WO2008059284A1 - Suspension, en particulier pour véhicules à fond plat - Google Patents

Suspension, en particulier pour véhicules à fond plat Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008059284A1
WO2008059284A1 PCT/GB2007/050676 GB2007050676W WO2008059284A1 WO 2008059284 A1 WO2008059284 A1 WO 2008059284A1 GB 2007050676 W GB2007050676 W GB 2007050676W WO 2008059284 A1 WO2008059284 A1 WO 2008059284A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vehicle
arm
tray
floor
hub
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2007/050676
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen Greenwood
Original Assignee
Lateral Design Concepts Limited
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 Lateral Design Concepts Limited filed Critical Lateral Design Concepts Limited
Publication of WO2008059284A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008059284A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G3/00—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel
    • B60G3/18—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram
    • B60G3/20—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with two or more pivoted arms, e.g. parallelogram all arms being rigid
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
    • A61G3/02—Loading or unloading personal conveyances; Facilitating access of patients or disabled persons to, or exit from, vehicles
    • A61G3/06—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like
    • A61G3/061—Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like using ramps
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G3/00—Ambulance aspects of vehicles; Vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances, e.g. for facilitating access of, or for loading, wheelchairs
    • A61G3/08—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs or stretchers
    • A61G3/0808—Accommodating or securing wheelchairs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/008—Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/02—Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
    • B60P3/06—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects for carrying vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
    • B60G2200/10—Independent suspensions
    • B60G2200/14—Independent suspensions with lateral arms
    • B60G2200/144—Independent suspensions with lateral arms with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
    • B60G2200/40—Indexing codes relating to the wheels in the suspensions
    • B60G2200/42—Driven wheels or dead axles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/14—Mounting of suspension arms
    • B60G2204/143—Mounting of suspension arms on the vehicle body or chassis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/14—Mounting of suspension arms
    • B60G2204/148—Mounting of suspension arms on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2300/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle
    • B60G2300/34—Ambulances

