Abstract:
A retractable suspension system for use with an amphibious vehicle is provided and includes three rotation points disposed on the vehicle body of the vehicle, three integration points disposed on an integration element of a tire, an actuating device and a damping component, so as to render the retractable suspension system structurally simple and multifunctional.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 104140708, filed on Dec. 4, 2015, in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       1. TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to retractable suspension systems and more particularly to a retractable suspension system which is applicable to amphibious vehicles and has at least one first rotation point, at least one second rotation point, at least one third rotation point and an integration element. 
       2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Modern amphibious vehicles, which have been around for decades, function as automobiles and ships to thereby travel on both land and water according to related circumstances and as needed. Amphibious vehicles originate from amphibious warfare but began to serve purposes pertaining to disaster rescue, detection, exploration and sightseeing upon termination of the last large-scale world war. 
         [0004]    Sightseeing-oriented large-sized amphibious ships are presently in use. By contrast, disaster rescue-oriented small and medium-sized amphibious ships require a retractable suspension system for reducing their water resistance while traveling on water. 
         [0005]    Techniques about the structural design of a conventional retractable suspension system abound. The main purpose of the conventional retractable suspension system is to retract terrestrial tires to above the waterline and thus reduce the water resistance of amphibious vehicles traveling on water. The aforesaid purpose should be achieved without compromising functions, such as damping, transmission, steering and braking, required for the amphibious vehicles to operate as terrestrial vehicles. 
         [0006]    The conventional retractable suspension system has disadvantages as follows: its intricate mechanism design adds to weight of vehicles, gasoline consumed by the vehicles, manufacturing costs of the vehicles, and difficulty in overhauls and maintenance of the vehicles; and its intricate structure is unfit for small and medium-sized amphibious vehicles because of the low capacity thereof. Furthermore, disaster rescue-oriented amphibious vehicles must be compact and easy to operate in order to perform rescue operations speedily before the 72-hour golden period expires. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is still room for improvement in weight reduction, structural simplification and time-efficiency performance of the conventional retractable suspension system, especially in the situation where disaster rescue-oriented small and medium-sized amphibious vehicles are involved. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    To solve the problems confronted by the prior art, the present invention provides a retractable suspension system which comprises a body, at least one first rotation point, a damping component, at least one second rotation point, a first actuating mechanism, at least one third rotation point, a second actuating mechanism and an integration element. 
         [0009]    The at least one first rotation point, the at least one second rotation point and the at least one third rotation point are disposed on the body sequentially. The damping component is connected to the at least one first rotation point. The first actuating mechanism is rotatably connected to the damping component and the at least one second rotation point. The first actuating mechanism is an A-shaped frame, an actuating device, or a combination thereof. 
         [0010]    The second actuating mechanism is connected to the at least one third rotation point. The second actuating mechanism is an A-shaped frame or an actuating device. The integration element is connected to the first actuating mechanism and the second actuating mechanism, thereby forming the retractable suspension system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1( a )  is a schematic view of the structure of a retractable suspension system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1( b )  is a perspective view of the retractable suspension system shown in  FIG. 1( a ) ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2( a )  is a schematic view of the structure of the retractable suspension system according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2( b )  is a perspective view of the retractable suspension system shown in  FIG. 2( a ) ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the retractable suspension system mounted on a vehicle according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    To enable persons skilled in the art to gain insight into the technical features and practical advantages of the present invention and implement the present invention according to the specification, the present invention is hereunder illustrated with preferred embodiments depicted with the accompanying drawings and described below. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention mainly feature two implementation aspects described below. The first implementation aspect is illustrated with  FIG. 1( a )  which is a schematic view of the structure of a retractable suspension system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1( a ) , the retractable suspension system  10  of the present invention comprises a body  100 , at least one first rotation point  201 , a damping component  300 , at least one second rotation point  202 , a first actuating mechanism, at least one third rotation point  203 , a second actuating mechanism and an integration element  700 . In this embodiment, the first actuating mechanism and the second actuating mechanism are implemented in the forms of rod elements. A first actuating mechanism rod element  400  and a second actuating mechanism rod element  600  are described below, illustrated with an embodiment, and depicted in the accompany drawings. 
         [0018]    The body  100  is a chassis of a terrestrial or amphibious vehicle, whereas the at least one first rotation point  201 , the at least one second rotation point  202  and the at least one third rotation point  203  are disposed on the body  100  sequentially. In this embodiment, the at least one first rotation point  201 , the at least one second rotation point  202  or the at least one third rotation point  203  is a pivot; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, as a ball-and-socket joint, pin, screw, nut, bearing and the like, each of which enables a mechanical moment of force, such as that of an A-shaped frame, to rotate freely by angles within a specific range, should fall into the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The damping component  300  is connected to the at least one first rotation point  201 . In this embodiment, the damping component  300  is a spring-based damper, an electromagnetic damper, an electric-driven damper, a hydraulic damper, a pneumatic damper or a combination thereof selected as needed and according to the front and rear wheels of or the terrain to be adapted to by an amphibious vehicle, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0020]    The first actuating mechanism rod element  400  is rotatably connected to the damping component  300  and the at least one second rotation point  202 . The first actuating mechanism rod element  400  is selectively an A-shaped frame, an actuating device, or a combination of links thereof, and is, in this embodiment, an A-shaped frame (the first actuating mechanism rod element  400 ) which looks slightly folded when viewed laterally. 
