GB2134052A - Wheel suspension - Google Patents

Wheel suspension Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2134052A
GB2134052A GB08401784A GB8401784A GB2134052A GB 2134052 A GB2134052 A GB 2134052A GB 08401784 A GB08401784 A GB 08401784A GB 8401784 A GB8401784 A GB 8401784A GB 2134052 A GB2134052 A GB 2134052A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
wheel
axle
lever
cylinder device
piston
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08401784A
Other versions
GB8401784D0 (en
GB2134052B (en
Inventor
Klaus Eberl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GOEPPNER KAISERSLAUTERN EISEN
Original Assignee
GOEPPNER KAISERSLAUTERN EISEN
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GOEPPNER KAISERSLAUTERN EISEN filed Critical GOEPPNER KAISERSLAUTERN EISEN
Publication of GB8401784D0 publication Critical patent/GB8401784D0/en
Publication of GB2134052A publication Critical patent/GB2134052A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2134052B publication Critical patent/GB2134052B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D61/00—Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
    • B62D61/12—Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
    • B60F3/00—Amphibious vehicles, i.e. vehicles capable of travelling both on land and on water; Land vehicles capable of travelling under water
    • B60F3/003—Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
    • B60F2301/00—Retractable wheels
    • B60F2301/04—Retractable wheels pivotally
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/47—Means for retracting the suspension
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2300/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle
    • B60G2300/28—Amphibious vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2300/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle
    • B60G2300/38—Low or lowerable bed vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2800/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of movement or to the condition of the vehicle and to the end result to be achieved by the control action
    • B60G2800/20—Stationary vehicle
    • B60G2800/203—Stationary vehicle lowering the floor for loading/unloading

