LV10598B - Multifunctional supporting arrangement for elastic fastening of solids on solid base assembly - Google Patents

Description

LV 10598

MULTI-PURPOSE SUSPENSION SYSTEM

This invention relates to a suspension system for improving the stātie or dynamic stability of bodies vvhich rest on or move over land or vvater or vvhich move through the air and is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to the passenger, freight or luggage compartment of land, air and vvater vehicles and to those parts of building struetures vvhich extend above the ground, ali of vvhich vvill be hereinafter referred to as bodies.

Rigid bodies of the kind referred to may, dependent upon their location and purpose, be subjected to a variety of shoeks caused, among other things, by vvaves, uneven ground, earth tremors, or air turbulence and it is a principal object of the invention to minimise the effect of these or other phenomena on a vvide variety of bodies by breaking dovvn the usual monolithic strueture having a single centre of gravity into a complex arrangement of separate masses each having its own centre of gravity and being independently connected to at least one of the other masses to permit relative movement of one with respect to the others.

One knovvn example of such an arrangement has already been applied to the suspension of a motor vehiele required to travel over particularly uneven terrain and involves the provision of an arm pivotally mounted on at least one end of the vehiele chassis for limited angular movement about an axis extending along the longitudinal centre line of the vehiele and connected to the vvheel axle by links slidably mounted in the ends of the arm and incorporating springs exerting dovvnvvard pressure on the axle.

According to the present invention, a suspension system for resiliently mounting a rigid body on a rigid base assembly comprises an intermediate frame, spring-supported from said base assembly for limited relative angular movement about an axis vertically aligned with the centra! longitudinal axis of the base assembly and supporting said body for limited horizontal and vertical movement relative thereto and arm means pivotally mounted on at least one end of said base assembly for limited angular movement relative thereto about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said intermediate frame, said arm means being connected to opposite sides of said body.

One embodiment of the invention vvill be deseribed, by way of example, as applied to a motor vehiele for use over uneven and difficult terrain and in the accompanying diagrammatic dravvings:

Figurē 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle suspension system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, vvhich may employ semi-elliptical leaf springs or coil springs;

Figurē 2 is a front vievv of a suspension system in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention;

Figurē 3 is a side vievv of the suspension system of Fig.2;

Figurē 4 is a plān vievv of a suspension system in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention employing semi-elliptical leaf springs or coil springs;

Figurē 5 is a side vievv of the suspension system in accordance vvith the invention employing semi-elliptical leaf springs or coil springs;

Figurē 6 illustrātes the theoretical principal underlying the suspension system of the invention and the directions of movement of the various components of the suspension system;

Figurēs 7 to 10 are vievvs of a land vehicle, boat, landing aircraft and prefabricated building respectively, partly sectioned, vvhere necessary, to illustrate some of the various applications of the invention and the free motions in the system.

Figurē 11 is a perspective veiw, on an enlarged scale, of a cross-linkage to be employed vvith the split type axle shovvn in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to Figurēs 1 to 3, there is shovvn a vehicle chassis/body structure 10, supporting means in the form of front 14 and rear 16 tyred road vvheels, mounted on respective axles 18, 20, and a suspension system interposed betvveen the support means and the body structure 10. The suspension system comprises an intermediate frame 22 having opposed pairs of lateral arms 26, 28, 30, 32, each arm 26, 28, 30, 32 being pivotably mounted at one end on a respective pin 34, 36, 38, 40. The other end of each arm 26, 28, 30, 32 is slidably attached to respective cross linkages 42, 44, 46, 48 provided at each of the four corners of the frame 22. Further arms 50 and 54 are provided at the front and rear ends, respectively, of the frame 22 and are pivotably mounted on the ends of body structure 10 by means of pins 58, 60 vvhich lie on the longitudinal centre line (12) of the body structure 10. The opposite ends of the front and rear arms 50, and 54, respectively, are slidably attached to respective cross linkages 42, 44 and 46, 48. Stops 49 are provided on the arms 50 and 54, at both sides of cross-links 42, 44, 46, 48 to limit radial motion of the vehicle body structure 10.

