GB2250001A - Vehicle suspension - Google Patents
Vehicle suspension Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2250001A GB2250001A GB9123155A GB9123155A GB2250001A GB 2250001 A GB2250001 A GB 2250001A GB 9123155 A GB9123155 A GB 9123155A GB 9123155 A GB9123155 A GB 9123155A GB 2250001 A GB2250001 A GB 2250001A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- warning
- gas
- vehicle according
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
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
-
- 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
- B60G17/015—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 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
- B60G17/018—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 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
- B60G17/0185—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 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method for failure detection
-
- 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
- B60G17/015—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 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
- B60G17/0195—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 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
Abstract
A vehicle has an automatically variable height air suspension system and a manual override facility to provide a reduced height condition for unloading and loading, the height sensing device is arranged to provide an electrical signal responsive to the height of the vehicle and to operate a cab warning device 26 in the event of the vehicle being set in motion with the manual override operative to result in a reduced height condition. <IMAGE>
Description
VEHICLE
This invention relates to a vehicle of a kind incorporating a gas suspension system having a gas suspension unit for containing a selectively variable quantity of gas.
In a vehicle of this type control means such as a valve is provided between the suspension unit(s) and a source of pressurised gas, usually air, automatically to vary the mass of gas in the unit(s) such that the sprung part of the vehicle is at a prescribed height or within a prescribed height range irrespective of the load carried by the vehicle.
Commonly a vehicle of this type is provided also with a manual override facility so that when for example it is at rest an operator can exhaust the pressurised gas from the suspension unit(s) either to atmosphere or to a reservoir in order to lower the sprung part of the vehicle for loading or unloading purposes.
Similarly the manual override may alternatively or additionally allow more pressurised gas to be admitted to the suspension unit(s) to elevate the sprung part of the vehicle during loading or unloading.
A safety problem can arise, however, if the operator omits to disengage the manual override control before the vehicle is set in motion.
If the sprung part has been elevated, the resulting increase in centre of gravity adversely affects the stability of the vehicle when cornering, with a consequential safety risk.
Furthermore, if the sprung part has been lowered, possibly onto lower bump stops, it will no longer be properly sprung and damped; the load carried by the vehicle is then potentially subjected to vibration and shock loads of a level greater than may be desirable, and again stability when cornering is adversely affected.
A further problem arises, particularly in a road type vehicle as opposed to a rail vehicle, if the braking system is arranged to provide a level of braking which is a function of the pressure of gas in the suspension unit(s). In this case if the manual override has resulted in no significant pressure in the suspension unit(s), the braking system will operate at a low level of maximum braking effort on the assumption that the vehicle is unloaded, and this will be extremely dangerous if the vehicle in fact is fully loaded and might require full braking capability in an emergency.
The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle in which the aforementioned problem is mitigated or overcome.
In accordance with one of its aspects the present invention provides a vehicle having a gas suspension system in which a gas suspension unit is arranged to contain a selectively variable quantity of gas, gas control means normally operable automatically to control the mass of gas in the gas suspension unit to maintain a sprung part of the vehicle at a prescribed height or height range, manually operable override means to disable automatic operation of the gas control means, sensing means responsive to the height of the vehicle and comprising transducer means which facilitates provision of an electrical signal which is a function of the height of the vehicle, and warning means operable in response to a signal received from the sensing means to provide the vehicle operator with a warning signal at least when the vehicle is in motion if the sprung part of the vehicle is not at said height or height range.
Preferably the warning means provides a warning signal when the vehicle power unit, e g internal combustion engine, is operational, but not when the vehicle is stationary with its power unit inoperative.
The warning means may be arranged to provide a warning signal only at such times as the vehicle ignition system is switched on in the case of an internal combustion engine type power unit.
