FR2775245A1 - Correction of seating of movable subassembly relative to vehicle chassis - Google Patents

Abstract

The seating correction device (D) for a movable subassembly (100) relative to the chassis (200) of a land vehicle during its movement on a slope comprises an inclination detection module (300). A correction module (400) to which the detection module is connected transmits information to ensure the latter maintains the subassembly horizontal. A ball joint (500) connects the chassis to the subassembly.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING THE PLATE OF A

  MOBILE SUB-ASSEMBLY IN RELATION TO A VEHICLE CHASSIS

"EARTHLY"

  The present invention relates to the field of angle adjustment that can take the cabin, the seat or any other mobile sub-assembly located above a

  vehicle axle traveling on a slope.

  Indeed, when a vehicle is moving on a slope, the plane defined by at least the points of contact of three wheels with the ground adopts an inclination, which is taken up

by the vehicle as a whole.

  The orientation of the cabin, i.e. the correction of the horizontality of the cabin or any other mobile sub-assembly located above

  the axle has several advantages discussed below.

  A first advantage lies in the possibility for the driver to find himself in a comfortable position whatever the slope on which the vehicle he is driving is moving. Indeed, although the wheels must follow the plane or the contour of the terrain on which the vehicle is moving as precisely as possible, the inclination of the cabin or the seat when the vehicle follows sloping terrain gives the driver a poor seat, which is forced to catch by contortion the angle taken by its

seat.

  Another advantage relates to bringing the wheels closer to the center of gravity of the entire vehicle to cause better grip of said vehicle and avoids too many accidents due to the tilting of a

  vehicle on too steep slope.

  Several devices of the prior art have more or less met the needs of vehicle users

having to move on a slope.

  One of these devices comprises a seat mounted to move on one or more axes relative to a chassis.

  vehicle and whose movements are subject to gravity.

  - 2 - Thus, when the vehicle is traveling on a slope, the seat and the user seated on it orient themselves so that the axis of symmetry of the assembly - seat, user - comes in one of the vertical planes passing through the center of the Earth. In this type of device, the orientation movements are guided and the positions taken can be indexed by manual action, in a certain position in the case of movement on a constant slope. In addition, the movements of vibrations or due to

  non-constant slopes are amortized by a sub-

elastic assembly.

  The drawback of this device is that it requires manual action to keep the seat in position, which is not always obvious when the vehicle is traveling on a slope. In addition, an elastic sub-assembly is not rigid enough to avoid

  seat movements, when the vehicle is moving

  above a rut or on an irregular slope. In addition, this device and in particular an elastic sub-assembly is difficult to adapt to correcting the attitude of an entire cabin or of a mobile module with respect to the much larger vehicle chassis.

than a simple seat.

  Another device described in English Patent No. 2,024,926 comprises a seat linked by a ball joint to a chassis of a vehicle. Under the action of gravity, the axis of symmetry of the seat remains in the plane of the terrestrial vertical, the movements of the seat being damped from an elastic element housed inside the patella. A drawback to this device lies in the fact that the movements of the seat are mechanically limited by the ball joint which consists, in fact, of two hemispheres, one of which is fixed and the other is movable on the first. As a result, the large slope angles cannot be corrected by such a device. In addition, there is no device for -3-

hold in position.

  A common disadvantage of these two devices is that they use gravity to correct the seat attitude. In addition, the movements due to the terrestrial attraction, even damped, are difficult to control and are subject to the vagaries of the surfaces on which

  vehicles using said devices circulate.

  In addition, the use of gravity, although possible for adaptations requiring only the correction of a seat, becomes difficult to envisage when the sub-assembly movable relative to the chassis of the vehicle is a cabin in its entirety or an operating module of a large-scale agricultural machine. Indeed, catching up with the trim of a tractor cabin for example would require a large mass to ensure balancing or else a large

lever arm.

  Another drawback to these two devices lies in the fact that it is not possible to configure the inclination of the seat as a function of the slope. It is true that it can be interesting to be able to give a given angle to a seat or a cabin according to the slope which the vehicle follows without necessarily bringing the seat or the cabin back into a position substantially

horizontal.

  The Applicant has therefore found that it was not possible to use gravity as a attitude correction device. This use, although simplifying, does not allow to obtain settings

  or adjustments in the correction angles.

  On the basis of this fact, the applicant has carried out research on a new concept of device for correcting the attitude of a mobile subassembly relative to the chassis of a vehicle ensuring optimal correction but also detection of the angle taken by

  the chassis while overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.

