GB2309949A

GB2309949A - Vehicle anti-roll bar

Info

Publication number: GB2309949A
Application number: GB9602761A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Anthony Mumford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-10
Filing date: 1996-02-10
Publication date: 1997-08-13
Also published as: GB9602761D0

Abstract

Roll bar system for automotive vehicles uses a fore/aft roll bar 14 instead of the conventional inter-front-wheel layout. The inboard end is connected to the vehicle body at 15 for input of torque generated by body roll. The outboard end of the torque bar (or torque resistant element) is connected at 17 to one pair of ground wheels 12 (for example through a beam axle 16) to resist the torque.

Description

VEHICLE ANTI-ROLL BAR This invention relates to a system for the reduction of roll angles experienced by vehicles subjected to lateral accelerations such as those arising from cornering forces.

It is known that vehicles, for example motor cars, equipped with sprung suspensions will normally tilt, that is roll, outward when negotiating a corner.

Anti-roll bars are often used to limit the angle of roll. These are torsion bar springs usually mounted transversely on the chassis and connected through lever arms at each end to the axles of each of a transverse pair of vehicle road wheels. This arrangement allows a pair of wheels to move up or down together without inducing torque in the bar. However should the wheels move in opposite directions, such as would be the case when the vehicle rolls during cornering, torque is induced and the consequent reaction through the chassis mounts resists vehicle roll.

This arrangement presents installation problems in some vehicles because of lack of space.

According to the present invention a vehicle chassis is supported by springing means on wheels. A transverse pair of wheels is provided with a torsion bar or tube one end of which is connected to a beam which in turn connects together the axles of the said pair of wheels directly or via linkage locating the wheels relative to the chassis. The torsion bar or tube is rotationally restrained in its connection to the beam but may have angular freedom. The other end of the torsion bar or tube is connected to the chassis whereby it is rotationally restrained relative to the chassis but may have angular freedom. More than one pair of wheels per vehicle may be so equipped.

One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1. shows in perspective the underneath view of a four wheeled vehicle chassis with one transverse pair of wheels fitted with a torsion bar and beam arrangement.

Referring to the drawing a chassis 10 is supported by springs 11 at each comer on two transverse pairs of wheels 12 and 13. For clarity the connection ofthe wheels to the chassis is not shown and may follow any of the conventionally known methods of location. A torsion bar 14 is connected to the chassis by bracket 15 which restrains the bar rotationally but allows angular movement. The other end of the torsion bar 14 is connected to a beam 16 by a bracket 17 which also restrains the bar rotationally while allowing angular movement. The beam 16 connects a pair of wheels 12 by means of their axles, not shown.

In operation if one of the pair of wheels 12 rises or falls relative to the other, such as would happen if the vehicle were cornering, the end of the bar 14 attached to the beam 16 will be caused to rotate about its axis. The other end of the bar 14 is restrained from rotation by bracket 15, therefore a torque will be induced in the bar 14.

The reaction of this torque in the chassis 10 will reduce the amount of roll the vehicle would otherwise have experienced.

If both wheels 12 rise or fall together no torque will be induced in the bar and there will be no reaction in the chassis.

Claims

1 A vehicle comprising : a) a vehicle body having at least two pairs of ground support wheels spaced apart in the travel direction and suspension means supporting said body on said wheels; b) said suspension means comprising vehicle body anti-roll means comprising a torque-resistant element connected between one of said pairs of wheels of said vehicle and said vehicle body, said wheels of said one of said pairs being laterally spaced apart with respect to the travel direction of said vehicle; and c) said torque-resistant element being adapted to resist resiliently torque applied thereto in use by said vehicle body; characterised by d) said anti-roll means having said torque resistant element connected at a first location to said one pair of said wheels so as to be able to resist torque transmitted thereto in use from said vehicle body; and e) said anti-roll means having said torque resistant element extending from said first location generally in the travel direction of said vehicle and being connected to said vehicle body at a second location intermediate said spaced pairs of ground support wheels and so as to resist body roll at said second location between said pairs of wheels.

2 ,+. vehicle comprising a suspension system wherein a body-roll-resisting torque-resistant element extends from a given wheel pair generally in the travel direction of the vehicle and is coupled to the vehicle body and resists body roll at a location offset from said wheel pair in said travel direction.

3 A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by said torque-resistant element being connected to said vehicle body at a location generally in the region of the centre of gravity of the vehicle.

4 A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised by said torque-resistant element being connected to said one pair of wheels through a beam axle.

5 A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised by said torque resistant element being connected to said one pair of wheels through a linkage interconnecting independent suspension linkages of said wheels.

6 A vehicle according to claim 5 characterised by said linkage being adapted to apply torque to said torque-resistant element from either of said wheels.

7 A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised by said torque-resistant element being adapted to perform a function additional to that of a torque-resistant element.

8 A vehicle according to claim 7 characterised by said additional function of said torque-resistant element comprising acting as a location member for an axle of said vehicle in relation to the chassis thereof.

9 A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said torque-resistant element constituting a first torque-resistant element, and being operatively associated with a first pair of wheels of the vehicle and a second torque-resistant element being provided in relation to a second pair of wheels of the vehicle, and coupling means being provided to couple said first and second torqueresistant elements to the vehicle body so that the degree of roll-resistance provided thereby is determined.

10 A vehicle according to claim 9 characterised by said coupling means comprising control means for controlling the degree of roll resistance provided by said first and second torque-resistant elements.

11 A vehicle according to claim 10 characterised by said coupling means comprising pivoted lever means pivotally interconnecting the adjacent ends of said torque-resistant elements.

12 A vehicle according to claim 11 characterised by said lever means being coupled to a thrust device operable to increase the torsion in either or both of said torque-resistant elements.

13 A vehicle according to claim 12 characterised by said thrust device comprising a fluid pressure actuator operable to change said torsional loading in either or both of said torque-resistant elements.

14 A vehicle according to claim 13 characterised by a fluid pressure control system to provide automatic control of said fluid pressure actuator in accordance with sensed dynamic parameters of said vehicle's travel characteristics.

15 A vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16 A vehicle comprising an anti-roll suspension system having an elongated torque-resistant resilient element extending generally in the travel direction of the vehicle.

17 A vehicle according to claim 16 characterised by said torque-resistant element being coupled to the vehicle body at a location spaced longitudinally from the pair of vehicle wheels to which the torqueresistant element is coupled.