GB2177051A - Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings - Google Patents

Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2177051A
GB2177051A GB08517001A GB8517001A GB2177051A GB 2177051 A GB2177051 A GB 2177051A GB 08517001 A GB08517001 A GB 08517001A GB 8517001 A GB8517001 A GB 8517001A GB 2177051 A GB2177051 A GB 2177051A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
road
vehicle
suspension
ground clearance
height
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08517001A
Other versions
GB8517001D0 (en
Inventor
Frederick William Boulton
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.)
Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
Original Assignee
Land Rover UK Ltd
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 Land Rover UK Ltd filed Critical Land Rover UK Ltd
Priority to GB08517001A priority Critical patent/GB2177051A/en
Publication of GB8517001D0 publication Critical patent/GB8517001D0/en
Publication of GB2177051A publication Critical patent/GB2177051A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G17/00—Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load
    • B60G17/02—Spring characteristics, e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting means
    • B60G17/04—Spring characteristics, e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting means fluid spring characteristics
    • B60G17/052—Pneumatic spring characteristics

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Abstract

A dual purpose vehicle has suspension selectively adjustable to provide either a high ground clearance for use off road or a lower ground clearance for use on road. This can allow the vehicle to function off road in the manner intended, while allowing improved fuel consumption on road as compared to prior dual purpose vehicles.

Description

SPECIFICATION Dual purpose vehicles The present invention relates to dual purpose vehicles.
Dual purpose vehicles are vehicles which are constructed to be suitable for use both on and off road.
The requirements of such a vehicle include rugged construction, large ground clearance and long suspension travel to permit negotiation of rough terrain, and also a realistically high top speed for use on roads, and acceptable fuel economy. Reasonable on road handling is also desirable.
Unfortunately, in a number ofareasthe needs of on and off road work produce conflicting requirements.
Forexample,the high ground clearance needed for off road use tends to cause high fuel consumption and to limit top speed because ofturbulence occur ring under the vehicle. Similarly, long travel suspen- siontendsto allowthevehicleto rollwhilecornering on the road.
According to the present invention there is provided a dual purpose vehicle having suspension selectively adjustable to provide either a high ground clearance for use off road or a lower ground clearance for use on road.
In an embodiment of the invention,the suspension is an air suspension system.
Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, which shows one form of suspension that may be used in an embodiment of the invention.
In the drawing, 1,2,3 and 4 are air bags, which are compressed by wheel movement to provide resilient suspension. Each rearair bag 3,4 is also connectedto an additional reservoir 5, 6 to tune the natural frequency of oscillation ofthe rearsuspension. A reservoir7, pressurised by an electrically driven compressor8, provides air presureto pressurisethe air bags to the required level. The compressor is controlled buy a pressure switch 9 to keep the reservoir topped up at all times.
The system is controlled and monitored by a central control unit 10, which can be switched selectively to operate either an up solenoid valve 11 which bleeds airfrom the reservoir to the air bags, increasing ride height, ore down solenoid valve 12which bleeds airfrom the system, reducing ground clearance, orwhich can hold both valves closed, retaining the vehicle at a given height. The vehicle height is determined by front nearside height detector 13, front offside height detector 14, and rear height detector 15. These also provide data for the control offront nearside solenoid valve 16, front offside solenoid valve 17 and rear solenoid valve 18 respectively, which together provide levelling meansforthevehicle to ensure that it remains level after height adjust- ment.
In use the vehicle ride height is controlled by a four way switch 19, which allows the suspension height to be adjusted between a high ride position allowing the vehicletofunction in the mannerintended during off road use, a standard position for general use, a low ride position giving improved fuel economy during high speed use, and a down position to bring the vehicle down as low as possible, to facilitate loading, for example.
It should be noted that with an air suspension of this type, the volume of the air bags 1, 2, 3, 4 is reduced when the vehicle ride height is lowered. This means that suspension travel is decreased as compared to when the vehicle is in its high ground clearance, off road mode, thereby reducing the vehicle's tendency to roll during cornering.
It will be appreciated that although the invention has been described with reference onlyto airsuspension, other forms of suspension could also be used.
1. A dual purpose vehicle having suspension selectively adjustable to provide either a high ground clearance for use off road or a lower ground clearance for use on road.
2. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1,whereinthe suspension is an airsuspension.
3. Avehicleasclaimedinclaiml or2,whereinthe suspension is further adjustable to provide a very low ground clearance to assist in loading the vehicle.
4. Avehicle substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Dual purpose vehicles The present invention relates to dual purpose vehicles. Dual purpose vehicles are vehicles which are constructed to be suitable for use both on and off road. The requirements of such a vehicle include rugged construction, large ground clearance and long suspension travel to permit negotiation of rough terrain, and also a realistically high top speed for use on roads, and acceptable fuel economy. Reasonable on road handling is also desirable. Unfortunately, in a number ofareasthe needs of on and off road work produce conflicting requirements. Forexample,the high ground clearance needed for off road use tends to cause high fuel consumption and to limit top speed because ofturbulence occur ring under the vehicle. Similarly, long travel suspen- siontendsto allowthevehicleto rollwhilecornering on the road. According to the present invention there is provided a dual purpose vehicle having suspension selectively adjustable to provide either a high ground clearance for use off road or a lower ground clearance for use on road. In an embodiment of the invention,the suspension is an air suspension system. Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, which shows one form of suspension that may be used in an embodiment of the invention. In the drawing, 1,2,3 and 4 are air bags, which are compressed by wheel movement to provide resilient suspension. Each rearair bag 3,4 is also connectedto an additional reservoir 5, 6 to tune the natural frequency of oscillation ofthe rearsuspension. A reservoir7, pressurised by an electrically driven compressor8, provides air presureto pressurisethe air bags to the required level. The compressor is controlled buy a pressure switch 9 to keep the reservoir topped up at all times. The system is controlled and monitored by a central control unit 10, which can be switched selectively to operate either an up solenoid valve 11 which bleeds airfrom the reservoir to the air bags, increasing ride height, ore down solenoid valve 12which bleeds airfrom the system, reducing ground clearance, orwhich can hold both valves closed, retaining the vehicle at a given height. The vehicle height is determined by front nearside height detector 13, front offside height detector 14, and rear height detector 15. These also provide data for the control offront nearside solenoid valve 16, front offside solenoid valve 17 and rear solenoid valve 18 respectively, which together provide levelling meansforthevehicle to ensure that it remains level after height adjust- ment. In use the vehicle ride height is controlled by a four way switch 19, which allows the suspension height to be adjusted between a high ride position allowing the vehicletofunction in the mannerintended during off road use, a standard position for general use, a low ride position giving improved fuel economy during high speed use, and a down position to bring the vehicle down as low as possible, to facilitate loading, for example. It should be noted that with an air suspension of this type, the volume of the air bags 1, 2, 3, 4 is reduced when the vehicle ride height is lowered. This means that suspension travel is decreased as compared to when the vehicle is in its high ground clearance, off road mode, thereby reducing the vehicle's tendency to roll during cornering. It will be appreciated that although the invention has been described with reference onlyto airsuspension, other forms of suspension could also be used. CLAIMS
1. A dual purpose vehicle having suspension selectively adjustable to provide either a high ground clearance for use off road or a lower ground clearance for use on road.
2. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1,whereinthe suspension is an airsuspension.
3. Avehicleasclaimedinclaiml or2,whereinthe suspension is further adjustable to provide a very low ground clearance to assist in loading the vehicle.
4. Avehicle substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB08517001A 1985-07-04 1985-07-04 Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings Withdrawn GB2177051A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08517001A GB2177051A (en) 1985-07-04 1985-07-04 Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08517001A GB2177051A (en) 1985-07-04 1985-07-04 Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8517001D0 GB8517001D0 (en) 1985-08-07
GB2177051A true GB2177051A (en) 1987-01-14