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a vehicle and, in particular although not exclusively, to a vehicle adapted for disabled access.
  • Modern, mass produced vehicles are aimed to satisfy the requirements of the general world-wide market. As a consequence, it is desirable to maximise the vehicles ground clearance: the height between the ground and the underside of the vehicle.
  • ground clearance the height between the ground and the underside of the vehicle.
  • a vehicle including: a lowered floor for providing disabled access; characterised in that the vehicle includes at least one rear wheel that is connected to the vehicle by a suspension system; and the suspension system includes at least a first arm, which is pivotally connected to the vehicle at one end and the hub at the other, wherein, at the normal ride height, the first arm's pivot with the vehicle is located inwardly and downwardly from the first arm's pivot with the hub.
  • the floor may comprise at least a partial area of the accommodation portion.
  • a vehicle adapted for disabled access comprises at least one rear wheel that is connected to the vehicle by a suspension system wherein the suspension system includes at least a first arm, which is pivotally connected to the vehicle at one end and the hub at the other, wherein, at the normal ride height, the first arm's pivot with the vehicle is located inwardly and downwardly from the first arm's pivot with the hub.
  • a vehicle adapted for disabled access comprises a lowered floor and at least one rear wheel that is connected to the vehicle by a suspension system wherein the suspension system includes at least a first arm that is pivotally connected to the lowered floor.
  • the suspension system includes a second arm.
  • the second arm may be pivotally connected to the lowered floor.
  • the lowered floor may comprise a tray.
  • the first arm may be pivotally connected to the side of the tray.
  • the second arm may be pivotally connected to the underside of the tray.
  • Figure 1 is a rear view of a vehicle in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 showing a suspension system
  • Figure 3 is a schematic view of the suspension system
  • Figure 4 is a schematic view of the suspension system showing the middle, high and low positions overlaid on the same schematic.
  • a vehicle 1 adapted for disabled access includes a tray 3 that is fixed to the floor of the vehicle. Above the tray 3, there is provided increased head clearance such that a wheelchair may be accommodated in the tray 3. Further, a wheelchair user may occupy the wheelchair whilst in the vehicle 1, without interference from the vehicle's roof.
  • the vehicle 1 may be a standard car with front and rear axles and a chassis that defines a forward, driver portion and a rearward, passenger or land portion. Rearward wheels 5, 6 cooperate with the axles and each includes a suspension system.
  • a rear wheel suspension system is shown in Figure 2 with the wheel 5 removed for clarity.
  • the wheel 5 attaches to a wheel hub 8 by a series of outwardly projecting bolts.
  • Upper 10 and lower 12 suspension arms 10, 12 are pivotally connected at points 22, 24, 26, 28 to the wheel hub 8 at one end and to the side and bottom of the tray 3 respectively at the other.
  • a line 14 drawn through the two pivot points at the ends of the upper suspension arm 10 extends inwardly and downwardly, whilst a similar line 16 drawn through the two pivot points at the ends of the lower suspension arm 12 extends horizontally .
  • the vehicle 1 may be any standard car, for example, a Kia.
  • the standard seats are removed from the rearward passenger portion and a rectangular recess is cut through a floor area of the passenger portion of the chassis.
  • the rectangular recess is sized so that the tray 3 fits snugly within the recess.
  • the recess extends inwardly from a rear end of the vehicles' chassis and substantially along the length of the vehicle. In order to fit the tray 3 into the recess it is necessary to remove the standard petrol tank and replace it with an adapted tank designed to fit around the inserted tray 3.
  • the tray 3 comprises a generally rectangular shaped part with a floor 20 and three sides at a front and sides of the tray 3.
  • the top edge of the three sides includes a lip that extends outwardly and at 90 degrees to the sides to provide support for the tray 3 from the vehicle 1.
  • the floor 20 sides and lip are integrally formed. When the tray 3 is inserted in the hole, the underside of the lip abuts the floor area immediately adjacent to the hole.
  • the sides of the tray 3 extend through the thickness of the vehicle's floor, such that the tray's floor 20 is arranged substantially level to the vehicle's floor but spaced beneath the vehicle's floor. In other words, parallel but spaced apart from the vehicle's floor.
  • the lip of the tray includes a plurality of holes through which rivets are inserted. The tray is secured firmly to the vehicle's chassis by means of the rivets and adhesive.
  • the fourth, rear most, side forms a ramp (not shown) and is formed separate to the tray.
  • the ramp is pivotally connected to the tray 3 along a rearward edge thereof such that it can be moved between an inoperable position, where it extends upwardly adjacent to the inside of the vehicle's boot, and an operable position in which the ramp is downwardly angled to contact the ground to enable wheelchair access.
  • a multi link suspension system is used and comprises a forward suspension arm (not shown) and two rearward suspension arms.
  • the forward suspension arm is pivotally connected to the wheel hub 8 forward of the wheels axis and the rearward arms are pivotally connected to the hub rearward of the wheels axis.
  • the hub 8 provides an upper 22 and lower 24 pivot point for the rearward suspension arms 10, 12.
  • the upper suspension arm 10 is attached to the hub 8 at the upper pivot point 22.
  • the upper suspension arm 10 is generally arcuate and is pivotally connected to the hub at a first distal end.
  • the opposite distal end of the upper suspension arm 10 is pivotally connected to the out side of the tray 3 at pivot point 26.
  • Pivot point 26 is formed on a vertical flange that extends from the tray 3.
  • the lower suspension arm 12 is pivotally connected at a first distal end to the hub 8 by the pivot point 24.
  • the arm 12 is generally bow shaped or arcuate.
  • the upper surface of the arm 12 provides a flattened surface for abutment with a suspension spring 25.
  • the opposite distal end of the arm 12 is pivotally connected to the underside of the tray's floor 20.
  • a cross-member 27 extends downwardly from the tray along an underside thereof in transverse orientation to the vehicle and provides the pivotal connection 28 for the lower suspension arm.
  • a line 30 is drawn from the instantaneous centre, point C M , to the centre of the wheel tread when in contact with the ground.
  • Line 32 denotes the centre line of the vehicle. Where line 30 intersects line 32 defines the roll centre of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle's roll centre determines some of the driving characteristics of the vehicle. For instance, when cornering, a lowered roll centre at the rear of the vehicle makes the vehicle less prone to over-steer. Over- steer is an undesirable characteristic in most vehicles as it causes the rear end to become unstable and, in excessive conditions, may cause the vehicle to spin.
  • Figure 4 shows how the suspension characteristics change as the wheel is moved up in the wheel arch of the vehicle, for example when passing over a round hump (denoted by the suffix B) , and also as the wheel drops down, for instance when passing over a pot hole (denoted by the Suffix H) .
  • the wheelchair may access the lowered floor 20 by means of a ramp (not shown) or lifting apparatus (not shown) .
  • the wheelchair and user are comfortably accommodated within the space above the tray, wherein an area of the passenger portion is provided with increased head clearance such that the wheelchair user is not inhibited by the vehicles roof .
  • the present invention provides a vehicle with a lowered floor area to enable disabled access to a passenger portion of the vehicle, whilst providing improved vehicle handling characteristics.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un véhicule (1) permettant l'accès pour personnes handicapées. Ledit véhicule comporte un plateau (3) fixé au plancher du véhicule et fournissant une zone de plancher abaissé. Le véhicule comporte au moins un moyeu de roue arrière (8) relié au véhicule par un système de suspension comprenant au moins deux bras de suspension. Les bras de suspension sont reliés à pivotement à une extrémité au moyeu (8) et à l'autre au plateau (3). À la hauteur de conduite normale, le point de pivot (26) entre le bras de suspension supérieur (10) et le plateau (3) est situé vers l'intérieur et vers le bas du pivot (22) entre le bras (10) et le moyeu (8).
PCT/GB2007/050676 2006-11-11 2007-11-07 Suspension, en particulier pour véhicules à fond plat WO2008059284A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0622552.8 2006-11-11
GB0622552A GB2443702B (en) 2006-11-11 2006-11-11 Access apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008059284A1 true WO2008059284A1 (fr) 2008-05-22

