NL2030171B1

NL2030171B1 - Vehicle suspension

Info

Publication number: NL2030171B1
Application number: NL2030171A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Gubachev Vakha
Original assignee: Gubachev Vakha
Priority date: 2021-12-17
Filing date: 2021-12-17
Publication date: 2023-06-28

Abstract

Vehicle suspension for suspending a wheel to a chassis of a vehicle comprising a shock absorber, wherein the shock absorber comprises a piston movable in a cylindrical casing, having a cylindrical body and a cap, wherein a free end of the piston is mountable to the chassis in a manner rotatable around a swivel axis, an opposite end of the piston is movable in the cylindrical casing; the cylindrical body is provided with a connection arm for connection to the wheel and wherein the cap is free; allowing the wheel to turn around the swivel axis.

Description

P131107NL00

Title: Vehicle suspension

The invention relates to a vehicle suspension, in particular to the suspension of a wheel of a vehicle to a chassis of the vehicle.

Typically, in a vehicle suspension a shock absorber is used. The shock absorber is at one end connected to the wheel and at the other end connected to the chassis. The shock absorber dampens oscillations of the wheel with respect to the chassis. Driving and steering of the wheel is done independently of the suspension, although the shock absorber is usually mounted as to allow turning movement of the wheel. Conventional vehicle suspensions are usually complex and relatively heavy.

It 1s also known to have a sliding pillar suspension in which the wheel is slidable connected to an upright pillar of the chassis, wherein an upper and a lower end of the pillar is connected to the chassis. The distance between the upper and lower end of the pillar is adjustable by means of a shock absorber connected between the upper and lower end. The wheel is connected to the outer cylinder casing of the shock absorber. Although this 1s a rather simple suspension, it requires a chassis structure accommodating the length of the shock absorber, resulting in a bulky and/or complex chassis.

There is a need for a more simple vehicle suspension, for example for use in an electric vehicle.

Thereto, the invention provides for a vehicle suspension according to claim 1 or to claim 2.

By providing such a vehicle suspension in which the cap of the shock absorber remains free, and the connection to the wheel is via the cylinder body or via the mounting plate, the chassis connection and the wheel connection can be relatively close to each other. This allows a relatively simple and compact mounting of the suspension to the chassis and to the wheel. This may save weight while allowing optimal functionality of the suspension.

The shock damper is mountable to the chassis around a swivel axis. In case of a single shock absorber, the swivel axis may coincide with the longitudinal axis of the piston of the shock absorber. When there are two shock absorbers provided for the suspension of the wheel, the swivel axis may be positioned in the center between the two shock absorbers. The wheel can be steered to turn around the swivel axis, allowing the wheel, and thus the car to make turns. Further, the movement of the piston in the shock absorber allows for dampening motions and for keeping the wheel in contact with the road surface.

Preferably, two shock absorbers, mounted in line behind each other, when seen in driving direction, are provided for the driven wheel.

However, it is also possible to provide a single shock absorber suspension for the driven wheel. With the suspension comprising two shock absorbers, the swivel axis 15 in the middle between the two shock absorbers, allowing the wheel to turn around the swivel axis.

Advantageously, the wheel is connected to the mounting plate or to the cylinder casing with a connection arm. The connection arm is positioned at the lower end of the cylinder casing. The mounting plate is rotatable connected to the chassis. Thus, the connection arm with the wheel 1s positioned close to the chassis, thus providing a compact suspension.

To the connection arm, a steering arm can be provided. The steering arm can be connected to a steering mechanism that induces steering motions to the steering arm to make the wheel turn around the swivel axis.

The wheel can be a driven wheel or can be non-driven wheel. A drive shaft can be connected to the wheel to drive the wheel. The wheel can be driven by a combustion engine, or by a hybrid power source, or by an electric motor. The electric motor can in an embodiment be directly provided to the wheel, e.g. on or to the connection arm.

Advantageously, the shock absorber further comprises a spring, e.g. a coil spring. The spring may additionally provide resilience to the suspension, thereby improving the performance of the system.

The invention further relates to a vehicle.