Family

ID=10581821

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08517001A Withdrawn GB2177051A (en) 1985-07-04 1985-07-04 Vehicle with on-road and off-read suspension settings

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2177051A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0728604A2 (en) * 1995-02-21 1996-08-28 Mercedes-Benz Ag Vehicle with pneumatically spring tandem axle

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB820858A (en) * 1957-01-18 1959-09-30 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspensions
GB830326A (en) * 1957-05-16 1960-03-16 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspension
GB832665A (en) * 1957-05-27 1960-04-13 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspension
GB934989A (en) * 1960-09-22 1963-08-21 Daimler Benz Ag Improvements relating to pneumatic suspensions in motor vehicles
GB955084A (en) * 1959-08-03 1964-04-15 Magneti Marelli Spa System and pneumatic device for varying the chassis level of vehicles equipped with pneumatic springs
GB986730A (en) * 1962-08-23 1965-03-24 Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche Vehicle with a device for adjusting the height of the vehicle superstructure
US3689103A (en) * 1970-11-27 1972-09-05 Pneumo Dynamics Corp Variable height vehicle suspension
GB2064448A (en) * 1979-10-19 1981-06-17 Tokico Ltd Vehicle height adjusting apparatus
US4397473A (en) * 1981-08-18 1983-08-09 The Regents Of The University Of California Rough terrain vehicle

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB820858A (en) * 1957-01-18 1959-09-30 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspensions
GB830326A (en) * 1957-05-16 1960-03-16 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspension
GB832665A (en) * 1957-05-27 1960-04-13 Gen Motors Corp Improved height control system for vehicle fluid suspension
GB955084A (en) * 1959-08-03 1964-04-15 Magneti Marelli Spa System and pneumatic device for varying the chassis level of vehicles equipped with pneumatic springs
GB934989A (en) * 1960-09-22 1963-08-21 Daimler Benz Ag Improvements relating to pneumatic suspensions in motor vehicles
GB986730A (en) * 1962-08-23 1965-03-24 Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche Vehicle with a device for adjusting the height of the vehicle superstructure
US3689103A (en) * 1970-11-27 1972-09-05 Pneumo Dynamics Corp Variable height vehicle suspension
GB2064448A (en) * 1979-10-19 1981-06-17 Tokico Ltd Vehicle height adjusting apparatus
US4397473A (en) * 1981-08-18 1983-08-09 The Regents Of The University Of California Rough terrain vehicle

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0728604A2 (en) * 1995-02-21 1996-08-28 Mercedes-Benz Ag Vehicle with pneumatically spring tandem axle
EP0728604A3 (en) * 1995-02-21 1997-02-12 Daimler Benz Ag Vehicle with pneumatically spring tandem axle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8517001D0 (en) 1985-08-07

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)