The sensing means may comprise a flexible or telescopic mechanical link device which interconnects between sprung and unsprung parts of the vehicle, and may comprise transducer means such as a variable resistance potentiometer which facilitates provision of an electrical signal which is a function of the height of the vehicle. A particularly suitable transducer is a ceramic based potentiometer, and which may be of a rotary or linear form. The sensing means alternatively may be of a substantially non-mechanical type, e g an ultrasonic device adapted to provide said electrical signal.
The vehicle may incorporate a braking system of a kind in which a brake warning signal is given to the vehicle operator in the event of a defect in the braking system. The braking system may be of the kind in which the level of braking effort available is a function of the apparent load carried by the vehicle, and which may be sensed by means responsive to the pressure of gas in suspension unit(s). In a vehicle having said brake warning signal, the present invention further provides that the warning device for providing that signal shall serve also as the warning means for providing a warning in the event of the vehicle being in motion, or having the power unit operational, with the override means also in operation to disable the gas control means.
A particular advantage of arranging in the vehicle that the sensing means is responsive to the height of the vehicle is that not only does it provide a safety feature that takes into account the possibility of the vehicle operator omitting to disable the manual override means but it also provides a warning in the event that there is a failure in the air suspension to result in loss of pressure.In the event of loss of pressure in the air suspension system in the case of a vehicle having a braking system which operates as a function of the apparent vehicle load as sensed by the pressure of gas in the air suspension units, loss of air pressure will normally result in only a lower level of braking effort being available even though the vehicle might be fully loaded; the risks arising in such a situation are substantially mitigated by the present invention insofar as loss of air pressure will result in the sensing means causing the warning means to operate and provide a warning signal.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing showing part of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention and with selected components indicated in block diagram form.
The sprung part 11 of a vehicle is supported relative to a vehicle wheel and axle structure 12 by means of an air suspension unit 13 of known construction. The air suspension unit 13 is connected to an air supply pump 14 via a pipe 15 which incorporates a flow control device 16 arranged by means not shown but known in the art normally to allow pressurised air into the suspension unit 13 or vent from its outlet port 17 automatically thereby to maintain the sprung part 11 of the vehicle at a prescribed height (usually within a prescribed height range).
The vehicle additionally comprises an air brake system having a control unit 18 which applies air pressure to the brakes via a pipe 19 at a pressure level which depends on the level of brake effort applied by the vehicle driver (at input 20 of the unit 18) and the pressure of air as communicated to the unit 18 from the air suspension unit 13 via pipe 21, this pressure being a function of the load carried by the vehicle during normal operating conditions.
An electrical supply in the form of a conventional battery 25 is connected via the brake control unit 18 to a brake warning buzzer and light unit 26 located in the vehicle cab. This operates in known manner to provide a brake warning in the event of a loss of air pressure in the brake system when the ignition control 27 is in an on condition. Thus at all times when the vehicle power unit 29 is operating or potentially available for operation the brake warning system is functional.
In addition to the aforedescribed components of the vehicle and which are arranged in a manner substantially known in the art, the vehicle comprises a cranked link arrangement 30 comprising two arms 31,32 pivotally connected to one another at 33. The lower arm 31 is pivotally secured to the lower unsprung half of the air suspension unit 13 and the other arm 32 is connected at its end furthest from the end 33 to move in unison with the wiper arm of a rotary ceramic potentiometer 35 secured to the sprung part 11 of the vehicle. The potentiometer 35 is arranged to connect electrically with the brake warning device 26. The warning device 26 incorporates an electronic control unit which compares the resistance of the potentiometer with the range of resistances associated with the vehicle being at a normal operating height and in the event of the resistance being outside the normal range and in the event of the vehicle ignition being switched on as indicated by the connection 28 between the ignition switch and brake warning device, the brake warning device will operate to give a warning signal.
Claims (14)
1. A vehicle comprising a gas suspension system having a gas suspension unit arranged to contain a selectively variable quantity of gas, gas control means normally operable automatically to control the mass of gas in the gas suspension unit to maintain a sprung part of the vehicle at a prescribed height or height range, manually operable override means to disable automatic operation of the gas control means, sensing means responsive to the height of the vehicle and comprising transducer means which facilitates provision of an electrical signal which is a function of the height of the vehicle, and warning means operable in response to a signal received from the sensing means to provide the vehicle operator with a warning signal at least when the vehicle is in motion if the sprung part of the vehicle is not at said height or height range.
