FR2560122A1 - SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES FOR INCLINING THE CHASSIS IN TURNS - Google Patents

Abstract

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES ALLOWING TILTING OF THE CHASSIS IN TURNS. TELESCOPIC ELEMENTS 24, 24 LENGTHENING AND CONTRACTING UNDER THE EFFECT OF A LIQUID PRESSURE CONTROLLED BY A STEERING MECHANISM ARE IN CONNECTION WITH SUSPENSION SPRINGS 14, 14. WHEN THE VEHICLE MAKES A TURN, CHASSIS 2 IS DRIVEN A TILT TOWARDS THE CENTER OF ROTATION UNDER THE EFFECT OF THE TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT OF THE TELESCOPIC ELEMENTS 24, 24 DEPENDING ON THE STEERING OPERATION. THE PRESSURE OF THE LIQUID CAN BE PROVIDED BY A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER 26 CONTAINING A PISTON 27 THE MOVEMENT OF WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM 17, 18, 20. ALTERNATIVELY, A LIQUID COMPRESSED BY A PUMP CAN BE INTRODUCED BY THE INTERMEDIATE OF A CONTROL VALVE WHICH IS ACTIVATED IN RESPONSE TO THE STEERING MECHANISM 17, 18, 20. WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS A SATISFACTORY DRIVING SENSE, SIMILAR TO A MOTORCYCLE, CAN BE EXPERIENCED.

Description

256012-2

  Suspension device for vehicles allowing a

  tilt of the chassis in turns.

  The present invention relates to a device

  for a vehicle such as an automobile

  bile or a motor tricycle equipping at least one of a pair of wheels right and left. In a vehicle equipped with a pair of right and left wheels of this type, the body tends to tilt outward from the side opposite to the center of rotation of the vehicle When it veers, under the effect of the force centrifugal. Moreover, in the case of a motorcycle, the turn is made while leaning inward. In other words, the motorcycle

  turns into an inclined state. This invention

  The purpose of the invention is to obtain the inclination of an automobile body or a motor tricycle towards the center of rotation when the latter is rotating, so that

  that the driver of the automobile or motor tricycle

  risé can experience the same type of sensations or

  of driving impressions than in the case of a motorcycle

Cyclette.

  An example of a motor tricycle of this type that can tilt towards the center of rotation as it turns, is described in the publication of the

  Japanese patent (Kokai Tokkyo Koho) n Sho 54-25033.

  This motor tricycle has a pair of front right and left wheels and a rear wheel. It is also designed in such a way that when it turns, the driver

  shifts its center of gravity towards the rotational center

  to compensate for the centrifugal force and

  lean the vehicle chassis towards the center of rotation

  tion. As this motor tricycle is of a saddle type, as in the case of a current motorcycle, the driver can relatively easily move his weight to tilt the vehicle chassis as

  described above. However, in the case of an automobile

  classic bile, where the driver sits on a seat, it is not very easy for him to tip the body of the vehicle by moving his center of gravity. The present invention therefore aims to provide a suspension device for vehicles, by means of which the vehicle frame can automatically be tilted under the effect of a steering operation, and without the need for the driver to move his weight in that direction, whether the vehicle is

  saddle type or seat type.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a suspension device for the vehicle in which the entire length of a spring of

  suspension is modified by expansion and contraction.

  a telescopic element integral with said suspension spring, thereby bringing the vehicle bodywork

to bow.

  A further object of the present invention

  The invention is to provide a vehicle suspension device, wherein said telescopic member is expanded and contracted by means of pressure.

  fluid regulated by a steering mechanism.

  In order to achieve the above objects, the suspension device of the present invention comprises a telescopic element whose elongation and contraction are caused by a pressure of

  fluid regulated by a steering mechanism, and

  of a suspension spring such that when a vehicle turns, said telescopic member elongates and contracts according to the steering operation, thereby causing the vehicle body

  to tilt towards the center of rotation.

  Said liquid pressure may be supplied to said telescopic element by a hydraulic cylinder containing a piston whose movement is connected to said steering mechanism. Alternatively, a liquid compressed by a motor-driven pump can be supplied to said telescopic member through a regulating valve which operates in response to said

steering mechanism.

  According to the present invention, when the vehicle turns, the driver may experience the same feeling or impression of driving

than in the case of a motorcycle.

  These and other goals and the characteristics

  The features of the present invention will be apparent from

  reading the detailed description below,

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention, when the vehicle follows a straight path; - Figure 2 is a front view of the same embodiment but showing the case of a vehicle making a turn; FIG. 3 is a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention, when the vehicle follows a rectilinear trajectory, but in which the hydraulic system is not represented; - Figure 4 is a front view of the hydraulic system of the above embodiment, when the vehicle follows a straight path; - Figure 5 is a diagram showing part of the hydraulic system at a certain time;

  FIGS. 6 and 7 are views

  sensing part of the hydraulic system when the vehicle is turning; - Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view of a control valve; Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8; and - Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a concrete embodiment of a suspension device.