Family

ID=37594790

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2007/050676 WO2008059284A1 (fr) 2006-11-11 2007-11-07 Suspension, en particulier pour véhicules à fond plat

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2443702B (fr)
WO (1) WO2008059284A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1505089A (fr) * 1966-11-28 1967-12-08 Tsni Avtomobilny I Avtomotorny Assemblage de pièces à parois minces et son procédé de réalisation
EP0390431A2 (fr) * 1989-03-31 1990-10-03 Rodney John Brotherwood Véhicule transportant un passager
FR2674187A1 (fr) * 1991-03-20 1992-09-25 Peugeot Dispositif formant suspension notamment de roue arriere d'un vehicule automobile.
US5951030A (en) * 1997-08-15 1999-09-14 Butler; Boyd L. Spindle length extender for double wishbone suspension systems of motor vehicles
WO2001062576A1 (fr) * 2000-02-23 2001-08-30 Gian Paolo Tardini Chassis modulaire pour vehicule de transport a plate-forme surbaissee
US20030111834A1 (en) * 2001-12-12 2003-06-19 Ragnar Ledesma Independent suspension undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle
NL1023998C2 (nl) * 2003-07-25 2005-01-26 Adrianus Petrus Chris Smulders Voor vervoer van rolstoelen of dergelijke bestemd voertuig, voor een dergelijk voertuig bestemd inbouwdeel en werkwijze voor het bevestigen van een inbouwdeel in een voertuig.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB773672A (en) * 1952-09-13 1957-05-01 Ferguson Res Ltd Harry Improvements in or relating to vehicle axle and suspension assemblies
US4714270A (en) * 1985-10-18 1987-12-22 Ford Motor Company Independent wheel suspension with toe correcting link
US5137413A (en) * 1990-10-05 1992-08-11 Paul Ressler Expanded interior space and improved access mini-van
AU669082B2 (en) * 1993-10-05 1996-05-23 Cooper, John Leslie Wheelchair transport vehicle
GB2388346B (en) * 2000-02-25 2004-01-21 Morgan Motor Company Ltd Improvements relating to vehicles
DE20016308U1 (de) * 2000-09-14 2001-02-15 Michael Bendich Fahrzeugbau Ladevorrichtung in einem Kraftfahrzeug

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1505089A (fr) * 1966-11-28 1967-12-08 Tsni Avtomobilny I Avtomotorny Assemblage de pièces à parois minces et son procédé de réalisation
EP0390431A2 (fr) * 1989-03-31 1990-10-03 Rodney John Brotherwood Véhicule transportant un passager
FR2674187A1 (fr) * 1991-03-20 1992-09-25 Peugeot Dispositif formant suspension notamment de roue arriere d'un vehicule automobile.
US5951030A (en) * 1997-08-15 1999-09-14 Butler; Boyd L. Spindle length extender for double wishbone suspension systems of motor vehicles
WO2001062576A1 (fr) * 2000-02-23 2001-08-30 Gian Paolo Tardini Chassis modulaire pour vehicule de transport a plate-forme surbaissee
US20030111834A1 (en) * 2001-12-12 2003-06-19 Ragnar Ledesma Independent suspension undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle
NL1023998C2 (nl) * 2003-07-25 2005-01-26 Adrianus Petrus Chris Smulders Voor vervoer van rolstoelen of dergelijke bestemd voertuig, voor een dergelijk voertuig bestemd inbouwdeel en werkwijze voor het bevestigen van een inbouwdeel in een voertuig.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2443702B (en) 2009-02-25
GB0622552D0 (en) 2006-12-20
GB2443702A (en) 2008-05-14

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