Front road vvheels 14 mounted on axle 18 are urged dovvnvvard by coil springs 62 interposed betvveen the axle 18 and the frame 22. The coil springs 62 are attached at their upper ends to the lateral arms 26, 28 of the frame 22 and at their LV 10598 3. . lower ends to the axle 18. Rear road vvheels 16 mounted on the axle 20 are urged downward by semi-elliptic leaf springs 64 interposed betvveen the axle 20 and the frame 22. U bolts 66 fix the leaf .springs 64 to the axle 20 and the leaf springs 64 are pivotab!y mounted at both ends on the frame 22 by means of shackles 68 vvhich are pivotably mounted on the lateral arms 30, 32, of the frame 22 (see Figurēs 1 and 5). The provision of pivotably mounted shackles 68 permits greater movement of the leaf springs 64 relative to the body structure 10 and enables the arms 78, described hereinafter, to be omitted.

The front coil springs 62 may be replaced by semi-elliptical leaf springs attached in the same manner as the rear springs 64.

Arm means 70, 72 are mounted for rotation at the centre of the front 18 and rear 20 axles on pins 71 and 73 respectively, the axes of vvhich coincide vvith the Central vertical axis of the body structure assembly, at both the front and rear ends. The arm means 70, 72 each have respective right 70A, 72A and left 70B, 72B pivoted extensions extending to the body structure 10 and pivotably mounted on brackets 74 on said body structure.

The arm means 70, 72 and their extensions limit or control body roll when the vehicle is driven around bends, during braking or vvhen being driven over uneven surfaces. A pair of arms 76 is pivotably mounted at one end on each of the axles 18, 20 and a pair of arms 78 is pivotably mounted at one end and at a different Ievel to the arms 76 only on the or each axle to vvhich coil springs 62 are attached. The arms 76, 78 are pivotably mounted at their other ends on the body 10 and contribute to the control of the radial motion of the body during cornering, and to the forvvard motion of the body during braking (see Figs. 2 and 3).

Preferably, body structure 10 is formed vvith ports 82 to receive piston means 80, bedding on springs 81, held in position on the body structure by holder 83. Both piston means at the left and right side of the body structure are connected together at 80A for simultaneous movement. The piston means 80, vvhen operating media is supplied to the spaces above the pistons, vvill raise the body structure 10 to a higher Ievel relative to the ground and serve to absorb or regulate shocks vvhich tend to disturb the vvheels 14, 16 and the comfortable ride of the vehicle body structure 10. By raising the body structure 10 relative to the ground, the system provides the further advantages of higher axle displacement, improved shock absorbtion and at least two further free motions vvithin its system, namely vertical up and dovvn motion of the body structure relative to the ground. For raising the body structure, any suitable media, e.g. pressurised fluid, air, hydraulic fluid or any combinations thereof can be supplied to ports 82.

Figurēs 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the inventive principle as applied, for example, to a land vehicle, the main units of vvhich comprise the body structure 10; the intermediate frame 22 (shown in -broken lines in Fig. 6) including arms 26, 28, 30, 32 and cross sliding links 42, 44, 46, 48, coil springs 62 or semi-elliptical (eaf springs 64, or a combination thereof, as shovvn in Fig. 5; arm means 70, 72 centrally mounted on the axles, along with their respective arms 70A, 72A, 70B and 72B pivotably mounted thereon and extending to the side brackets 74 of the body structure; the front and rear axle assemblies 18, 20 respectively, including items 76, 78 being the supporting arms mounted at different Ievels, and items 14, 16 being the ground supports for the body. structure.

The illustrated example being vvithin the scope of the appended claims provides improved axle displacement relative to the body structure, since the axles are centrally connected to the body structure only by means of the pivoted arm means, and improved shock absorption provided by the raising means consisting of items 82 and 80 respectively, installed and energised, as described with reference to Fig. 1.

Figurē 8 illustrates another application of the invention in vvhich the solid type ax!e 18 of Fig. 7 may be replaced by a split type axle 84, and vvherein the ground suppoet road vvheels 14, 16 are replaced by at least one inflatable member 12A for maintaining a body above vvater Ievel.

