GB2056383A

GB2056383A - Vehicle and hydraulic stabilizing device used therewith

Info

Publication number: GB2056383A
Application number: GB8024598A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FRUYTHOF A
Current assignee: FRUYTHOF A
Priority date: 1979-08-02
Filing date: 1980-07-28
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: BE878031A; DE3029141A1; FR2462287A1

Abstract

In a hydraulic stabilizing device for a vehicle two double acting piston and cylinder devices 9, 10 with closed ends each have two piston rods 12-13 which are fitted respectively to the piston on both sides and extend outside the cylinder on both closed ends, and pipings 28-29 connect the upper part of each cylinder with the lower part of the other. The cylinders 9 are mounted on a supporting device for the wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, and the piston rods 12-13 are assembled to the frame of said vehicle or vice versa. Thus the instability of the vehicle is remedied in particular by excluding any inclination of the frame in relation to the wheel shafts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle and hydraulic stabilizing device used therewith The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a frame, wheels, at least pone supporting device for the wheels and, at each side of the vehicle, at least one sprung connection between the supporting device and the frame.

Such a vehicle is for instance a passenger car. It may also be a bus or even a truck. However, the invention is mainly, but not exclusively, intended for passenger cars.

The term "frame" is to be explained in a large sense and can relate to a frame properly so called, but also to any other supporting assembly of components of the vehicle that is connected by means of springs with a supporting device of the wheels.

The sprung connections may consist of laminated springs or also. of spiral springs or other components which connect the wheel support elastically with the frame.

On the known vehicles of the type in question the unequal compression of the sprung connection on the two sides of the vehicle can result in an instability when riding. It has already been tried to remedy this disadvantage by application of torsion bars. These solve the problem only in a limited way.

The aim of the invention is thus to provide for a vehicle in which the instability when riding, mainly in curves, is remedied, in particular by excluding any inclination of the frame in relation to the wheel shafts.

For this purpose, there is mounted between the supporting device and frame at least one hydraulic stabilizing device, which contains at least a pair of standing cylinders with closed ends, which are mounted in a transversal plane of the vehicle, opposite to each other at a distance from each other, on one of the components formed by the supporting device and frame, and which are filled with a liquid, a piston in each cylinder, per cylinder two piston rods, one on each side of the piston contained therein, which protrude through the closed cylinder ends, and of which one is connected with the other of the two components of the vehicle, a piping connecting the upper end of one cylinder with the lower end of the other cylinder and a piping connecting the lower end of the first named cylinder with the upper end of the other cylinder.

Each displacement of the frame in relation to the supporting device on one side of the stabilizing device results in a displacement of the piston in the cylinder on this side.

Due to the connection between the two cylinders, a displacement of the piston in one cylinder automatically results in an identical displacement of the piston in the other cylinder of the pair, so that, consequently, the frame on one side of this cylinder is displaced to the same extent as on the first named side in relation to the supporting device.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one of the components formed by the piston rod attached to a component of the vehicle and a cylinder attached to a component of the vehicle is pivotably attached to this component.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the piping comprises flexible hoses and the cylinders have junction parts for these hoses.

Suitably, at least one liquid chamber is connected with the outside of each cylinder, which chamber is part of at least one junction component, so that the hoses can be connected the one adjacent to the other, on one and the same cylinder.

In a preferably applied embodiment of the invention, the piston rod which extends through the end of the cylinder which is connected with a component of the vehicle is hollow and the inside of same communicates with the inside of the cylinder through an orifice, which is adjacent to the piston, the end of the piston rod extending outside the cylinder having a filling orifice that can be closed by means of a cap.

In this embodiment, the cylinder can be filled via the piston rod.

The invention also relates to a hydraulic stabilizing device obviously intended for use on a vehicle according to one of the preceding embodiments.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a vehicle and of a hydraulic stabilizing device used thereon; this description is proposed only as an example and does not limit the invention; the reference numbers relate to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematical rear view of the rear part of a vehicle according to the, invention.

Figure 2 is a schematical side view of a part of what is shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of the front part of the vehicle according to figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a section of a part of what is shown in figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a part of a section similar to the one of figure 4, but relating to the embodiment according to figure 3.

In the various figures the same reference numbers relate to the same components.

Excepting the hydraulic stabilizing device, the vehicle according to the figures 1 through 3 is of a known construction. Consequently, it will be described only in as far as is required for explaining the invention.

It comprises, as is usual, a frame, in relation to which all points marked 3 in the figures are fixed.

The rear wheels 2 rotate with the shafts 4 extending from the rear axle. These shafts are carried by the shaft supports 5 which pivot in relation to the frame, as especially shown in figure 2. The shaft supports 5 are connected, on the one hand, with the frame by means of springs 6. On the other hand, they may be connected with the frame by means of shock absorbers, which are not shown. The shock absorbers of the vehicle can, however, be replaced by the cylinders 9 and relating components of the stabilizing device described hereinafter, as shown on figures 1 through 3.

