FR3076275A1 - DEVICE FOR DYNAMICALLY STABILIZING A VEHICLE WITH CONTINUOUS CONNECTION BETWEEN FIXED AND MOBILE ELEMENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for improving the dynamic stability of all kinds of moving structures with a main application on the behavior of the chassis of a road vehicle. It is a device (7) associated with the chassis (2) and at least one wheel of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one ring gear (1) connected to said chassis and at least one satellite carrier ( 4) secured to the hub (5) of said wheel, said satellite carrier comprising at least three satellites (3) meshing on said ring gear and serving as information sensor of the dynamic state of the vehicle.

Description

DEVICE FOR DYNAMIC STABILIZATION OF A VEHICLE WITH LINK

CONTINUED BETWEEN FIXED AND MOBILE ELEMENTS.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for improving the dynamic stability of all kinds of moving structures with a main application on the behavior of the chassis of a road vehicle. More particularly, it is an intermediate device between fixed elements and mobile elements comprising a crown with satellites also constituting a sensor for information transmitted to on-board computer systems.

Brief description of the prior art

In the automotive sector, vehicle control and stability control remain a priority.

According to the theory of vehicle dynamics, the different effects in the vehicle are defined as:

vertical dynamics (related to passenger comfort) (pitching) longitudinal dynamics (related to stability) (roll) lateral dynamics (related to stability) (yaw)

Suspension systems (comfort), steering (stability), differential braking / traction (stability) have been studied to control these dynamics.

Thus, today, the dynamic stability of a road vehicle is controlled by mechanical devices, sensors, actuators, all of these elements being connected to electronic control systems which correct the movements of the vehicle in situations or critical conditions.

The introduction of the electronic anti-lock braking system (ABS) thus prevents the wheels from locking up and the vehicle from slipping. The anti-slip wheel system (ASR for Anti Slip Regulation) acts for its part through a combined action on engine and brake management.

Other systems act more particularly on changes in the trajectory of the vehicle in critical situations. They allow you to record changes in steering wheel angle, braking behavior, pitch and yaw movements, engine control data, etc. These trajectory control systems are known as Electronic Stability Control. They allow electronic control and intervention at the various vehicle functions.

-2However, these systems are often treated in a decoupled manner and their combination has revealed situations where the different systems interfere negatively with each other.

No solution allowing a global control of the chassis has been proposed.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device making it possible to take into account the inertia of the chassis for an overall control of the stability of the vehicle.

Brief description of the drawings

- Figure 1: three-dimensional frame of reference positioned at the center of gravity (G) of the vehicle.

- Figure 2: vehicle stationary, the sum of the reactions of the ground on the two driving wheels (R1, R3) and on the two free wheels (R2, R4) opposes the total weight (P) of the vehicle.

- Figure 3: moving vehicle, the direction of movement (SD) being represented by an arrow; the driving wheels (R1, R3) generate a forward force (Fm), the ground reaction takes account of the rolling coefficient (δ) of the tire on the ground.

- Figure 4a: represents the forces on the isolated drive wheel (R) and the force supported by the chassis.

- Figure 4b: graphical representation of the sum of the forces on the isolated drive wheel (R).

- Figure 5a: represents the forces on the free wheel (R) and the force supported by the chassis.

- Figure 5b: graphical representation of the forces on the free wheel (R).

- Figure 6: shows schematically the crown and satellite device integrated in the wheel hub.

- Figure 7: represents the kinematic chain of the vehicle from the engine to the wheel.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to remedy all the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a device making it possible to improve the dynamic stability of the chassis of a vehicle.

It is a device associated with the chassis and at least one wheel of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one ring gear connected to said chassis and at least one satellite carrier secured to the hub of said wheel, said satellite carrier. comprising at least three satellites meshing on said ring gear and serving as an information sensor for the dynamic state of the vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device constitutes a means of capturing mechanical information of the dynamic state of the wheel on which it is integrated, such as speed and vibration allowing an instantaneous adaptation of the behavior of the chassis of the vehicle to the stresses supported in all configurations.

According to a variant, it comprises a means of integration at the outlet of a heat engine on a tip of a crankshaft of said vehicle.

Preferably, it can be generalized on any wheel of any vehicle, for example an electric vehicle, a motorcycle wheel, or a bicycle wheel, the ring gear being fixed to the fork constituting the chassis and the planet carrier to the wheel hub.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

According to a preferred embodiment, the device (7) according to the invention is integrated into a road motor vehicle (V). The device (7) is composed of a ring gear (1) linked to the chassis (2) of the vehicle (V) on which a minimum number of three satellites (3) meshes. These satellites are held in position by a satellite carrier (4) which is integral with the rotating part of the hub (5) of said vehicle (V). Alternatively, the satellite carrier (4) is connected to the rotating part of the hub (5) by any connecting means.

FIG. 1 represents a vehicle (V) in three dimensions (composed of a chassis, a bodywork, a motor [M], a clutch [E], a gearbox [BV], a transmission shaft [AT], 4 wheels (R) and suspensions) and the dynamic forces to which it is subjected in a frame of reference positioned at the center of gravity (G) of the vehicle.

The dynamic stability of the moving vehicle requires controlling and mastering the handling of the following vehicle:

the linear trajectory along the X axis;

the circular trajectory (rotation) along the Y axis;

the circular path around the Z axis.

When you lose road holding, there is slippage, aquaplaning, i.e. a slip on the trajectory along the X axis or a wander in a curve along the Y axis or a loss of contact of the wheels with the ground along the Z axis. The integration of the device (7) in the vehicle makes it possible to avoid these critical situations and to better control the handling of the vehicle (V).