Figurē 9 illustrates another application of the invention as applied to the landing gear means of a typical aircraft employing one or two axles 84 of the kind shovvn in Figurē 8 and suitable tyred ground vvheels 12.

Figurē 10 illustrates another application of the multi-purpose suspension system, in the form of a prefabricated building structure having a body structure 10, intermediate frame 22, cross sliding links 42, 44, 46, 48, coil springs 62, centrally mounted arm means 70, 72, vvith their respective links 70A, 70B, 72A, 72B and brackets 74 fixed to the body structure 10, front and rear axles 18,20, vvhich may be of the type shovvn at 84 in Figs 8 and 9 and raising means consisting mainly of piston means 80, ports 82, spring means 81 and spring holders 83, the system providing the improved free motions up to and including twenty four.

In operation, when the vehicle is driven around bends at high speeds the vehicle body vvill tend to roll in the direction of the centrifūgai force but this motion vvill be limited due to the suspension system geometry and its centralised constrained connections. Thus the vehicle body mounted for rotation about the front and rear axle pins 71 and 73 respectively, through the arm means 70 and 72 and their respective links 70A, 70B and 72A, 72B vvill move radially through a restricted angle or distance controlled by stops 49. Since the arms 50 and 54 follovv the radial motion of the body structure, they simultaneously force ali LV 10598 5. four springs 62, 64 dovvnvvards into compression. This differs from the arrangement employed in conventional vehicle suspension systems where the springs on one side of the vehicle body are under compression and the springs on the other side of the vehicle body are under tension when the vehicle is driven round a bend. When the vehicle is driven over obstacies vvhich tend to cause the body structure to be lifted both the spring means 62, 64 and the arm means 70, 72 and their extensions act to limit vehicle body motion. VVhen the vehicle is braking, forvvard motion is limited by the further arrns 76, 78 on both the front and rear axles and at the same time arm 76 vvhich is mounted above the axle centrepoint limits rotation of the axles creating a moment vvhich is transferred to the body structure. VVhen the vehicle is driven transversely over mountain or slope the suspension system described herein is able to control any sideways displacement of the vehicle body allovving the vehicle to be driven over such terrain vvitn comfort and improved stability. VVhen the vehicle is driven over very rough terrain vvhere the right and left sides of the vehicle are both being driven over obstacies at the same time and vvhere the front and the rear axles are tilted in opposite directions in relation to one another, the suspension provides improved axle displacement relative one to the other and to the body structure, in view of the intermediate frame and the centrally constrained connection system providing improved independent movement relative to one another.