Also for the front wheels 1, there is a stabilizing device with cylinders 9 mounted between the frame 3, on the one hand, and components 7, incorporated in the wheel supports, on the other hand. For each pair of wheels, a stabilizing device is provided for, of the type shown in detail in figure 4. Each stabilizing device comprises a pair of standing cylinders 9 symmetrically located in a transversal plane of the vehicle.

The cylinders 9 are closed on both ends. In each cylinder 9, a double acting piston 10 is movably mounted. This piston 10 is provided with the necessary seals 11. On each side of the double acting piston, there is mounted a piston rod 12, respectively 13. From a constructive point of view, the two piston rods 12 and 13 are made from one bar extending through the piston 10, on which this piston is firmly fixed. The two piston rods 12 and 13 extend respectively through the upper and lower closed ends of the cylinder 9. At the point where these rods go through the ends a seal 14 is mounted.The free end of the lower piston rod 13, extending a little outside the cylinder 9, is provided with an eye 1 5. The other piston rod 12 is hollow along its full length and the hollow space 16, at a point adjacent to the piston 10, debouches through an orifice 1 7 inside the cylinder 9. The free end of this hollow piston 12 is closed by a cap 18.

On the side where the upper piston rod 12 protrudes outside the cylinder 9, there is welded on the end of the cylinder a collar 19 loosely surrounding the piston rod 12, the outside of which collar is provided with thread. On this collar 19 a nut 20 is screwed. Also, when the piston 10 is in its lowest position in the cylinder 9, the upper piston rod 12 protrudes by a short part outside the collar 19. On this part a flange 21 is welded, which abuts against the collar 1 9 in the lowest position of the piston 10, thus limiting the downward motion of the piston 10.

Adjacent to its upper end, the cylinder 9 has in its wall an inlet and outlet orifice 22 and near its lower end another inlet and outlet orifice 23. On each of these orifices 22 and 23, a junction part is provided for.

In the embodiment according to figure 4, the junction part connecting with the orifice 22 is a collar 24 surrounding this orifice, whilst the junction part connecting with the orifice 23 is also a collar 25 surrounding this orifice 23.

In the embodiment according to figure 5, on the contrary, the junction parts on one side of the cylinder 9 incorporate an oil chamber 26, the oil chamber connecting with the orifice 22 being separated only by a partition wall 27 from the oil chamber connecting with the orifice 23. On both sides of this partition wall 27, these oil chambers 26 are provided with an orifice surrounded by a collar 24 or 25. In this embodiment the two collars 24 and 25 are adjacent to each other.

On the collar 24 of the cylinder of a pair located on one side of the vehicle, there is connected a hose 28. This hose 28 is also connected with the collar 25 of the cylinder of a pair located on the other side of the vehicle. In the same way, the collar 25 of the first named cylinder 9 is connected by a hose 29 with the collar 24 of the last named cylinder. In other words, the space of one cylinder existing under the piston 10 is connected with the space existing above the piston 10 of the other cylinder 9 of the pair.

Both the cylinders 9 of each pair are completely filled with oil, so that when the one piston 10 moves in the cylinder 9, the piston 10 of the other cylinder 9 of the pair is moved in the same direction in relation to its cylinder 9. Due to the fact that the two cylinders 9 and the two pistons 10 are identical and under and above the two pistons 10 in the two cylinders 9 there is a rod of the same diameter, the displacement of the two pistons 10 in the two cylinders 9 is always equal.

The filling with oil of the cylinders 9 can be carried out by unscrewing the cap 1 8 from the upper piston rods 12.

The oil runs then through the hollow space 1 6 in the piston rod 12 and through an orifice 17 into the space on one side of the piston 10. This oil also fills the hose 28 connected with the cylinder 9 and the space existing on the other side of the piston 10 of the other cylinder 9 of the pair. In each collar 24, there is also an orifice for filling and draining, which can be closed by a cap 30.

The cylinders are mounted as follows. On one side of the vehicle, one attaches the lower piston rod 13, by means of its eye 15, pivoting on an axle support, for instance at point 8, as shown in figure 2. The cylinder itself is mounted with its collar 1 9 and its nut 20 with respect to the frame. The ir!stallation according to figure 1 corresponds to the arrangement shown in figure 4. The installation according to figure 3 corresponds to the arrangement shown in figure 5; in principle, however, there is no difference between the modes of functioning of the two stabilizing devices. The essential thing is that the axle supports or the frame be assembled to the cylinder and that the other of these two components be assembled to the piston rod 13.

The stabilizing device is of a comparatively simple construction and prevents in a reliable way any inclination of the frame in relation to the axles.

Every displacement of the frame 3 in relation to the wheels 1 or 2 results in a displacement of the piston 10 in the cylinder located on one side of the vehicle, whereby, in consequence, automatically also the pistons 10 in the cylinders located on the other side of the vehicle will be displaced along the same distance, resulting in the frame becoming displaced also on this side of the same amount in relation to the wheels.

