WO1998029292A1 - A bus for transporting passengers by road - Google Patents

A bus for transporting passengers by road Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998029292A1
WO1998029292A1 PCT/NL1997/000717 NL9700717W WO9829292A1 WO 1998029292 A1 WO1998029292 A1 WO 1998029292A1 NL 9700717 W NL9700717 W NL 9700717W WO 9829292 A1 WO9829292 A1 WO 9829292A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bus
unit
parts
wheels
driving motor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL1997/000717
Other languages
French (fr)
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Isaac Cornelis De Rooij
Original Assignee
Autobusfabriek Bova B.V.
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 Autobusfabriek Bova B.V. filed Critical Autobusfabriek Bova B.V.
Priority to AU53489/98A priority Critical patent/AU5348998A/en
Publication of WO1998029292A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998029292A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D47/00—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers
    • B62D47/02—Motor vehicles or trailers predominantly for carrying passengers for large numbers of passengers, e.g. omnibus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2300/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle
    • B60G2300/14—Buses

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a bus for transporting passengers by road, which bus comprises at least two steered front wheels and at least two driven rear wheels.
  • the requirements which are made of such a bus are to a large degree aimed at enhancing the comfort for the passengers of the bus.
  • motorcoaches whose passengers are often transported over large distances, whereby the passengers are present for prolonged periods of time, it is of major importance that in particular vibrations and noise produced by the drive train and by the contact between the wheels and the road surface be reduced to a minimum.
  • An important factor in the manufacture of a bus is to minimize the time required for constructing and assembling the bus, because a reduced production time makes it possible to adapt the bus to the customer's special requirements even shortly before it is delivered to the customer.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a bus which provides enhanced comfort for the passengers and which makes it possible to reduce the time required for manufacturing such a bus .
  • the bus is according to the invention characterized in that it comprises a unit which is provided with at least two spring-mounted wheels, which unit is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus.
  • said attachment is effected by means of springing and/or vibration- isolating connecting elements.
  • the rear wheels together with the driving motor of the bus, are fitted to a unit which is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus.
  • This makes it possible to test the drive train of the bus, that is, the driving motor, the driven rear wheels and the mechanical transmission means between the driving motor and the driven rear wheels, as a whole. It is also possible thereby to connect the unit in question to the other parts of the bus after the drive train of the bus has been run in partially or completely, whereby a desired number of kilometres can be covered already.
  • the bus can be directly used for longdistance trips once it has been delivered to the customer, without maintenance work being required already after a relatively small number of kilometres.
  • the unit By providing the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted with a temporary additional supporting wheel, the unit can readily be moved on its own wheels.
  • the additional wheel is preferably a freely swivelling wheel.
  • radiators for cooling the driving motor which radiator is fitted with a hydraulic motor comprising a fan which produces a cooling flow through the radiator, which causes mechanical vibrations and noise.
  • parts of the airconditioning plant such as the motor which drives the airconditioning system and the compressor, may be accommodated in said unit.
  • the aforesaid vibration- isolating connecting elements preferably comprise a piece of a flexible material, for example rubber, which dampens the vibrations, so that said vibrations are not transmitted from the unit to which the wheels are fitted to the other parts of the bus.
  • vibration-isolating connecting elements comprising a piece of a flexible material makes it possible to have the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted pivot slightly in a horizontal plane (about a vertical axis) with respect to the other parts of the bus, so that the rear wheels can be steered to a small extent .
  • Said steering may for example be effected in that the connecting elements are constructed in such a manner that said pivoting takes place when the other parts of the bus exert a lateral force on the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted, or when the bus heels over to the left or to the right.
  • This may for example be effected in that the connecting elements which are positioned before the rear wheels are less flexible than the connecting elements which are positioned behind the rear wheels.
  • the front wheels are spring-mounted in a unit which also comprises the steering gear for the front wheels, which unit is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus by means of vibration-isolating connecting elements.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a method of manufacturing a bus, wherein the driven rear wheels and the driving motor are mounted in a unit, after which the com plete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus .
  • the unit is tested and/or the driving motor is at least partial run in after said unit has been preassembled and before it is connected to the other parts of the bus .
  • Said running in and said testing may take place on a chassis dynamometer, on which the unit functions as if it were mounted in a bus, whereby the requisite number of kilometres can be covered.
  • the front wheels are mounted in a unit complete with suspension and steering rods, after which the complete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus.
  • the invention furthermore relates to a method of supporting a bus, wherein the bus is supported, via flexible connecting elements, by a unit which is spring-supported by the wheels of the bus .
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a unit fitted with the driven rear wheels
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the unit according to claim 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of a unit fitted with the steered front wheels
  • Figure 5 is a rear view of the unit according to claim 4;
  • Figure 6 is a plan view of the unit of Figure 4.
  • Figure 1 shows a unit fitted with rear wheels 1.
  • the unit consists of a frame which is built up of a system of rods, and it is provided with six connecting elements 2, via which the unit can be detachably connected to the other parts of the bus.
  • the vibration-isolating connecting units 2 comprise a piece of a flexible material, which forms the connection between the unit and the other parts of the bus.
  • Wheels 1 are fitted to the unit with the interposition of inter alia spring elements 3 and shock absorbers 4.
  • the unit shown in Figures 1 - 3 is furthermore provided with a driving motor 5, which transmits the driving force to wheels 1 via the mechanical transmission 6 (gearbox) and differential 7.
  • the unit also houses a radiator 10 for cooling the coolant of driving motor 5.
  • the unit comprises an exhaust 11 for the exhaust gas, which exits driving motor 5 via silencer 12.
  • Two batteries 13 are mounted above exhaust 11.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a unit to which the two front wheels 15 of the bus are fitted, inter alia by means of spring elements 3 and shock absorbers 4.
  • the unit according to Figures 4 - 6 is furthermore provided with steering rods 16 for steering the front wheels 15.
  • the movement of steering rods 16 is effected by means of rod 17, which is connected to the steering wheel of the bus.
  • the unit shown in Figures 4 - 6, which is provided with spring-mounted front wheels 15, is connected to the other parts of the bus by means of four vibration-isolating connecting elements.
  • One connecting element 2 is thereby located on the front side of the unit, and three connecting elements 2 are located on the rear side of the unit.
  • vibration-isolating connecting elements 2 which are provided with pieces of a flexible material, the vibrations and the noise which is produced by the contact between the wheels and the road surface, and which is partially damped by spring elements 3, are additionally damped by spring elements 3, thus enhancing the degree of comfort in the passenger compartment of the bus.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A bus for transporting passengers by road, which bus comprises at least two steered front wheels (15) and at least two driven rear wheels (1). The bus comprises a unit which is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus, which unit is provided with at least two spring-mounted wheels. The unit is connected to the other parts of the bus by means of vibration-isolating connecting elements (2). The unit comprises the rear wheels (1) together with the driving motor (5) of the bus and the steering gear (16) for the front wheel (15).