  Preferred embodiments of the invention

  in which this is applied to a motor tricycle having a pair of front wheels and a rear wheel, are hereinafter described, reference being made to

in the accompanying drawings.

  Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. More specifically, Figure 1 is a front view of a suspension device when the vehicle follows a straight path, and Figure 2 is a front view of the same device but in the case where the vehicle turns to the left. The

  "right" or "left" expressions used here

  the right or left directions as seen by the driver. A left front wheel is designated 11, a right front wheel is designated 12 and the body of a motor tricycle is designated 2. Said left and right front wheels 11, 12 of the rockets 31, 32 which are connected arms 41, 52 are respectively integral with said right and left front wheels 11 and 12. The upper ends of said rockets 31, 32 are connected to upper arms 61, 62 by ball joints 71, 72 respectively. The other ends of the lower arms 41, 42 pivot relative to the frame 2 on lugs 81, 82, and the other ends of the upper arms 61, 62 pivot with respect to the frame 2 on lugs 91 and 92 'The arrangement described herein above is the suspension

so-called "double-triangle".

  Said rockets 31, 32 are provided with arms

256 0 1 2 2

  rockets 101, 102 extending diagonally rearward thereof. The rocket arms 101, 102 are connected to coupling bars 121, 122 by means of ball joints 111, 112. The other ends of said coupling bars 121, 122 are respectively pivotally mounted at the two ends of a slide 13. Said slide 13 slides on the frame 2 by means of a bearing 21. Said slide 13 is provided in its central part with a rack 17 in engagement

  with a pinion 18 mounted on a steering shaft 19.

The steering wheel is designated in 20.

  The right and left suspension springs are designated respectively by 141 and 142. These suspension springs 141, 142 are provided in their

  upper parts of telescopic elements with

  241, 242 comprising a piston 22 and a cylinder 23. The upper ends of said suspension springs 141, 142 are fixed to the frame 2 by pivots 151, 152 and by said lugs 91 92 while the lower ends of said springs

  suspension 141, 142 shall be fixed for the international

  mediates of said lower arms 41, 42 by

pivots 161, 162.

  The cylinders 231, 232 of said elements

  241, 242 communicate respectively with

  cylinder chambers 261, 262 of a hydraulic cylinder

  by means of hydraulic lines

  251, 252. Inside said hydraulic cylinder 26, a hydraulic piston 27 adapted to separate said cylinder chambers 261, 262 is mounted so as to move by reciprocating motions. A piston pin 28 of said hydraulic piston 27 is connected

  said slide 13 by means of an arm 29.

  Inside said cylinder 23, the hydraulic pipe

  25 and the hydraulic cylinder 26 are filled with oil.

  When the vehicle follows a straight

  line, the gear 18 is engaged with the rack

  17 in its central part, as shown in Figure 1.

  However, when the vehicle prepares for example to turn to the left, the steering wheel 20 is turned clockwise, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2. Therefore, under the effect of the rotation of said pinion 18, the slide 13 slides to the right, as indicated by an arrow b. As the hydraulic piston 27 is also moved to the right inside the hydraulic cylinder 26 under the effect of the movement of said slide 13, the oil contained in the cylinder chamber 262 is transferred to the cylinder 232 via the piping

  252 and flows into the cylinder chamber

  261 from the cylinder 231 through

  As the coil springs 301, 302 of the suspension springs 141, 142 have a high rigidity and practically no elasticity, the cylinder 232 moves upwards under the effect of the hydraulic pressure acting between the 232 cylinder and the piston 222 (that is to say that the telescopic member 242 extends), the entire suspension spring 142 extends. Moreover, the entire suspension spring 141 is shortened since the cylinder 231 moves downwards,

  that is, the telescopic member 241 is

  tows. As a result, the suspension spring 142 pushes the lower arm 42 downwardly relative to the frame 2, while the suspension spring 141

  raises the lower arm 41 relative to the frame 2.

  At this time, said upper arms 61, 62 follow the movement of said lower arms 41, 42 'However, as the wheels 12' 11 are normally in contact

  with the ground, When the respective elements move

  As described above, the chassis 2 ends up tilting to the left, that is, towards the center of rotation (the front wheels 11, 12 also tilting) as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, the vehicle makes a bend

in the case of a motorcycle.

  Note, about the description made

  above, as both ends of

  bucket 13 are connected to said rocket arms 101, 102

  by said coupling bars 121, 122 respectively

  According to the movement of the slider 13, the rockets 31, 32 rotate relative to the rocket pivots K1, K2, and as soon as the chassis 2 begins to tilt, as described above, the front wheels 11, 12 are steered. Although a left turn has been described in detail below, the right turn is

also in the same way.