Not only is the inclination of the vehicle made more difficult in this way, but the suspension springs 6 on both sides of the vehicle become equally loaded.

The cylinders are being mounted where there is sufficient room. As said hereinafter, they can in many cases replace the shock absorbers. It is, however, essential that the piston rods can protrude from the cylinders on both sides. The piston rods 12 and 13, which are constituting a whole, must run through, indeed, because otherwise the total volume of the space of the two cylinders which are connected by a same hose, would not remain constant.

In front of the orifice 23, for instance in the collars 25 communicating with the same of the two cylinders 9, there can be provided for a valve that allows free passage of the oil out of and away from the cylinder, but limits the quantity of oil that flows into the cylinder through this orifice. In case of a downard displacement of the piston 10 in the one cylinder 9, oil can flow to the other cylinder 9, above the piston 10, into this cylinder through the orifice 23 and hose 28 or 29 connected with same. In case of an immediately following upward displacement of the first named piston 10, displacement resulting from a back-stroke of the spring 6, the back-flow of the liquid through the orifice 23 in the first named cylinder is restrained.

Consequently, in this case, the cylinder 9 with piston 10 works as a shock absorber and through applying the hydraulic stabilizing device it is possible to dispense with the use of shock absorbers on the vehicle.

The flow of the liquid in the direction in which it is not restricted by the valve can be limited by limiting the diameter of the hose, either locally or along its full length.

The invention is by no means limited to the hereinabove described embodiments and many changes may be made within the scope of the patent application, amongst others in as far as the shape, composition, arrangement and number of components used for achieving the object of the invention are concerned.

Amongst others, it is not necessary that the piston rods be pivotably mounted on a part of the vehicle. Instead of attaching the piston rods pivotably, it is also possible to attach the cylinders pivotably, or also to attach pivotably both the cylinders and piston rods.

killing and draining orifice may also be provided for on the lower junction collars.

The cylinders must not necessarily be fixed in relation to the frame. The latter may also be assembled to the piston rod, in which case the cylinder is assembled to the axle support.

For heavy vehicles, two stabilizing devices may be provided for per rear axle of two wheels, so that for each rear axle two cylinders are provided for on each longitudinal side of the vehicle. The cylinders may also be mounted on intermediary components which are pivotably assembled, either between two rear axles, or between a rear axle and the frame.

The piping connecting the two cylinders must not necessarily consist of hoses. The piping may also be made from pipes (rigid pipes).

The valve may also be mounted in the junction part communicating with the upper part of the cylinder.

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising a frame, wheels, at least one supporting device for the wheels and, on each side of the vehicle, at least one sprung connection between the supporting device and frame, in which between the supporting device and frame there is mounted at least one hydraulic stabilizing device, that has at least one pair of standing cylinders with closed ends, which are mounted substantially in a transverse plane of the vehicle, opposite to each other at a distance the one from the other on one of the components formed by the supporting device and frame, and which are filled with a liquid, there is a piston in each cylinder, there are two piston rods per cylinder, one on each side of the piston located in the cylinder, which extend through the closed cylinder ends and one of which is assembled to the other of the two components of the vehicle, and there is a piping connecting the upper end of one of the cylinders with the lower end of the other cylinder and a piping connecting the lower end of the first named cylinder with the upper end of the other cylinders

2. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which at least one of the components formed by the piston rod assembled to a component of the vehicle and the cylinder assembled to a component of the vehicle is pivotably assembled to this component.

3. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piping comprises hoses and the cylinders are provided with junction parts for the aforesaid hoses.

4. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which on the outside of each cylinder there is at least one communicating liquid chamber which is a part of at least one of the junction parts, in such a way that the hoses can be connected adjacent the one to the other on one and the same cylinder.

5. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod that extends through the end of the cylinder which is assembled to the component of the vehicle is hollow and its inside, at a point adjacent to the piston, communicates through an orifice with the inside of the cylinder, whiist the end extending outside the cylinder forms an obturable filling orifice.

6. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which on at least one supporting device for an axle there is a stabilizing device consisting of two cylinders connected the one with the other, with pistons and piston rods mounted therein.

7. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which in front of an orifice located at the lower part of each cylinder of a stabilizing device a valve is mounted which lets the liquid freely flow out of and away from the cylinder, but slows down the flowing in of the liquid through this lower part.

8. Vehicle according to claims 3 and 7, in which a valve of this kind is mounted in the junction part that is communicating with the lower part of the cylinder.

9. Hydraulic stabilizing device from a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Hydraulic stabilizing device, in which there are two cylinders with closed ends, a double acting piston movably mounted therein, two piston rods which are fitted respectively to the piston on both sides and extend outside the cylinder on both closed ends, and pipings that connect the upper part of the one cylinder with the lower part of the other and the upper part of the other with the lower part of the first named cylinder.

11. A hydraulic stabilizing device constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1,2, and 4 or figures 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Vehicle having a hydraulic stabilizing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.