center axle A distance from the chassis to wheel radius.

Figure 3 illustrates the so-called. caster angle concept, which can be a crucial influence on the behavior of 5 wheels on the terrain. In Figure 3, the value of the caster angle C is positive, with the axle beam 5 (= support arm 5) slightly rotated about the central axis A of the wheel 1 against the direction of rotation R, with the suspension pin 3 moved. Of course, it is not necessary to rotate the entire axle beam 5 in the manner shown in Figure 3, but the hanging pin 3 can be mounted in the axle beam 5 in the corresponding 10 ways at an angle. A positive caster angle C stabilizes the vehicle at higher speeds. In addition, as the wheel tilts due to an obstacle, it tends to climb over the obstacle, reducing lateral forces on the vehicle body. On a soft chassis, the wheel tends to lean more toward the tire contact. At a negative caster angle, the effect is the opposite.

15

In a multi-axle vehicle, different settings on different axles can be used according to load and behavioral requirements. The size of the caster angle affects the level of self-steering.

As already mentioned above, in the representation of the figures, the wheel suspension is provided with an anti-roll bar, in particular a damping cylinder 4. The damping cylinder 4 \ can be used as single or double-acting hydraulic cylinder depending on the application.

In this case, by blocking all fluid flows in the hydraulic cylinder 4, the wheel 1 is locked in the desired position, and a suitable damping is sought by limiting the fluid flows.

':': 25 When using the double-acting cylinder 4, the wheel 1 can also be forced-adjusted, since in the structure shown in the figures the piston is in the deepest cylinder 4 with the wheel 1 in a vertical position. For example, a very soft,; · * treadmill, or when driving on a slope, may require a straightening. As a spring element 7, one of the following can be used: '; or double-acting hydraulic cylinders as required. The cylinder 7 is preferably connected by a hose or tube to either a spring-loaded or gas-operated pressure accumulator. Fluid Spacing-, *. In a system with another operation, the stiffness of the suspension can be compensated steplessly for both uneven load and terrain slope 5 112629 by increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid in the various spring elements. A vehicle with the structure shown and the marked angles of motion, for example a forestry tractor, can drive about 20 ° on an incline without the frame structure deviating laterally from the horizontal. This has in particular been illustrated with reference to Figure 4.

5

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the structure described above. The wheel support arrangement according to these figures differs from that previously described in that the traction motor 2 is not directly mounted on the axle beam 5, but in the present embodiment the intermediate support 3A is loosely mounted on the axle beam 5 by means of a pivot pin 3 . The vertical distance between the suspension pins 3 and 3 'is indicated in Fig. 5 by reference numeral 1] and the vertical distance between the second pivot pin 3' and the center axis A of the wheel 1 is indicated by the reference Ij + I2. The suspension pins 3,3 'are shown in parallel in the illustration, but they can also be mounted at a slight angle with respect to each other, whereby this solution achieves a similar effect to that described in connection with Fig. 3 (caster angle). The solution according to Figures 5 and 6 has the positioning of the wheel 1 in relation to the terrain, 20 even more freely than with the structure of Figures 1-4.

> 1 I »» a. . The principle of the free-rocking wheel of the invention can be practically applied. . to all known suspension and axle structures, including a wheel with a separate pivot in steering, e.g. Mac Pherson structure. It is still possible,,; 25 that a vehicle with a wheel suspension arrangement according to the invention, e.g.

the forestry tractor has a track mounted around the consecutive wheels of the vehicle:: to improve the vehicle's off-road capability. In this case, the structure may be implemented such that the successive wheels are inclined in the same way and equally, so that the track is inclined with the wheels as a whole. On the other hand, the solution may be: 30 implemented in such a way that the successive wheels are able to tilt individually, in which case the track must be designed to rotate in order to adapt to the variations in the chassis gradients.

6, 112629

The wheel support arrangement according to the invention can also be applied in a vehicle equipped with a mechanical transmission, unlike the illustration. The mechanical transmission can then be accomplished by positioning the drive link at the center of the wheel (center wheel and vertical center plane of the wheel) and providing the drive shaft with a delicate bearing telescopic structure that allows for changes in the drive shaft length. Further, the wheel support arrangement can also be applied to non-trolley wheels, i.e. free-rotating wheels, whereby, for example, by applying the structure of FIG. Various embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the appended claims 10.

? #

Claims (10)

A wheel suspension system for a vehicle or equivalent, the suspension system comprising a wheel hub (5) mounted on a wheel hub (5), respectively. a drive motor (2) mounted on an axle beam 5, to which / a wheel (1) is attached, characterized in that the wheel hub and / or the wheel hub, respectively. the drive motor (2) is mounted / mounted on the axle beam (5) pivotally by mediating a substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle or the corresponding progressive suspension pin (3), which suspension pin (3) is located substantially on the center line of the wheel (1). a distance (Ι, ΙΙ) below the center axis (A) of the wheel (1) in such a way that the wheel (1) adjusts to the driving surface freely to lean around the suspension pin (3) regardless of the inclination of the vehicle or the corresponding and / or shaft beam (5). Wheel suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension pin (3) is mounted substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. Wheel suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that the suspension pin (3) in the forward direction of the vehicle is pivoted from horizontal to the direction of rotation (R) of the wheel (1) in such a way that the wheel has one. 20 positive caster angle (C). * * '·' 4. Wheel suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel hub and / or the wheel hub, respectively. the drive motor (2) is connected / connected directly to the shaft beam (5) by mediating the suspension pin (3). 25 ;;; 5. A wheel suspension system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the suspension pin (3) mounted on the shaft beam (5) is '···' pivotally attached to an intermediate support (3A), to which the wheel hub and the rear axle respectively. the drive motor (2) is pivotally secured by means of a second suspension pin (3 '), which is at least approximately; Parallel to the suspension pin (3) between the shaft beam (5) and the intermediate support (3A). 10 112629 Wheel suspension system according to claim 5, characterized in that the suspension pins (3,3 ') are mounted at a slight angle to each other. 7. Wheel suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel suspension system is provided with an attenuator (4) arranged between the axle beam (5) and the wheel hub (2) for damping the inclination of the wheel ( 1). Wheel suspension system according to claim 7, characterized in that the damper (4) is hydraulic, hydropneumatic or pneumatic. Wheel suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive motor (2) is a hydraulic motor known per se. Wheel suspension system according to any of the preceding claims in a vehicle with two or more successive axles, characterized in that a caterpillar chain running endlessly along at least two consecutive wheels is arranged.