  Figures 3 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, parts identical or corresponding to those mentioned in connection with the first embodiment, are designated by the same reference numbers. In this embodiment, the hydraulic system suitable for introducing or discharging the oil into or out of a cylinder 23 is different from that of the first embodiment described. However, there are no other significant differences between these two embodiments (although the hydraulic system is not shown), as shown

  immediately a comparison of Figures 3 and 1.

  The only minor differences represented in the

  FIG. 3 shows that the upper arm 6 is mounted in

  below a lug 15a different from the lug 9, that the coupling bar 12 is mounted above it, and that the suspension spring 14 is connected thereto. Figure 4 illustrates a hydraulic system used in this embodiment. The introduction of oil into the cylinder 23 and the evacuation of the oil out of it, are controlled by means of a control valve, or a rotary valve 60 which is

  actuated in response to movement of a slider 13.

  Oil compressed by a pump 61 is introduced into this rotary valve 60. The pump 61 is driven by the engine of the vehicle. At the start of the engine, the oil contained in a reservoir 62 is transferred

  in a pipe 31 by the pump 61, through

  of an expansion valve 63 and a valve

  64, and reaches said rotary valve 60.

  Part of the oil is then transferred to an accumulator 32 and stored therein. When the pressure inside the pipe 31 reaches a predetermined value, a piston 33 of the expansion valve 63 is moved to the right in the figure, against the action of a spring 34, to isolate the pipe 31 of the pump 61 as shown in Figure 5. At the same time, the oil discharged from said pump 61 flows to an inlet through a bypass line 35. The expansion valve 64a (Figure 4) mounted on the supply line 31 serves to prevent the pressure produced on the

  suspension propagates to the accumulator 32.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotary valve 60 comprises a cylindrical inner valve 36, a cylindrical outer valve 37

  in contact with the periphery of said integral valve

  36, and attached thereto so that they can

  turn relative to each other, and a main body

  pal containing and carrying said valves 36 and 37 to ensure their rotation. Said inner valve 36 is provided with an oil supply passage 40 communicating with said supply pipe 31 via an inlet port 39, and an oil discharge passage 43 communicating with a return pipe 42 (see Figure 4) via an outlet port 41. These feed passages

  in oil 40 and oil discharge 43 are respectively

  8 and 9, with an oil supply port 44 and an oil discharge port 45, which open at the periphery of said valve 36 when

  move relative to each other in

  circumferential and axial -

  Said outer valve 37 has an oil inlet hole 46 and an oil drain hole 47 in positions corresponding to said oil inlet 44 and said discharge port.

  of oil 47, respectively, in the axial direction.

  These two holes 46 and 47 are arranged on a general

  common thread of a cylinder. In other words, they are arranged in a plane containing the axis of rotation of said outer valve 37. The main body 38 is provided with an oil passage 48 disposed opposite said oil intake hole. 46 and said oil discharge hole 47. Said oil passage 48 communicates with a cylinder 23 of said telescopic element 24 by

  via an expansion valve 49.

  Said expansion valve 49 comprises a piston 51 pushed back by a spring 50. When the engine is stopped and no hydraulic pressure exists inside the supply pipe 31, this expansion valve 49 has the role, as as shown in FIG. 8, to isolate the oil passage 48 from the cylinder 23 to prevent the oil from escaping from the cylinder 23 and thus to prevent the chassis 2 from sinking. At the start of the engine and when the oil pressure is established inside the supply pipe 31, because of the hydraulic pressure, the piston 51 compresses the spring and allows the communication between the oil passage 48

and the cylinder 23.

  As shown in Figures 4 and 10, as described below, the inner valve 36 is connected to a slider 13 via a lever 52 and is rotated by the movement of va-and- comes from said slider 13. Furthermore, the outer valve 37 is connected to a piston 22 on the side of said telescopic element 24 via a lever 53, and is rotated relative to said inner valve 36 by the movement of said

  piston 22 (movement relative to the chassis of the vehicle.

  This definition will remain unchanged hereafter) and produces

a counter-reaction effect.

  The return pipe 42 connected to said outlet port 41 of the rotary valve 60 is further connected, as shown in FIG. 4, to a reservoir 62. Between the supply pipe 31 and the return pipe 42 is a valve 54 adapted to pass the oil in the supply pipe 31-to the

  62. Figure 4 illustrates a state of

  similar to that of Figure 1, when the

  vehicle moves in a straight line.