Abstract

A wheel or axle assembly is retractable into a corresponding wheel box (2) in a vehicle body (1). The axle assembly (5, 6, 7) is guided by means of parallel track arms (6, 7). The raising and lowering is effected by means of a pivoted hydraulic piston and cylinder device (8, 9) whose piston rod (8) is articulatedly connected to one arm (11) of cranked lever (10) pivotable about a fixed pivot (13). The other arm (12) of the lever (10) is articulatedly connected to the axle assembly (5, 6, 7) via a spring strut with shock absorber (14). In the rod-travel position, the cranked lever (10) is pivoted to such an extent that its arm (12) slightly exceeds its bottom dead centre position, thus ensuring that this position is maintained even in the event of failure of the piston and cylinder device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel suspension The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a wheel and/or wheel axle retractable into a vehicle body, with a track arm parallelogram for guiding the wheel and/or axle and with a pivoted hydraulic piston and cylinder device which at one end is secured to the vehicle body and which serves to raise and lower the wheel and/or axle.
Retractable wheel assemblies of this type are necessary, for example, in amphibious vehicles.
When these vehicles are changed over from land travel to water travel, the wheels have to be retracted so as to reduce water resistance and to improve manoeuvrability in the water. The same applies to land vehicles which, in the course of their use, have to be set down securely on the ground. Hitherto very expensive pivotal systems were necessary to control the raising and lowering operation, in particular for fixing the two end positions.
Patent specification DE-OS 22 10 070 discloses a three-axle vehicle with an air-sprung rear drive axle and a so-called trailing axle which can be raised relative to the vehicle frame. For raising the trailing axle there is used a hydraulically or pneumatically operated piston and cylinder device which at the same times designed as a shock absorber. The raised axle is held in this position by the pressure medium confined in the pressure chamber. Additionally, it is possible for the raised axle to be locked to the chassis frame by means of a suitable locking means, for example a hook.
In the lowered position, the axle is connected with the chassis in conventional manner via separate air springs. In this position the piston and cylinder device acts as a conventional shock absorber.
Patent specification DE-PS 538 257 discloses another arrangement for raising a vehicle axle by deforming the springs, which brace the axle against the chassis, by means of a hydraulic piston and cylinder device. In contrast to the above described arrangement, here the force of the hydraulic piston and cylinder device is deflected through about 900 via a rotatably mounted two-armed angled lever.
When the axle is raised, the piston of the hydraulic piston and cylinder device is locked by the pressure fluid confined in the pressure chamber. When the axle is lowered, the hydraulic piston and cylinder device and angled lever are inoperative.
Starting from the state of the art indicated above, the present invention is based on the object of devising a wheel suspension, in which both the raising and the lowering of the wheel and/or axle is effected by means of an hydraulic piston and cylinder device and which maintains the lowered position of the wheel and/or axle even in the event of failure of the hydraulic piston and cylinder device.
This object is achieved in that a slightly cranked lever is provided which is pivotable about a fixed pivot and has two lever arms, the free end of the pivoted piston and cylinder device is articulated to one lever arm, the other lever arm is connected articulatedly to the wheel or its axle and, when the wheel and/or axle is lowered, the other lever arm exceeds its bottom dead centre position, so that the pivoted piston and cylinder device is loaded against the mechanical end position.
The displacement kinematics are so designed that, in the lowered position of the wheel or axle, by slightly exceeding the dead centre position of the lever arm the load moment loads the displacing piston and cylinder device against the mechanical end abutment. It is thereby ensured, even in the event of failure of the hydraulic system, that the road travel position is retained. Without this mechanical locking, in the event of failure of the hydraulic system, the wheel axle could swing upwards under the influence of the vehicle's weight, whereupon the vehicle body would be grounded on the roadway. If this were to occur whilst travelling, a serious accident would be unavoidable.
According to an advantageous development, preferably a spring strut with shock absorber is interposed between the wheels or their axles and the other lever arm of the angled lever. Here, therefore, the spring is not tensioned when'the wheels or axles are swung up or raised.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows the axle zone of a vehicle with a lowered axle assembly in the road-travel position; and Figure 2 shows the same zone with raised or retracted axle assembly.
A vehicle body 1 of a wheeled vehicle or floating body of an amphibious vehicle has wheel boxes 2 into which wheels 3 can be retracted or raised. Between the two wheel boxes 2 the vehicle body 1 has a recess 4 passing through transversely for the axle and for the parts provided thereon.
A vehicle axle 5 is suspended in known manner from two parallel extending track arms 6 and 7 which ensure the vertical alignment of the wheels or axles in any position of the vehicle.
A hydraulic piston and cylinder device comprises a piston rod 8 and a cylinder 9, which cylinder is pivotally connected to the vehicle body 1. A slightly cranked lever 10 with two lever arms 11 and 12, is pivotable about a pivot 13.
The free end of the piston rod 8 is articulated to one lever arm 1 while the other lever arm 12 of the lever 10 is connected via an articulation 1 6 to the axle 5, in the illustrated example with an interposed spring strut with shock absorber 14. A drive shaft 1 5 is merely indicated in chain line.
When the piston rod 8 is extended out, the entire axle and wheel assembly is pushed out downwards from the wheel box 2 via the cranked lever 10. In this case the lever arm 12 slightly exceeds bottom dead centre by the angle p. The direction of rotation of the load moment is reversed. The piston and cylinder device 8, 9 is now loaded by the load moment in the extendingout direction, i.e., against the mechanical end position. As a result of this reversal of the force dirction, the whole assembly is secured in this position. This would also be the case even if the pivoted cylinder 9 were to lose its pressure fluid as result of it being damaged.
When the wheel axle is raised or retracted, a stable end position is also attained when the piston rod 8 reaches the abutment in the cylinder 9. In this position, the piston in the cylinder 9 is locked by a so-called hydraulic lock. If a loss of pressure fluid should occur here, only manoeuvrability in water will be reduced as the wheels 3 or axles 5 are lowered. On the contrary, without the mechanical locking according to the invention, failure of the hydraulic system during land travel could lead to a serious accident.

Claims (3)

1. Wheel suspension for a wheel and/or wheel axle retractable in a vehicle body, with a track arm parallelogram for guiding the wheel and/or axle and with a pivoted hydraulic piston and cylinder device which at one end is secured to the vehicle body and which serves to raise and lower the wheel and/or axle, wherein a slightly cranked lever is provided which is pivotable about a fixed pivot and has two lever arms, the free end of the pivoted piston and cylinder device is articulated to one lever arm, the other lever arm is connected articulatedly to the wheel or its axle and when the wheel and/or axle is lowered the other lever arm exceeds its bottom dead centre position so that the pivoted piston and cylinder device is loaded against the mechanical end position.
2. Wheel suspension according to claim 1, wherein a spring strut with a shock absorber is interposed between the wheel and/or the axle and the other lever arm of the angled lever.
3. Wheel suspension substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB08401784A 1983-01-29 1984-01-24 Wheel suspension Expired GB2134052B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3302998A DE3302998C2 (en) 1983-01-29 1983-01-29 Wheel suspension for wheels or wheel axles that can be swiveled into the vehicle body