Many other improvements and modifications of the suspension system vvill readily be apparent to those skilled in the art vvithout departing from the scope of the invention defined in the follovving claims. LV 105986. CLAIMS: 1. A multi-purpose suspension system for resiliently mounting a rigid body on a rigid base assembly, said system comprising an intermediate frame, spring-supported from said base assembly for limited relative angular movement about an axis vertically aligned with the Central longitudinal axis of the base assembly and pivotally supporting said body for limited horizontal and vertical movement relative thereto, and arm means pivotally mounted on at least one end of said base assembly for limited angular movement relative thereto about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said intermediate frame, said arm means being connected to opposite sides of said body. 2. A system according to claim 1, vvherein said body is rectangular and is provided on ali four sides with ports vvhich receive means for raising and lovvering said body relative to said intermediate frame. 3. A system according to claim 2, vvherein said raising means includes pistons and means for supplying fluid, compressed air or any equivalent pressurised medium to the spaces betvveen said pistons and said body. 4. A system according to any preceding claim, vvherein said intermediate frame includes longitudinally extending side members and transversely extending end members, vvhich latter are initially slidable laterally of said frame under the influence of centrifūgai force, to an extent limited by stops thereon, vvhereafter dovvnvvard pressure exerted by said end members upon the springs on one side of the system is converted through the medium of said arm means into equal dovvnvvard pressure on the springs on both sides. 5. A system according to claim 4, vvherein said side frame members each comprise two longitudinally aligned elements s!idably connected at their outer ends to the end frame member by cross-slides and pivotally connected at their inner ends to Central portions of the side members supporting raising means for said body. 6. A system according to claim 5, vvherein said intermediate frame is supported from said base assembly by coil springs interposed betvveen said cross-slides and end members of said base assembly. 7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, vvherein said intermediate frame is supported from said base assemb!y by semi-elliptical leaf springs each pivotally secured at its ends to a side member of said frame and secured betvveen its ends to an end member of said base assembly. 8. A system according to claim 5, vvherein the ends of said springs are secured to said intermediate frame by shackles. 9. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, vvherein said intermediate frame is supported from said base assembly by a combination of coil springs at one end and semi-elliptical leaf springs at the other. 10. A system according to any preceding claim, vvherein the opposite ends of said arm means are pivotally connected to a pair of Irnks, the other ends of vvhich are pivotally connected to brackets depending from opposite sides o.f said body. 11. A system according to any preceding claim, vvherein said base assembly includes ground vvheels rotatably mounted at the ends of at least one transverse axle. 12. A system according to claim 11, vvherein said base assembly includes at least four ground vvheels mounted on front and rear axles. 13. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, vvherein said base assembiy includes at least two floats mounted at the ends of at least one transverse axle to maintain said body above the surface of vvater. 14. A system according to claim 11 or 12, vvherein at least one end of said base assembly supports a pair of longitudinally extending arms pivotally mounted at different Ievels on said base assembly and pivotally connected at their inner ends to said body for restricting forvvard movement during braking.

Claims (14)

EN 10598 MULTIFUNCTIONAL STRENGTH OF RUBBER STRUCTURE FOR SOLID STRENGTHENING OF SOLID BODY STRUCTURE Formulation 1. A multifunctional suspension for rigid body hardening on a rigid base unit comprises: an intermediate frame secured to the base unit by springs to limit the relative angular movement about the axis centered vertically the central longitudinal axis of the base unit, supported by said body, limiting its horizontal and vertical movements with respect to the axis; and lever assemblies which are movably mounted on at least one end of the base unit to limit the angular movement about the axis parallel to the axis of the interstellar rotation, with the lever assemblies attached to opposite sides of said body. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the body is rectangular and has four working cylinders at each of the four edges for engaging the piston by lifting and lowering the body relative to the interstellar. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the lifting / lowering assembly comprises pistons and devices for delivering fluid, compressed air, or other similar compressed media to voids between piston and body. 2 The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate frame comprises longitudinally directed lateral parts and transverse directed end portions, the last centrifugal force being capable of laterally sliding along the inter-frame as much as the fixings on it allow and the vertical pressure exerted by the end parts on the latter. The systems on one side springs are converted to the springs of both sides by a similar vertical pressure through the lever units. 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein each lateral part of the inter-frame comprises two longitudinally spaced elements connected by an external end with a cross-sliding connection to the end-piece of the intermediate frame and with the inner ends movably attached to the middle portion of the body-lifting-lowering knuckle supporting parts. . A system according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate frame is based on a base unit with helical springs inserted between the cross-member sliding members and the end parts of the base unit. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the intermediate frame is based on a base unit with semi-elliptical plate springs and each of them with end ends is fixed to the intermediate frame part and secured to the end of the base assembly between the spring ends. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein the spring ends are secured to the intermediate frame by the clamps. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the inter-frame base-base support springs are a coil spring at one end and a semi-elliptical plate spring at the other end. 10. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lever assemblies are movably attached to the pair of cuffs, the other ends of the cuffs being movably attached to the brackets on opposite sides of the body. 3 LV 10598 A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the base unit has rotating wheels mounted on at least one end of the transverse axis. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the base unit has at least four wheels mounted on the front and rear axles. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base unit has at least two floating elements mounted at least at one end of the transverse axis to hold the body above the water level. A system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein at least one end of the base unit supports two longitudinally directed additional levers movably mounted on different levels of the base assembly and movably attached to the body at its ends to reduce inertia by braking.