Description

A BUS FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS BY ROAD
The invention relates to a bus for transporting passengers by road, which bus comprises at least two steered front wheels and at least two driven rear wheels. The requirements which are made of such a bus are to a large degree aimed at enhancing the comfort for the passengers of the bus. Especially in the case of motorcoaches , whose passengers are often transported over large distances, whereby the passengers are present for prolonged periods of time, it is of major importance that in particular vibrations and noise produced by the drive train and by the contact between the wheels and the road surface be reduced to a minimum.
An important factor in the manufacture of a bus is to minimize the time required for constructing and assembling the bus, because a reduced production time makes it possible to adapt the bus to the customer's special requirements even shortly before it is delivered to the customer.
An object of the invention is to provide a bus which provides enhanced comfort for the passengers and which makes it possible to reduce the time required for manufacturing such a bus .
In order to accomplish that objective the bus is according to the invention characterized in that it comprises a unit which is provided with at least two spring-mounted wheels, which unit is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus. In one preferred embodiment said attachment is effected by means of springing and/or vibration- isolating connecting elements.
According to another aspect of the invention the rear wheels, together with the driving motor of the bus, are fitted to a unit which is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus. This makes it possible to test the drive train of the bus, that is, the driving motor, the driven rear wheels and the mechanical transmission means between the driving motor and the driven rear wheels, as a whole. It is also possible thereby to connect the unit in question to the other parts of the bus after the drive train of the bus has been run in partially or completely, whereby a desired number of kilometres can be covered already. As a result of this the bus can be directly used for longdistance trips once it has been delivered to the customer, without maintenance work being required already after a relatively small number of kilometres.
By providing the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted with a temporary additional supporting wheel, the unit can readily be moved on its own wheels. The additional wheel is preferably a freely swivelling wheel.
By connecting the unit to which the rear wheels and the driving motor are fitted to the other parts of the bus by means of springing and/or vibration- isolating connecting elements, passenger comfort is enhanced, because vibrations produced in the driving motor, in the mechanical transmission or at the wheel suspension are only transmitted to the passenger compartment in damped form, as is the noise which is produced by the driving motor or by the contact between the wheels and the road surface.
Also other sources of noise and/or vibration may be housed in the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted, such as the radiator for cooling the driving motor, which radiator is fitted with a hydraulic motor comprising a fan which produces a cooling flow through the radiator, which causes mechanical vibrations and noise. Furthermore parts of the airconditioning plant, such as the motor which drives the airconditioning system and the compressor, may be accommodated in said unit.
The aforesaid vibration- isolating connecting elements preferably comprise a piece of a flexible material, for example rubber, which dampens the vibrations, so that said vibrations are not transmitted from the unit to which the wheels are fitted to the other parts of the bus.
According to another aspect of the invention the use of vibration-isolating connecting elements comprising a piece of a flexible material makes it possible to have the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted pivot slightly in a horizontal plane (about a vertical axis) with respect to the other parts of the bus, so that the rear wheels can be steered to a small extent . Said steering may for example be effected in that the connecting elements are constructed in such a manner that said pivoting takes place when the other parts of the bus exert a lateral force on the unit to which the rear wheels are fitted, or when the bus heels over to the left or to the right. This may for example be effected in that the connecting elements which are positioned before the rear wheels are less flexible than the connecting elements which are positioned behind the rear wheels. When a lateral force is exerted on the unit, the rear wheels will steer slightly in the direction in which said force is being exerted.