  - 4 - This research resulted in the original design

  a device for correcting the attitude of a sub-

  assembly movable relative to the chassis of any "land" vehicle when moving said vehicle on a slope, remarkable in that it comprises: - a module for detecting the inclination taken by the vehicle relative to the horizontal , - a correction module to which said detection module transmits the information so that the latter ensures the maintenance of said movable subassembly in a horizontal position, and - a ball-type joint connecting said chassis

mobile subset audit.

  This device is particularly advantageous in that it does not use gravity as a means of setting in motion the mobile sub-assembly but a correction module receiving the tilt information from the

  chassis from an angle detection device.

  Unlike the devices of the prior art which used gravity to move the mobile sub-assemblies relative to the chassis of the vehicle and which therefore did not require any sensor or means for setting in motion the mobile sub-assembly, the device of the invention detects the slope and controls, according to the angle taken and the parameters related to the orientation of this angle, the setting in motion of the mobile sub-assembly so as to bring said sub-assembly towards a plate which is comfortable for the user or allowing better operation at

the machine.

  The use of a ball joint type, classic kinematic link to link the mobile sub-assembly to the chassis, associated with a detection module and a correction module is particularly advantageous in that it allows correction by the module control and relative movement between the mobile sub-assembly and the chassis by playing on the three axes of -5-

rotation of the patella.

  As the mobile sub-assembly is set in motion by an independent module, this device can adapt to

  any application and in particular to sub-

  mobile assemblies having a large mass, unlike

  to the devices of the prior art.

  According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the ball-joint type joint consists of a sphere which, kinematically linked to the mobile sub-assembly, is pivotally mounted relative to a bearing kinematically linked to said chassis of the vehicle and partially resuming its spherical shape so as to guide it on three axes of rotation, the setting in motion and / or the maintenance in position of said sphere being controlled by said correction module. The use of a complete sphere has the advantage of leaving a lot more surface on which various elements can be bonded not only above said bearing but also below. Thus, for example, setting in motion from the bottom of the sphere, according to a rotation of angle "a" makes it possible to give the element linked to the sphere on its upper part an angle equivalent to "-a". In addition, the sphere associated with a bearing allows by itself to create a ball joint without requiring the association of other

  joints or pivots to add an axis of rotation.

  Another advantage of using a ball joint made from an entire sphere is that the travel on the different rotations can be very large, especially in comparison with the double device.

  prior art spherical cap.

  The invention also relates to the operating method of said remarkable attitude correction device in that it consists in placing inside the part making the ball joint connection, the detection module and its movable element which, under the gravity action takes place in the detection fields of said module and triggers the correction module which, by rotating the ball joint, brings said mobile element out of the detection fields and thus stops the

correction module movements.

  The fundamental concepts of the invention having just been exposed above in their most basic form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the

  description which follows giving by way of example no

  limiting and with reference to the appended drawings, an embodiment of a correction device in accordance with

  the invention. This description refers to the drawings

  annexed in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of the attitude correction device according to the invention with the chassis in horizontal position, FIG. 2 is a schematic overall view of the attitude correction device of Figure 1 with the frame in an inclined position, Figure 3 is a schematic detail view of the ball joint type, Figure 4 is a schematic top view in section of the interior of the sphere constituting

the ball joint type.

  As illustrated in the drawing in FIG. 1, the attitude correction device referenced D as a whole ensures the maintenance in a horizontal position or at least the maintenance in a given angular position of a movable sub-assembly 100 relative to to the chassis 200 of any "land" vehicle when moving said vehicle on a slope. This device D comprises: - a detection module 300 of the inclination taken by the vehicle with respect to the horizontal, - a correction module 400 to which said detection module 300 transmits the information so that the latter ensures maintaining said movable sub-assembly 100 -7- in a horizontal position, and - a ball-type connection 500 connecting said chassis 200

audit mobile sub-assembly 100.

  As illustrated in more detail by the drawing in FIG. 2, the ball joint type 500 is made up

  by a sphere 510 which kinematically linked to the sub-

  movable assembly 100, is pivotally mounted relative to a bearing 210 kinematically linked to said chassis 200 of the vehicle and partially resuming its spherical shape so as to guide it on three axes of rotation, setting in motion and / or maintaining in position of said sphere

  510 being controlled by said correction module 400.