2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle power unit and the warning means is able to provide a warning signal when the vehicle power unit is operational but not when the vehicle is stationary with its power unit inoperative.
3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine power unit and the warning means is arranged to provide a warning signal only at such times as the vehicle ignition system is powered.
4. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sensing means comprises a mechanical link device which interconnects between sprung and unsprung parts of the vehicle.
5. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the sensing means comprises a flexible link device.
6. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein the sensing means comprises a telescopic mechanical link device.
7. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transducer means comprises a ceramic based potentiometer.
8. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sensing means comprises an ultrasonic device.
9. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a braking system of a kind in which a brake warning signal is given to the vehicle operator in the event of a defect in the braking system.
10. A vehicle according to claim 9 wherein a warning device for providing said warning signal serves also as the warning means for providing a warning in the event of the vehicle being in motion, or having the power unit operational, with the override means also in operation to disable the gas control means.
11. A vehicle according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the braking system is of a kind in which the level of braking effort available is a function of the apparent load carried by the vehicle.
12. A vehicle according to claim 11 wherein the apparent load carried by the vehicle is sensed by means responsive to the pressure of gas in a gas suspension unit.
13. A vehicle constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
14. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and which is a road type vehicle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9123155A GB2250001A (en) | 1990-11-02 | 1991-10-31 | Vehicle suspension |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB909023864A GB9023864D0 (en) | 1990-11-02 | 1990-11-02 | Vehicle |
| GB9123155A GB2250001A (en) | 1990-11-02 | 1991-10-31 | Vehicle suspension |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9123155D0 GB9123155D0 (en) | 1991-12-18 |
| GB2250001A true GB2250001A (en) | 1992-05-27 |
Family
ID=26297889
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9123155A Withdrawn GB2250001A (en) | 1990-11-02 | 1991-10-31 | Vehicle suspension |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2250001A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102922968A (en) * | 2012-11-27 | 2013-02-13 | 东风柳州汽车有限公司 | Air suspension alarm |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB291789A (en) * | 1927-06-09 | 1928-09-27 | Rheinische Metallwaaren-Und Maschinenfabrik Soemmerda Aktiengesellschaft | |
| GB937170A (en) * | 1959-07-31 | 1963-09-18 | Allinquant Fernand St | Improvements in trim corrector devices for vehicles with fluid suspension |
| GB986730A (en) * | 1962-08-23 | 1965-03-24 | Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche | Vehicle with a device for adjusting the height of the vehicle superstructure |
| US3881743A (en) * | 1974-05-02 | 1975-05-06 | Gen Motors Corp | Automotive leveling system |
-
1991
- 1991-10-31 GB GB9123155A patent/GB2250001A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB291789A (en) * | 1927-06-09 | 1928-09-27 | Rheinische Metallwaaren-Und Maschinenfabrik Soemmerda Aktiengesellschaft | |
| GB937170A (en) * | 1959-07-31 | 1963-09-18 | Allinquant Fernand St | Improvements in trim corrector devices for vehicles with fluid suspension |
| GB986730A (en) * | 1962-08-23 | 1965-03-24 | Ferdinand Anton Ernst Porsche | Vehicle with a device for adjusting the height of the vehicle superstructure |
| US3881743A (en) * | 1974-05-02 | 1975-05-06 | Gen Motors Corp | Automotive leveling system |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102922968A (en) * | 2012-11-27 | 2013-02-13 | 东风柳州汽车有限公司 | Air suspension alarm |
| CN102922968B (en) * | 2012-11-27 | 2015-10-07 | 东风柳州汽车有限公司 | air suspension alarm |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9123155D0 (en) | 1991-12-18 |
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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) |