         [0021]    The second actuating mechanism rod element  600  is connected to the at least one third rotation point  203 . The second actuating mechanism rod element  600  is an A-shaped frame or an actuating device. This embodiment uses an actuating device, and the actuating device (the second actuating mechanism rod element  600 ) is a linear motor actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electric-driven actuator, or an electromagnetic actuator selected as needed and according to the front and rear wheels of or the terrain to be adapted to by an amphibious vehicle, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the actuating device (the second actuating mechanism rod element  600 ) is the main source of the driving force under which a tire  800  retracts. The actuating device moves in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in  FIG. 1( a )  to drive the tire  800  to rotate upward and retract until the tire  800  retracts above the waterline, thereby reducing the water resistance which opposes the advance of the amphibious vehicle. 
         [0022]    The wheels of an amphibious vehicle traveling on land function as the main actuating mechanism rod elements whereby the amphibious vehicle advances, and thus a transmission system is indispensable to the amphibious vehicle. In this embodiment, the integration element  700  is connected to the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  and the second actuating mechanism rod element  600 . In this embodiment, the integration element  700  is connected to the tire  800 , whereas a first integration point  701 , a second integration point  702  and a third integration point  703  are disposed on the integration element  700  sequentially in a top-to-bottom order. 
         [0023]    The first integration point  701  is connected to the first actuating mechanism rod element  400 . The first integration point  701  is disposed outside the space of an inner rim for the tire  800 . The second integration point  702  is connected to the tire  800 . The third integration point  703  is connected to the second actuating mechanism rod element  600 . 
         [0024]    The second integration point  702  is not only connected to the tire  800  but also connected to a drive shaft  500 , so as to form the structure of connecting the body  100  and the drive shaft  500  as well as connecting the drive shaft  500  and the second integration point  702 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1( b ) , which is a perspective view of the retractable suspension system shown in  FIG. 1( a ) , in this embodiment, the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  is the A-shaped frame  402 . Hence, in this embodiment, the at least one second rotation point  202  is provided in the number of two, whereas the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  is provided in the form of a single actuating device, and thus the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  has to move synchronously with the first actuating mechanism rod element  400 . Hence, to get connected to the body  100 , the at least one third rotation point  203  is provided in the form of an equal-arm support, and thus the at least one third rotation point  203  is also provided in the number of two. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1( b ) , the A-shaped frame (the first actuating mechanism rod element  400 ) is rotatably connected to the suspension rod  301 , and the suspension rod  301  is connected to the damping component  300 . The suspension rod  301  is a metallic extendible rod or a damping component of any other type, to ensure that the retractable suspension system  10  operates smoothly in its entirety. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1( b ) , the integration element  700  is further described below. The first integration point  701  is connected to the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  by a ball-and-socket joint disposed on the first integration point  701  and capable of directional rotation. Likewise, the aforesaid mechanism feature is also found in the second integration point  702  and the third integration point  703 . In this embodiment, due to the uniqueness of the transmission system, the body  100  and the second integration point  702  are connected by two directional ball-and-socket joints at two ends of the drive shaft  500  to provide the source of the driving force under which transmission takes place without hindering the retraction. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 2( a ) and 2( b ) , another embodiment of the present invention is described below.  FIG. 2( a )  is a schematic view of the structure of the retractable suspension system according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2( b )  is a perspective view of the retractable suspension system shown in  FIG. 2( a ) . 
         [0029]    The embodiment illustrated with  FIG. 2( a )  and  FIG. 2( b )  differs from the preceding embodiment in that the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  consists of a link combination of an actuating device  401  and an A-shaped frame  402 , whereas the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  is the A-shaped frame  402 . Like the preceding embodiment, the embodiment illustrated with FIG.  2 ( a ) and  FIG. 2( b )  is further characterized in that: the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  almost equals the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  in arm length; the second rotation point  202  and the third rotation point  203  which connect with the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  and the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  sequentially are equal in number, i.e., one, in this embodiment. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the arrow shown in  FIG. 2( a )  indicates the direction in which the retraction motion mechanism moves. To retract, the actuating device  401  in the first actuating mechanism rod element  400  drives the A-shaped frame  402  to move in the direction indicated by the arrow and thus lifts the A-shaped frame  402 , because the damping component  300 , the first rotation point  201  and the A-shaped frame  402  are rotatably connected to each other, and in consequence the A-shaped frame  402  in the second actuating mechanism rod element  600  and the drive shaft  500  are lifted together with the tire  800 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 2( b ) , an integration element  700 ′ in the embodiment illustrated with  FIG. 2( a )  and  FIG. 2( b )  is disk-shaped. Hence, a first integration point  701 ′, a second integration point  702 ′ and a third integration point  703 ′ of the integration element  700 ′ are slightly different in shape from the integration element  700 , the first integration point  701 , the second integration point  702  and the third integration point  703  which are continuously bent, band-shaped and presented in the embodiment illustrated with  FIG. 1( a )  and  FIG. 1( b ) . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic view of the retractable suspension system mounted on a vehicle according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a way of implementing the at least one retractable suspension system  10  essentially requires a vehicle, wherein the at least one retractable suspension system  10  is connected to the body  100  of the vehicle. 
         [0033]    In general, amphibious vehicles with retractable wheels are equipped with four or six wheels and the tire  800  of a dimension which ranges from 10 to 20 inches. Hence,  FIG. 3 , which shows part of a vehicle, depicts that the quantity of the at least one retractable suspension system  10  required is subject to changes as needed, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the embodiment illustrated with  FIG. 3 , the retractable suspension system  10  comprises the first rotation point  201 , the second rotation point  202  and the third rotation point  203  which serve a connection purpose and the position of the drive shaft  500  which transmits a driving force. 
         [0034]    The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, the preferred embodiments should not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Hence, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made to the aforesaid embodiments according to the claims and specification of the present invention should fall within the scope of the present invention.