These and other aspects will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing comprising figures of exemplary embodiments. Corresponding elements are designated with corresponding reference signs. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 a cross-section view through the swivel shaft of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that the figures are given by way of exemplary examples and are not limiting to the disclosure. The drawings are not to scale.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of the invention, of a suspension system 1 comprising a single shock absorber 2. The shock absorber 2 is mounted to a chassis 3 of a vehicle. The shock absorber 2 comprises a piston 4 that is movable arranged in a cylindrical casing 5. An upper end 5a of the casing 5 can be provided with a cap 6 that closes off a cylindrical body 5c of the cylindrical casing. Any other means of closing the cylindrical body 5c can be envisaged. The piston 4 can move up and down in the cylindrical casing 5 along a longitudinal direction L of the piston 4. An upper end 4a of the piston 4 is provided with a piston head 7. The piston 4 has a piston stem 4c, with a piston head 7 at an upper end 4a thereof. At the lower end 4b of the piston 4, a threading can be provided. Between the piston head 7 and a lower end 5b of the cylindrical casing 5, a spring 11 can be provided. Alternatively, the spring 11 can be arranged between the upper end 5a of the cylindrical casing and the piston head 7.

A lower end 4b of the piston 4 is connected to the chassis 3, preferably via a threading provided on the lower end 4b. The lower end 4b of the piston 4 protrudes thereto through an opening 5c to be connected to the chassis 3. To close off the opening of the casing 5 through which the piston lower end 4b is protruding, a rubber seal and/or a steel washer can be provided inside of the casing to prevent oil leakage through the opening 5c.

Here, the lower end 4b is engaged through an opening in the chassis 3 and then fixated by a ring 8. Alternatively, the lower end 4b of the piston 4 can be provided with a thread and can be fixated in the opening of the chassis 3 that may be provided with a counter-thread. In such an embodiment, the ring 8 may be obviated or may be provided as an additional fixation. By providing the threaded connection and/or the fixation ring 8, the piston 4 can be firmly connected to the chassis, and accidentally loosening of the piston from the chassis may be prevented. The ring 8 can fix the position of the piston 4 with respect to the chassis 3. The cylindrical casing 5 of the shock absorber 2 can rotate around a swivel axis S. The swivel axis S, in this embodiment coincides with a central axis C of the piston 4. Since the piston 4 is in axial direction fixated with respect to the chassis 3, the cylindrical casing 5 moves over the piston 4 to accommodate movement of a wheel 9.

The wheel 9 is connected to the shock absorber, in particular to the cylindrical casing 5 via a connection arm 10. So, when the wheel 9 turns, the cylindrical casing 5 turns around the piston 4. To steer the turning movement of the wheel 9, a steering arm 12 can be provided that can be connected to a steering mechanism of the vehicle. Alternatively and/or additionally, the connection arm 10 can be connected to a stub axle of the wheel 9.

The cylindrical casing 5 of the shock absorber 2 is at an upper end 5a closed with the cap or the lid 6. The piston 4 is axially movable inside of the cylindrical casing 5. The piston head 7 can be provided with at least one through hole to allow for the oil to move from one chamber to another 5 chamber of the shock absorber 2, thus providing damping. The piston head 7 divides the shock absorber 2 in two chambers, a chamber below the piston head 7 in which the piston stem 4c

As such, the movements of the wheel can be accommodated in upward and downward direction, as well as turning movements are possible. The shock absorber 2 can remain approximately vertical, in use, and thus a relatively solid suspension can be obtained. The upper end 5a of the cylindrical casing 5 remains free of connections, thus allowing for a more compact suspension system and more compact connection to the chassis 3 as well as to the wheel 9.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a suspension comprising two shock absorbers 2 positioned in line behind each other, when seen in driving direction. In the cross-section of Fig. 2 only a single shock absorber, the rear one in view direction, is shown. The cylindrical casing 5 of the shock absorber 2 is shown, the cylindrical casing 5 being fixedly connected to a mounting plate 15. The two shock absorbers 2 are with their cylindrical casings 5 fixedly connected to the mounting plate 15. The mounting plate 15 is mounted to the chassis 3 via a swivel shaft 16, of which a central axis is the swivel axis S of the suspension system 1. A piston 4 of the shock absorbers 2 protrudes with a lower end 4b through the mounting plate 15, allowing the cylindrical casing 5 with the mounting plate 15 fixated thereto to move longitudinally with respect to the piston 4. The lower end 4b of the piston 4 are in axial direction fixated to the chassis 3, but rotational movement around the swivel shaft 16 is allowed. One may envisage that to that end, a rail 17 may be fixed to the chassis 3 on which the piston ends 4b are movable arranged, e.g. via a clamping connection.

Both shock absorbers 2 are connected to the wheel 9 via a connection arm 10. The connection arm 10 can also be provided with a steering arm 12 to steer the wheel 9 around the swivel axis S. When steering the wheel 9, the connection arm 10 fixed to the cylindrical casings 5 which are fixed to the mounting plate 15, induce turning motion around the swivel shaft 16 that is rotatable engaged to the mounting plate 15. The swivel shaft 16 is fixedly mounted to the chassis 3, e.g. with a ring 8, so the wheel 9 turns with respect to the chassis 3.