  To this end, the above correction module 400 is constituted by two cylinders 410 (the second cylinder not appearing in the figures), a part of which, here the body 411 is linked to said chassis 200 of the vehicle and another part, the rod 412, is linked at its end to a plate 511 formed externally on said sphere 510 so that the exit and / or re-entry of the rods 412 of said jacks 410 controls the rotation of the sphere 510

on its bearing 210.

  According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the bearing 210 is made of self-lubricated sintered bronze and consists of two parts 211 and 212 so as to allow the mounting of the ball joint 500

  constituted by said bearing 210 and said sphere 510.

  According to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing of Figure 1, the bearing 210 is fixed to a plate 220 over-elevating the ball joint 500 relative to the chassis

200.

  According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, coming from a judicious choice of the applicant, the jacks 410 are hydraulic jacks. Hydraulic technology is particularly advantageous in that it ensures large mass displacements. In addition, a hydraulic power unit is present on most of the

  agricultural or public works machinery.

  Another advantage of using hydraulic technology is the incompressibility of liquids, which allows constant support on the pistons.

  cylinders and therefore to maintain in position the

  mobile assembly. This advantage is particularly important in the case of a constant slope where the cylinders

  must remain in a given position.

  According to another preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, respecting a concern for compactness, the applicant arranges the jacks so that their starting position is substantially vertical unlike the embodiment illustrated o the jacks are arranged in a substantially horizontal position . According to the invention, the detection module 300 consists of a mobile 310 which, free of movement and subject to gravity, moves in a zone of movement authorizing its movement delimited by detection fields so that the passage of the mobile in one or more detection fields, due to the inclination along the horizontal and / or the vertical of the vehicle, triggers one or more actuators tilting the mobile assembly until the free mobile returns by gravity to its area of

  rolling and escapes from said detection field (s).

  Unlike the devices existing in the prior art, the applicant has a sensor detect the inclination taken by the vehicle before carrying out the

  correction of the attitude by means of an actuator.

  According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, said sphere 510 is fitted internally with a housing 512, which here is substantially cylindrical, the lower base 512a of which is spherical and receives a ball, constituting the above-mentioned mobile 310 and which, moved by its weight when tilting the vehicle, approaches the edges of said cylinder of the housing 512 which are

  covered by said detection fields.

  As illustrated in more detail in the drawing in FIG. 4, the movement area of the ball 310 is delimited by light beams 321, 322, 323, 324, generated and guided by optical fibers constituting said detection fields so that the passage of the ball 310 on one or more of these beams interrupts the passage of light and triggers the control of the

correction module.

  According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the detection field is provided by four light beams reproducing the geometry of a parallelogram, the interior of which delimits the zone of movement of the ball 310 and the sides of which are oriented so as to that the beams are perpendicular two by two to the vertical planes in which the jacks are placed. Thus, the passage of the ball 210 over the beam 321 for example accounts for an inclination of the right side of the vehicle chassis therefore a retraction of the rod 412 of the jack 410 bringing the

  position illustrated by the drawing in Figure 2.

  According to another preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the axes of the light beams are arranged with respect to the ball 310, its diameter and its spherical raceway so that the ball crosses a light beam and therefore triggers the correction module from a slope of 10 taken by the vehicle. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing 512 formed in the sphere 510 is filled with a liquid whose viscosity makes it possible to slow down the movements of the ball 310. This characteristic makes it possible to prevent the passage and the removal of the ball 310 in one or more beams of the detection module 300 instantly causes the

- 10 -

  movement of the mobile sub-assembly 100 while the movement of the ball 310 would have been caused only by an impact or the passage of the vehicle on an irregular slope. To do this, said sphere 510 advantageously comprises, linked to its surface, a tube 513, the upper cylinder of which communicates with the internal compartment 512 produced in the

  510 sphere. This communication allows the introduction of the damping fluid, for example silicone oil.

  The type of damping proposed by this type of device in the reactions of the correction module 400 in relation to the information transmitted by the detection module 300 can of course be produced or configured, if necessary, by an automaton constituting the control part of the device of correction D. According to a preferred but nonlimiting embodiment, the sphere 510 consists of two parts, the meeting plane of which passes through the axes of the light beams in order to be able to introduce the optical fibers provided for this purpose. Likewise, to guide said optical fibers, the sphere 510 will be provided with guide rings specially designed for this purpose. This two-part configuration has

  not only for the advantages of allowing the introduction of optical fibers but also of making it possible by machining, the internal compartment 512 present in the sphere 510 as well as the prior introduction of the ball 310.