According to another aspect of the invention the front wheels are spring-mounted in a unit which also comprises the steering gear for the front wheels, which unit is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus by means of vibration-isolating connecting elements.
The invention furthermore relates to a method of manufacturing a bus, wherein the driven rear wheels and the driving motor are mounted in a unit, after which the com plete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus . Preferably the unit is tested and/or the driving motor is at least partial run in after said unit has been preassembled and before it is connected to the other parts of the bus . Said running in and said testing may take place on a chassis dynamometer, on which the unit functions as if it were mounted in a bus, whereby the requisite number of kilometres can be covered.
According to another aspect of the invention the front wheels are mounted in a unit complete with suspension and steering rods, after which the complete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus.
The invention furthermore relates to a method of supporting a bus, wherein the bus is supported, via flexible connecting elements, by a unit which is spring-supported by the wheels of the bus .
Further aspects of the invention, which may be used both separately and in combination with each other, are disclosed in the description of the Figures and are defined in the claims .
For a better understanding of the invention an embodiment of a unit fitted with the driven rear wheels or a bus as well as an embodiment of a unit fitted with the steered front wheels will be described hereafter with reference to the drawing .
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a unit fitted with the driven rear wheels;
Figure 2 is a side view of the unit according to claim 1 ;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a unit fitted with the steered front wheels;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the unit according to claim 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of the unit of Figure 4.
The units are shown diagrammatically in the figures, wherein some parts are not shown, or only globally, for the sake of clarity.
Figure 1 shows a unit fitted with rear wheels 1. The unit consists of a frame which is built up of a system of rods, and it is provided with six connecting elements 2, via which the unit can be detachably connected to the other parts of the bus. The vibration-isolating connecting units 2 comprise a piece of a flexible material, which forms the connection between the unit and the other parts of the bus.
Wheels 1 are fitted to the unit with the interposition of inter alia spring elements 3 and shock absorbers 4.
The unit shown in Figures 1 - 3 is furthermore provided with a driving motor 5, which transmits the driving force to wheels 1 via the mechanical transmission 6 (gearbox) and differential 7. The unit also houses a radiator 10 for cooling the coolant of driving motor 5. Furthermore the unit comprises an exhaust 11 for the exhaust gas, which exits driving motor 5 via silencer 12. Two batteries 13 are mounted above exhaust 11.
Also other parts of the bus which produce noise and/or vibrations, such as various parts of the airconditioning system, may be housed in the unit. By housing all the parts that produce noise and vibrations in the unit and connecting said unit to the other parts of the bus via vibration- isolating connecting elements 2, a reduction of the noise level and of the degree of vibration in the passenger compartment is obtained, which likewise applies to noise and vibrations produced by the driving motor and the drive gear as well as to noise and vibrations caused by the contact between the wheels and the road surface. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a unit to which the two front wheels 15 of the bus are fitted, inter alia by means of spring elements 3 and shock absorbers 4.
The unit according to Figures 4 - 6 is furthermore provided with steering rods 16 for steering the front wheels 15. The movement of steering rods 16 is effected by means of rod 17, which is connected to the steering wheel of the bus.
The unit shown in Figures 4 - 6, which is provided with spring-mounted front wheels 15, is connected to the other parts of the bus by means of four vibration-isolating connecting elements. One connecting element 2 is thereby located on the front side of the unit, and three connecting elements 2 are located on the rear side of the unit.
By using vibration-isolating connecting elements 2, which are provided with pieces of a flexible material, the vibrations and the noise which is produced by the contact between the wheels and the road surface, and which is partially damped by spring elements 3, are additionally damped by spring elements 3, thus enhancing the degree of comfort in the passenger compartment of the bus.
The illustrated embodiment is merely an example of the use of the invention, which may be embodied in other manners as well.