  The rotary valve 60 is in the neutral position, that is to say

  that the feed hole 46 and the oil discharge hole 47 of the outer valve 37 are disposed at an intermediate point between the oil supply port 44 and the discharge port of oil 45 of the inner valve 36 in the direction

- 2560122

  it circumferentially. Figure 9 mentioned above also illustrates a neutral state as just described. Figure 6 illustrates the state in which there is a left suspension spring 14 (right side in the figure) and the rotary valve 60, when the vehicle turns to the right. When the vehicle turns right, the slider 13 moves to the left as indicated by an arrow b, and the valve

  interior 36 connected to said slide 13 by

  lever 52, rotates clockwise in the figure. Therefore, the oil supply port 44 which has been moved away from the oil supply port 46 as the vehicle is moving in a straight line, is brought into alignment with the oil feed hole 46. As a result, the pressurized oil in the feed pipe 31 is introduced into the cylinder 23, to push the piston 22 downwards. According to the movement of the piston 22,

  an outer valve 37 connected thereto through the

  Lever 53, rotates in a clockwise direction. Although the oil supply hole 46 is brought to a position remote from the oil supply port 44, as the oil supply port 44 also pivots clockwise when displacement of

  slide 13, the alignment between the feed holes

  oil supply 46 and 44 is retained, and the piston 22 continues to move. In other words, the telescopic member 24 is maintained in the elongated state and the total length of the suspension spring 14 continues to increase. When the movement of the slider 13 is interrupted, as shown in Fig. 7, the oil supply hole 46 is moved away from the oil supply port 44. Therefore, the extension of the telescopic member 24 is also interrupted and the total length of the suspension spring 14 is maintained at a length corresponding to the quantity

  movement of the slider 13, that is to say at the

  lift of the steering. Simultaneously, in the right-hand rotary valve 60, the oil discharge port 45 and the oil discharge port 47 are aligned relative to each other. Therefore, the oil contained in the cylinder 23 is discharged into the return pipe 42, via the oil discharge passage 43 and the outlet port 41. In the same way as in the case previous, the total length

  suspension spring 14 contracts in corresponding

  with the importance of the robbery, and the spring of

suspension 14 retains its length.

  As a result, as has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle frame is inclined to the right or to the center of rotation, and is brought into a leaning position similar to

that of a motorcycle.

  Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating more realistically the structures of the various devices mentioned above, with like reference numerals denoting the same parts as before. In FIG. 10, the steering shaft 19 and the slider 13 are connected to each other

  by a hinge mechanism other than the cremation

  era. More specifically, the arm 55 attached to the steering shaft 19 is connected to the arm 56 pivoting on the chassis of the vehicle by means of a hinge 57, and the oscillation movement represented by a

  arrow c of the arm 56 is converted into a movement of

  and-of the slider 13 through the slider 59 in which engages the sliding rod 58

2560 1 2 2

mounted on said arm 56.

  The pump 61 and the reservoir 62 (not shown in FIG. 10) placed next to it are arranged at points below the rotary valve 60, and the oil leaving the rotary valve 60 is returned to the reservoir 62 by gravity, through the return pipe 42. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the outlet port 41 has a larger diameter than that of the inlet port 39, and the return pipe 42 is made of a tubular material also having a large diameter by

  compared to that of the supply pipe 31.

  In the present embodiment, although the suspension spring 14 elongates and contracts as the slider 13 moves, the slider 13 simply actuates the inner valve 36 of the rotary valve 60 and the reaction force of the suspension spring 14. is not transmitted to the slider 13. On the contrary, only the reaction force exerted by the ground on the front wheel 1 is transmitted to the slender 13,

  and this reaction force is transmitted to the steering wheel 20.

  Therefore, one can experience a sensation of

satisfactory conduct.

  Although in the respective embodiments

  As described above, the present invention is applied to a double-triangle type suspension device, it can also be applied to other types of suspension devices. In addition, one can use instead of the steering wheel 20, a controller. In addition, the invention can of course apply to vehicles other than motor tricycles, such as automobiles. As has been described above, many other modifications can be made

  in the context of the present invention.

Claims (3)

  Vehicle suspension device, mounted between a pair of right and left wheels (11, 12) of the vehicle and the chassis of the vehicle (2), characterized in that telescopic elements (241, 242) extending and contracting under the effect of a liquid pressure controlled by a steering mechanism (17, 18, 20) are integral with suspension springs (141, 142) so that when the vehicle turns, the chassis ( 2) the vehicle is inclined to tilt towards   the center of rotation because of the telescopic movement   copic of said telescopic element (241 or 242) dependent of the steering operation.   2. Suspension device according to the   1, characterized in that it further comprises a hydraulic cylinder (26) divided into two cylinder chambers (261, 262) by means of a piston (27).   whose movement is associated with the steering mechanism   said two cylinder chambers (261, 262)   communicating respectively with telescopic elements spades right (241) and left (242).   3. Suspension device according to the   cation 1, characterized in that it further comprises a control valve (60) adapted to introduce a liquid compressed by a pump (61) in said telescopic elements (241, 242) and to discharge the liquid from said telescopic elements, said check valve   (60) being actuated in response to the steering mechanism.