  It is understood that the attitude correction device which has just been described and shown above, was for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements could be made to the example above, without going beyond the ambit of the invention taken in

  its broadest aspects and in its mind.

  Thus, for example, the tilt detection module should not be limited to that illustrated by

  the present application but could be provided by a sensor already existing on the market.

- 11 -

  In order to allow a better understanding of the drawings, a list of the references with their legends is listed below: D ..................

  Correction device 100 ................... Mobile sub-assembly 200 ................... Chassis 210. .................. Landing 211, 212 ........... Parts of the landing..DTD: 220 ......... .......... Sur-

  10 ................... bearing elevation 300 ................... Detection module 310 ... ................ Ball 321, 322, 323, 324 .... Detection light beams 400 ................. ..Correction module 410 ................... Correction cylinder 411 .............

  .412 cylinder body ................ 500 cylinder rod ................... 510 ball joint .... ............... Sphere of the ball 511 ...... DTD: .......... Platinum 512 .......... ...... Cylindrical housing 512a ........... DTD: .... Spherical base of ................... housing 512 513 ................ Shock absorber liquid introduction tube..DTD: - 12 -

Claims (10)

  1. Attitude correction device (D) of a sub-   movable assembly (100) relative to the chassis (200) of any "land" vehicle when moving said vehicle on a slope, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it comprises: - a tilt detection module (300) taken by the vehicle with respect to the horizontal, - a correction module (400) to which said detection module (300) transmits the information so that the latter ensures the maintenance of said mobile sub-assembly (100) in horizontal position, and - a ball-type link (500) connecting said chassis   (200) said mobile sub-assembly (100).   2. Device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the ball-type joint (500) is constituted by a sphere (510) which, kinematically linked to the mobile sub-assembly (100), is pivotally mounted relative to a bearing (210) kinematically linked to said chassis (200) of the vehicle and partially resuming its spherical shape so as to guide it on three axes of rotation, the setting in motion and / or maintaining in position of said sphere (510) being controlled by said correction module (400).   3. Device according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid detection module (300) consists of a mobile (310) which, free of movement and subject to gravity, moves in a zone of movement authorizing its delimited movement by detection fields so that the passage of the mobile (310) in one or more detection fields, due to the inclination along the horizontal and / or vertical of the vehicle, triggers one or more actuators tilting the assembly mobile (100) until the free mobile (310) returns by gravity to its rolling zone and leaves the or said detection fields. - 13 -   4. Device according to claims 1 and 2,   CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforesaid correction module (400) is constituted by two jacks (410) of which a part (411) is linked to said chassis (200) of the vehicle and another part (412) is linked to a plate (511 ) arranged externally on said sphere (510) so that the exit and / or re-entry of the rods (412) of said jacks (410) controls the rotation of the sphere (510) on its bearing (210).   5. Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3,   CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said sphere (510) is fitted internally with a housing (512) whose lower base (512a) is spherical and receives a ball (310) which, moved by its weight during the tilting of the vehicle, approaches the edges of said housing (512) which are   covered by said detection fields.   6. Device according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the jacks (410) are hydraulic jacks. 7. Device according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT the area of movement of the ball (310) is delimited by light beams (321, 322, 323, 324) generated by optical fibers constituting said detection fields so that the passage of the ball (310 on one or more of these beams interrupts the passage of light and triggers the control of the module correction (400).   8. Device according to claims 5 and 7,   CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the detection fields are provided by four light beams reproducing the geometry of a parallelogram, the interior of which delimits the area of movement of the ball (310) and the sides of which are oriented so that the beams (321, 322, 323, 324) are perpendicular two by two to the planes   vertical in which the cylinders (410) are arranged.   9. Device according to claims 5, 7 and 8 - 14 -   CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the housing (512) formed in the sphere (510) is filled with a liquid whose viscosity   slows the movements of the ball (310).   10. Operating method of the attitude correction device of a mobile subassembly with respect to the chassis of a "land" vehicle during the movement of said vehicle on a slope, according to the assembly   of claims 1 to 9 taken together, CHARACTERIZED   IN THAT it consists in placing inside the part (510) providing the ball joint (500), the detection module (300) and its mobile element (310) which, under the action of gravity, is placed in the detection fields of said module (300) and triggers the correction module (400) which, by rotating the ball joint (500), brings said movable element (310) out of the detection fields and thus stops the movements of the module correction (400).