Claims

1. A bus for transporting passengers by road, which bus comprises at least two steered front wheels (15) and at least two driven rear wheels (1) , characterized by a unit which is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus, which unit is provided with at least two spring-mounted wheels (1, 15) .
2. A bus according to claim 1, characterized in that said unit is connected to the other parts of the bus by means of springing and/or vibration-isolating connecting elements (2) .
3. A bus according to claim 2, characterized in that said connecting elements (2) comprise a piece of a flexible material, for example rubber.
4. A bus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear wheels (1) are fitted, together with the driving motor (5) of the bus, to a unit which is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus .
5. A bus according to claim 4, characterized in that also the radiator (10) for cooling the driving motor (5) , and/or the motor for an airconditioning system are accommodated in said unit .
6. A bus according to claim 4 or 5 , characterized in that the unit is constructed in such a manner that it is possible to test the drive train (1, 5, 6, 7) of the bus, including the driving motor (5) and the rear wheels, as a whole and/or to run in the driving motor (5) assembled into the unit before the unit is connected to the other parts of the bus.
7. A bus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a unit, to which the rear wheels are fitted by means of springs, can pivot in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the other parts of the bus, so that the rear wheels (1) can be steered.
8. A bus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wheels are spring- mounted in a unit which also comprises the steering gear (16) for the front wheels (15) , which unit is detachably connected to the other parts of the bus by means of vibration-isolating connecting elements (2) .
9. A method of manufacturing a bus, characterized in that the driven rear wheels (1) and the driving motor (5) are mounted in a unit, after which the complete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus .
10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the unit is tested and/or the driving motor (5) is (at least partially) run in after said unit has been preassembled and before it is connected to the other parts of the bus.
11. A method of manufacturing a bus, characterized in that the front wheels (15) are mounted in a unit complete with suspension (3, 4) and steering rods (16), and that subsequently the complete preassembled unit is connected to the other parts of the bus.
12. A method of supporting a bus, wherein the bus is supported, via flexible connecting elements (2) , by a unit which is spring-supported by wheels (1, 15) of the bus .
PCT/NL1997/000717 1996-12-30 1997-12-19 A bus for transporting passengers by road WO1998029292A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU53489/98A AU5348998A (en) 1996-12-30 1997-12-19 A bus for transporting passengers by road

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1004902 1996-12-30
NL1004902A NL1004902C2 (en) 1996-12-30 1996-12-30 Bus for transporting people by road.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998029292A1 true WO1998029292A1 (en) 1998-07-09

Family

ID=19764145

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL1997/000717 WO1998029292A1 (en) 1996-12-30 1997-12-19 A bus for transporting passengers by road

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5348998A (en)
NL (1) NL1004902C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1998029292A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014178760A1 (en) * 2013-04-29 2014-11-06 Volvo Truck Corporation A chassis component for a heavy vehicle frame structure and a truck or a tractor with such a chassis component
EP3480036A1 (en) * 2017-11-07 2019-05-08 Volvo Car Corporation System for wheel suspension of a vehicle
US10800430B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-10-13 Volvo Car Corporation Driving intervention in vehicles

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE873943C (en) * 1951-04-20 1953-04-20 Daimler Benz Ag Multi-cell motor vehicle
EP0278479A2 (en) * 1987-02-10 1988-08-17 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Vehicle structure, especially chassis frame structure
DE4230529A1 (en) * 1992-09-12 1994-03-17 Opel Adam Ag Car with exchangeable rear engine - Has rear engine and wheels mounted in detachable subframe plugging into car shell and fixed by vertical bolts
EP0678405A2 (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-10-25 Mercedes-Benz Ag Bus front section comprising a carrier beam for resilient suspensions

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE873943C (en) * 1951-04-20 1953-04-20 Daimler Benz Ag Multi-cell motor vehicle
EP0278479A2 (en) * 1987-02-10 1988-08-17 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Vehicle structure, especially chassis frame structure
DE4230529A1 (en) * 1992-09-12 1994-03-17 Opel Adam Ag Car with exchangeable rear engine - Has rear engine and wheels mounted in detachable subframe plugging into car shell and fixed by vertical bolts
EP0678405A2 (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-10-25 Mercedes-Benz Ag Bus front section comprising a carrier beam for resilient suspensions

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014178760A1 (en) * 2013-04-29 2014-11-06 Volvo Truck Corporation A chassis component for a heavy vehicle frame structure and a truck or a tractor with such a chassis component
EP3480036A1 (en) * 2017-11-07 2019-05-08 Volvo Car Corporation System for wheel suspension of a vehicle
US11001112B2 (en) 2017-11-07 2021-05-11 Volvo Car Corporation System for wheel suspension of a vehicle
US10800430B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2020-10-13 Volvo Car Corporation Driving intervention in vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5348998A (en) 1998-07-31
NL1004902C2 (en) 1998-07-02

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