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8401784D0 GB8401784D0 (en) 1984-02-29
GB2134052A true GB2134052A (en) 1984-08-08
GB2134052B GB2134052B (en) 1986-07-16

Family

ID=6189540

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08401784A Expired GB2134052B (en) 1983-01-29 1984-01-24 Wheel suspension

Country Status (2)

Country Link
DE (1) DE3302998C2 (en)
GB (1) GB2134052B (en)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4886290A (en) * 1987-11-30 1989-12-12 Societe Industrielle De Prefabrication Electrique Device making it possible to lower the rear of a road vehicle to bring it to ground level
FR2681305A1 (en) * 1991-09-17 1993-03-19 Messier Bugatti RETRACTABLE RUNNING TRAIN FOR A NON - CONTACT SUSTAINABLE VEHICLE.
WO1993015923A1 (en) * 1992-02-11 1993-08-19 Cardox Limited Vehicle with retractable wheel
US5593175A (en) * 1991-12-17 1997-01-14 Railway Technical Research Institute Leg apparatus for the magnetically levitated vehicle
GB2366261A (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-03-06 Edmund Peter Gortowski A variable height vehicle suspension system, with two distinct modes of operation
GB2375589B (en) * 2001-03-14 2004-09-08 Ordnance Dev And Engineering C Lightweight mobile artillery system having retractable wheels
US6886837B2 (en) * 2000-03-30 2005-05-03 Gibbs Technologies Limited Hydraulic suspension strut for an amphibious vehicle
US6994358B2 (en) 2000-07-21 2006-02-07 Gibbs Technologies Limited Bump stop
US7665745B2 (en) * 2003-06-10 2010-02-23 Kongsberg Automotive As Device for connecting a wheel axle housing with the chassis of a vehicle
US7931285B2 (en) * 2009-02-11 2011-04-26 Agco Corporation Tag axle attachment for an off road agricultural applicator vehicle
CN102729746A (en) * 2011-08-16 2012-10-17 党远林 Amphibious vehicle
CN102785657A (en) * 2012-07-19 2012-11-21 中国航空工业集团公司北京航空精密机械研究所 Driving device for air cushion vehicle and application of driving device
WO2012172348A3 (en) * 2011-06-13 2014-03-06 Gibbs Technologies Limited A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
US20140306414A1 (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-16 Aaron L. Aldrich Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
CN105818926A (en) * 2016-03-08 2016-08-03 中国海洋大学 Polar region amphibious scientific research ship
WO2016178035A1 (en) * 2015-05-07 2016-11-10 Gibbs Technologies Limited A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
CN108790644A (en) * 2017-04-29 2018-11-13 益阳天华两栖车艇有限公司 A kind of Wheel lifting device
US10427483B1 (en) 2013-04-10 2019-10-01 Ala Holdings, Llc Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
US10953966B2 (en) 2007-01-15 2021-03-23 Gibbs Technologies Limited Wheel suspension and retraction apparatus
US11135887B2 (en) * 2018-10-19 2021-10-05 Ala Holdings, Llc Adjustable suspension mount system and method

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19831324C2 (en) * 1998-07-13 2002-12-05 Andreas Lehrberger An amphibious vehicle
DE10344957A1 (en) * 2003-09-27 2005-04-21 Thomas Grigutsch Amphibious vehicle for travel on land and in water has wheel pivoting devices implemented so that pivoting wheels into land mode is prevented while wheel load is acting on wheels

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0049637A1 (en) * 1980-10-07 1982-04-14 Alfreton Engineering Limited Implement supporting arrangement

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE538257C (en) * 1930-07-17 1931-11-12 Automobilindustrie Ag F Lorry with removable car body
DE2210070A1 (en) * 1972-03-02 1973-09-06 Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz Ag AIR-SUSPENDED THREE-AXLE VEHICLE WITH ONE TOWING AXLE

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0049637A1 (en) * 1980-10-07 1982-04-14 Alfreton Engineering Limited Implement supporting arrangement