When the vehicle is accelerating, in the direction of movement (SD) represented by an arrow in the figures, the transmission shaft (6) of the vehicle (V) rotates the driving wheel (R) (R1, R3) . Therefore, the satellite carrier (4) is rotated clockwise and the satellites (3) mesh on the ring gear (1) fixed relative to the frame (2). The overall force (Fc) of the three satellites shown in FIG. 4a acts on the chassis (2) of the vehicle. This force (Fc) causes the reaction of said chassis (2) by an opposite force (Frc) of the same intensity according to Newton's principle on the laws of movement. This reaction force (Frc) decomposes according to the horizontal (Frch) and vertical (Frcv) force. The horizontal reaction force (Frch) is in the direction of movement, which indicates that the reaction of the chassis (2) brings an additional force to the advancing force (Fm). The vertical reaction force (Frcv) is in the opposite direction to the weight (P) at the wheel, which indicates that the load is reduced and by extension its inertia.

We deduce that this reaction force (Frc) of the chassis (2) close to the wheel (R) is immediate (at the speed of light), that it is specific to each of the wheels, driving

-4 (R1, R3) or non-drive (R2, R4) and that it brings an improvement in the dynamic behavior of the chassis.

When the vehicle is decelerating, the drive shaft (6) is no longer driven by the vehicle's gearbox (BV); on the contrary, it is the wheel (R) which drives the pinions of the gearbox generally qualified as engine brake. The satellite carrier (4) is rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise, the satellites (3) mesh on the ring gear (1) fixed relative to the frame (2). The overall force (Fc) of the three satellites on the crown (1) shown in Figure 4a acts on the chassis (2) of the vehicle. The reaction force of the chassis (2) close to the wheel reacts immediately, before the engine brake.

When the vehicle is at constant speed, the drive shaft (6) maintains a constant engine torque, the satellite carrier (4) rotates clockwise with a specific speed. The satellites (3) mesh with the ring gear (1). The overall force (Fc) of the three satellites on the crown (1) shown in FIG. 4a reacts on the chassis (2) of the vehicle.

In these three configurations, the speed of rotation of the satellite carrier (4) is the element which characterizes the reaction of the wheel (R) on the ground, of the tire on the bitumen. This reaction force represents, and therefore integrates, on the one hand the inertia of the vehicle (V) which provides better dynamic stability, and on the other hand, the possibility of measuring the stress of the wheel (R) in order to better control the overall stability of the vehicle (V).

There is damping of the pitching and rolling effects of the vehicle, reduction in the asymmetry of the rolling of the left and right wheels (R). The vehicle is more precise, more faithful and firmer in a straight path and more passive in its yaw response.

The dynamic performance of the vehicle has improved overall.

This satellite carrier (4) can therefore be used as a sensor in order to send its speed information to the computers of the on-board systems present in the vehicles in order to improve the overall stability of the vehicle.

According to a variant, the device (7) can also be mounted at the outlet of a heat engine, the toothed ring being fixed to the engine block, centered relative to the end piece emerging from the crankshaft. The satellite carrier (4) fitted with its satellites (3) is connected to the end of the crankshaft.

More generally, the device (7) can be adapted to any vehicle comprising a rigid structure otherwise called chassis (2) on which are fixed rotating elements (R) comprising a central hub (5).

According to another embodiment, the device can thus be integrated into a vehicle with an internal combustion engine or electric motor, and also into a vehicle of the motorcycle or bicycle type: the toothed crown (1) is fixed to the fork or chassis (2 ) of said bicycle (V) and the support of the satellites to the rotating axis of the hub (5) of the wheel (R).

Many variants which may possibly be combined can here be

- 5 made without ever departing from the scope of the invention as defined above.

Insubstantial modifications which would obviously result, for those skilled in the art, from the use or manufacture of which the patent is required here without altering the original provisions, would be mere technical equivalents and also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applications

This device (7) can be integrated into a ball bearing.

Tests carried out with the UTAC (Technical Union of the Automobile and the Cycle) conclude with a gain of 2 km / h on the speed of entry into yaw with a greater ease of driving and 10 dynamic performances which have overall been improved compared to a vehicle not equipped with the device.

The fact that part of the efforts are taken up by the chassis, the reaction of the chassis is a positive factor which tends to increase the efficiency of the engine.

The device mounted on a 2017 Renault Clio 2 brand vehicle tested on test bench 15 reports a power gain of 6.8%.

Claims (4)

1. Device (7) for dynamic stabilization of a vehicle (V) associated with the chassis (2) and with at least one wheel (R) of said vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one toothed crown (1) linked to said chassis (2) and at least one satellite carrier (4) secured to the hub (5) of said wheel (R), said satellite carrier (4) comprising at least three satellites (3) meshing on said ring gear (1) and serving vehicle dynamic state information sensor. 2. Device (7) for dynamic stabilization of a vehicle (V) according to claim 1 characterized in that it constitutes a means of capturing mechanical information of the dynamic state of the wheel (R) on which it is integrated , such as speed and vibrations allowing an instantaneous adaptation of the behavior of the chassis of the vehicle to the stresses supported in all configurations. 3. Device (7) for dynamic stabilization of a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for integration at the outlet of a heat engine on a tip of a crankshaft of said vehicle (V ) 4. Device (7) for dynamic stabilization of a vehicle (V) according to one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that it can be generalized on a wheel (R) of motorcycle or bicycle, the ring gear (1 ) being fixed to the fork constituting the chassis (2) and the planet carrier (4) to the hub (5) of the wheel (R).