Abstract:
Disclosed herein are a torsion beam type suspension and a forming method of a torsion beam. In the torsion beam type suspension comprising a pair of left and right trailing arms connected to each other through a torsion beam, front ends of the trailing arms being used to mount a vehicle body by using joints, the torsion beam is obtained by forming an overall length of a pipe having a certain wall thickness by using a pressure forming process. In this case, end sections defined at both end portions of the torsion beam have a cross-sectional shape of a hollow oval, a center section defined at a center portion of the torsion beam has a cross-sectional shape of a hollow open loop, and middle sections defined between the center portion and both the end portions of the torsion beam have a cross-sectional shape of a hollow open loop. The loop of the middle sections defines an inner space larger than that defined by the loop of the center section. Further, since the torsion beam can be easily formed by adopting a hydro-forming process, it is possible to achieve high twisting rigidity, bending rigidity, and durability without requiring a torsion bar and reinforcement, which must be inevitably assembled to a conventional torsion beam axle, resulting in a reduction of the number of constitutive elements and the overall weight.
Abstract:
A motor vehicle chassis structure which includes an independent suspension system including left and right suspension components for left and right wheels (4, 8) respectively for gripping and travelling along a road surface, each of which suspension components is arranged to allow a constrained up and down movement of the respective wheel relative to the vehicle chassis structure, characterised in that the upper suspension components on one side of the vehicle are cross-linked with the upper suspension components on the other side of the vehicle by a connecting rod (10, 11) and an offset pivot shaft assembly (9, 5), so as to constrain the plane of each wheel towards an orientation which is normal to the road surface while allowing the chassis structure to move vertically and to roll relative to said wheels during cornering, acceleration, deceleration and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
An air suspension anti-roll stabilization system includes air suspension devices, such as at least one pair of air bags air spring mounted upon an axle via leaf spring suspension arms of an associated vehicle on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the axle being located at least partially with respect to the frame or chassis of the vehicle by means of a pair of leaf spring arms which are located on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal vehicle axis and of which each has one end mounted pivotally to the vehicle frame or chassis, wherein anti-roll means is connected rigidly between the part of longitudinal leaf spring suspension arms.
Abstract:
A roll control system for a motor vehicle comprising a torsion bar (16); a first hydraulic actuator (12) connected to one end (20) of the torsion bar and connectable to an axle (34) of the vehicle; a second hydraulic actuator (14) connected to the other end (28) of the torsion bar and connectable to the axle of the vehicle; a hydraulic control system (62) connected to the hydraulic actuators and including a source of fluid pressure (66), a fluid reservoir (68), at least one supply valve (74,76), and a pressure control valve (70); and an electrical control system (64) controlling the hydraulic system dependent on sensed vehicle conditions; wherein each hydraulic actuator comprises a rebound chamber (42, 52) and a compression chamber (40, 50) separated by a piston (38, 48), and a piston rod (18, 26) attached to the piston and extending through and out of the rebound chamber; wherein, during straight line motion of the vehicle, the electrical control system actuates the supply valve or valves to isolate the rebound chambers and to connect the compression chambers to the fluid reservoir, and wherein, during turning motion of the vehicle in one direction, the electrical control system actuates the supply valve or valves to connect the rebound chambers to a controlled fluid pressure form the hydraulic control system, to connect the compression chamber remote from the turning direction to the controlled fluid pressure, and to connect the other compression chamber to the fluid reservoir. Provides smooth roll control during change in turning direction.
Abstract:
A suspension system for a vehicle having at least one pair of forward and one pair of rearward wheels, including: a suspension arm (7-10) for each wheel providing at least partial location of the associated wheel, the suspension arm (7-8) Of the forward wheel being pivotally mounted to a vehicle body at a pivot position (11, 15, 12, 16) rearward to an axle line of the forward wheel, the suspension arm (9-10) of the rearward wheel being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body at a pivot position (13, 17; 14, 18) forward to an axle line of the rearward wheel; at least one lever arm (19-22) moving in conjunction with and extending radially from the pivot position (11-18) of each suspension arm (7-10); wherein at each respective side of the vehicle, a ram assembly (23, 24) is located between the lever arms (19-22) of the forward and rearward wheel, the ram assembly (23, 24) including at least a first (25, 27) and second (26, 28) variable volume fluid chamber, each fluid chamber (25-28) being in fluid communication with a fluid chamber (25-28) or an opposing ram assembly (23, 24) provided on the opposing side of the vehicle, such that there is fluid flow between the chambers (25-28) of the ram assemblies (23, 24) during heave motion of the vehicle, there is little to no fluid flow between the chambers (25-28) of the ram assemblies (23, 24) during roll motions, and there is an at least substantially longitudinal motion of the ram assemblies (23, 24) with little to no flow of fluid between the chambers (25-28) or the ram assemblies (23, 24) during cross axle articulations motion of the wheels.
Abstract:
A stabilizer for a vehicle suspension system having first and second pivotal components with an anchor above one of the pivotal components and an anchor below the other of the pivotal components. The stabilizer includes a bending member connected to the first and second anchors. The bending member can be of a variety of shapes to fit within the suspension systems architecture on various vehicles.
Abstract:
An antiroll suspension for a vehicle chassis having laterally spaced wheels, the suspension comprises an axle assembly for rotatably mounting each of a pair of laterally spaced wheels, a spring assembly supporting the chassis on each of the axle assemblies, a moveable arm connected between the spring and the chassis, and an anti roll linkage connected between said chassis and the moveable arm of the axles of the suspension system being responsive to a lateral force on said chassis, and structured to translate lateral force on the chassis to a vertical force on the down force side of the chassis so that the anti roll linkage simultaneously lift the down force side of the vehicle and lower the up force side of the vehicle.
Abstract:
An adjustable anti-roll bar having a single set of mounting apertures whose roll rate is adjusted in the middle of the anti-roll bar. The roll rate is determined by the location of the junction of one torsion member to another; that is, an outer torsion member to an inner torsion member. In order to account for the presence of certain automotive components in the undercarriage area, the geometry of the anti-roll bar may be changed. The second embodiment meets this challenge for a specific vehicle by using two weldments of a specific size to relocate the adjustable middle section. Changing the length and angle of the lever arms of the first embodiment can do the same thing in many instances.
Abstract:
A vehicle roll control system including a torsion bar having a longitudinal axis and first and second end portions disposed along the longitudinal axis. A first arm includes a passive end fixed to the first end of the torsion bar and extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. A second arm is provided having an active end rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the torsion bar and also extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. The opposite ends of the first and second arms are each configured to couple to the vehicle chassis. An actuator including a cam locking element is provided for selectively locking and unlocking the active end of the second arm to thereby selectively prevent and allow rotation of the active arm relative to the torsion bar.
Abstract:
Vehicle suspension movements are transmitted to an anti-roll mechanism which is pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement about the pitch axis thereof to accommodate normal ride motion of the vehicle in which wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle move equally. Vehicle roll is controlled by an anti-roll mechanism includes a torsion bar which is loaded by the suspension movement. Roll stiffness is controlled by adjusting the lever arm through which suspension movement is transmitted to the torsion bar by a lever arrangement commonly referred to as a Watt's link to assure that the change in the length of the lever arm is directly proportional to the change in the control in the cockpit. Accordingly, linear control is assured, and the torsion bar and lever arms do not appreciable deflect during cornering.