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4886290A (en) * 1987-11-30 1989-12-12 Societe Industrielle De Prefabrication Electrique Device making it possible to lower the rear of a road vehicle to bring it to ground level
FR2681305A1 (en) * 1991-09-17 1993-03-19 Messier Bugatti RETRACTABLE RUNNING TRAIN FOR A NON - CONTACT SUSTAINABLE VEHICLE.
EP0533531A1 (en) * 1991-09-17 1993-03-24 Messier Bugatti Retractable running gear for a levitating vehicle
US5356162A (en) * 1991-09-17 1994-10-18 Messier-Bugatti Retractable running gear for a vehicle that is supported without contact
US5593175A (en) * 1991-12-17 1997-01-14 Railway Technical Research Institute Leg apparatus for the magnetically levitated vehicle
WO1993015923A1 (en) * 1992-02-11 1993-08-19 Cardox Limited Vehicle with retractable wheel
US6886837B2 (en) * 2000-03-30 2005-05-03 Gibbs Technologies Limited Hydraulic suspension strut for an amphibious vehicle
US6994358B2 (en) 2000-07-21 2006-02-07 Gibbs Technologies Limited Bump stop
GB2366261A (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-03-06 Edmund Peter Gortowski A variable height vehicle suspension system, with two distinct modes of operation
GB2375589B (en) * 2001-03-14 2004-09-08 Ordnance Dev And Engineering C Lightweight mobile artillery system having retractable wheels
US7665745B2 (en) * 2003-06-10 2010-02-23 Kongsberg Automotive As Device for connecting a wheel axle housing with the chassis of a vehicle
US10953966B2 (en) 2007-01-15 2021-03-23 Gibbs Technologies Limited Wheel suspension and retraction apparatus
US7931285B2 (en) * 2009-02-11 2011-04-26 Agco Corporation Tag axle attachment for an off road agricultural applicator vehicle
WO2012172348A3 (en) * 2011-06-13 2014-03-06 Gibbs Technologies Limited A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
CN102729746A (en) * 2011-08-16 2012-10-17 党远林 Amphibious vehicle
CN102785657A (en) * 2012-07-19 2012-11-21 中国航空工业集团公司北京航空精密机械研究所 Driving device for air cushion vehicle and application of driving device
CN102785657B (en) * 2012-07-19 2015-10-28 中国航空工业集团公司北京航空精密机械研究所 A kind of actuating device for free air suspension car and application thereof
US20140306414A1 (en) * 2013-04-10 2014-10-16 Aaron L. Aldrich Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
US9162705B2 (en) * 2013-04-10 2015-10-20 Aaron L. Aldrich Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
US10427483B1 (en) 2013-04-10 2019-10-01 Ala Holdings, Llc Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
US9844992B2 (en) 2013-04-10 2017-12-19 Ala Holdings, Llc Adjustable ride height, vehicle, system and kit
US20180141398A1 (en) * 2015-05-07 2018-05-24 Gibbs Technologies Limited Retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
GB2551683A (en) * 2015-05-07 2018-01-03 Gibbs Tech Ltd A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
GB2551683B (en) * 2015-05-07 2019-01-30 Gibbs Tech Ltd A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
WO2016178035A1 (en) * 2015-05-07 2016-11-10 Gibbs Technologies Limited A retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
US10967691B2 (en) 2015-05-07 2021-04-06 Gibbs Technologies Limited Retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
US11766908B2 (en) 2015-05-07 2023-09-26 Gibbs Technologies Limited Retractable wheel assembly for an amphibian
CN105818926A (en) * 2016-03-08 2016-08-03 中国海洋大学 Polar region amphibious scientific research ship
CN108790644A (en) * 2017-04-29 2018-11-13 益阳天华两栖车艇有限公司 A kind of Wheel lifting device
CN108790644B (en) * 2017-04-29 2021-03-23 益阳天华两栖车艇有限公司 Wheel lifting device
US11135887B2 (en) * 2018-10-19 2021-10-05 Ala Holdings, Llc Adjustable suspension mount system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8401784D0 (en) 1984-02-29
DE3302998A1 (en) 1984-08-09
GB2134052B (en) 1986-07-16
DE3302998C2 (en) 1986-09-25

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020124