The swivel shaft 16 is sufficiently long to accommodate upward and downward movement of the shock absorbers 2 with mounting plate 15 with respect to the swivel shaft 16. By axially fixing the piston 4 to the chassis 3, any upward or downward movement of the wheel 9, and the connection arm 10 connected thereto, which is fixed to the cylindrical casings 5 and also to the mounting plate 15, may result in axial movement with respect to the piston 4 and thus in more or less compression of the spring 11 inside of the shock absorber 2.

The mounting plate 15 to which the shock absorbers 2 are mounted, can swivel, i.e. rotate, around the swivel axis 16, when the wheel turns. The swivel shaft 16 is rotatable mounted to the chassis 3. So, the wheel can move in upward and downward direction of the shock absorbers 2, and can rotate around the swivel shaft 16. Thus allowing for sufficient degrees of freedom. When rotating the wheel around the swivel shaft 16, the plate 15 and the shock absorbers 2 connected to the wheel also rotate with respect to the chassis 3. Since the shock absorbers 2 have a connection with the fixed world, here, the chassis 3, to allow them to damp movement between an moving part (the wheel connected to the cylindrical casing 5) and a fixed part (the piston connected to the chassis 3), the shock absorbers with the mounting plate rotate as well around the swivel axis 16. Thus, a connection between the shock absorbers 2, in particular between the pistons 4 of the shock absorbers 2 and the chassis 3 is to be provided that allows rotation while providing a connection with the chassis 3 preventing axial movement of the piston 4 with respect to the chassis 3, e.g. the piston 4 can move over a rail 17 provided on the chassis 3, or the piston 4 can be clamping by a clamp that is rotatingly connected to the chassis. Many possible connections can be envisaged.

The two shock absorbers 2 are preferably mounted to the mounting plate 15 in line, with the swivel shaft 15 in the middle between the two shock absorbers, as can be seen in the side view of fig. 3. By providing two shock absorbers at a distance from each other, a drive shaft of the wheel can e.g. be provided between the two shock absorbers. The connection arm 10 is at the lower end of the cylindrical casing 5 or can even be fixed to the mounting plate 15. Thus, a compact and simple structure, limited in height can be obtained that provides for sufficient suspension performance. Here too, the shock absorbers 2 are provided with an additional spring 11 to push the wheel downward to keep the wheel in contact with the ground and/or to accommodate irregularities in the wheel movement to due irregularities in the ground.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the vehicle suspension can be used for an electrical vehicle. The electric motor driving the wheel can be positioned on the chassis, and a drive shaft can be provided to drive the wheel. Alternatively, the electric motor for driving the wheel can be provided at the connection arm, and thus can more or less directly, possible providing some transmission, the wheel, thus a drive shaft can be obviated.

For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the claims and disclosure may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

It may be understood that the embodiments shown have the same or similar components, apart from where they are described as being different.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those listed in a claim.

Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. Many variants will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. All variants are understood to be comprised within the scope defined in the following claims.

Claims

Vehicle suspension for suspending a wheel from a chassis of a vehicle comprising a shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising a piston movable in a cylindrical housing, with a cylindrical body and a cover, a free end of the piston being mountable on the chassis in a manner rotatable about a pivot axis, an opposite end of the piston is movable in the cylindrical housing; - The cylindrical body is provided with a connecting arm for connection to the wheel and the lid is free, allowing the wheel to rotate about the pivot axis.

2. Vehicle suspension for suspending a wheel from a chassis of a vehicle comprising two shock absorbers, the shock absorbers comprising a piston movable in a cylindrical housing, with a cylindrical body and a cover, wherein - A free end of the piston can be mounted on the chassis rotatable in a manner about a pivot axis via a mounting plate, the mounting plate having a pivot connection about the pivot axis for rotatable connection to the chassis, an opposite end of the piston 1s movable in the associated cylindrical housing; - The mounting plate is equipped with a link arm to connect with the wheel, and the shock absorber covers are free; wherein the two shock absorbers are arranged in line with the pivot axis between them.

Vehicle suspension according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting arm further comprises a steering arm for initiating rotational movements on the wheel.

A vehicle suspension according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wheel is drivable by a drive shaft.

5. Vehicle suspension according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the wheel is drivable by an electric motor.

Vehicle suspension according to claim 5, wherein the electric motor is placed on the link arm 1s.

Vehicle suspension according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shock absorber or shock absorbers furthermore comprise a spring, preferably a coil spring.

8. Vehicle comprising at least one vehicle suspension according to any one of the preceding claims.