Patent GB-947213-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in vehicle suspensions
IPC: B60G17/027
Filed: 1960-03-11
Abstract: 947,213. Controlling vehicles' heights and inclinations. P. E. MERCIER. March 11, 1960 [March 14, 1959], No. 8732/60. Heading B7D. In a vehicle suspension, each wheel is connected to the suspended mass by a suspension member comprising a mechanically deformable chamber filled with fluid at a pressure related to the deformation of the chamber, and the pressures in a pair of mechanically deformable chambers associated with a pair of wheels positioned symmetrically in relation to one of the vehicle axes of symmetry are acted upon both by a control member controlling the mean deflection of the chambers relatively to the suspended mass and also by a differentiating member which, in the absence of longitudinal or transverse accelerations, produces between the respective pressures in the chambers a difference dependent upon the pressure difference in at least one pair of mechanically deformable chambers corresponding to at least one pair of wheels positioned symmetrically in relation to the same vehicle symmetry axis and acting as pilot road wheels, with the result that the inclination of the suspended mass about the selected symmetry axis can be controlled and static load variations between the wheels considered are obviated. In Fig. 1, the wheels 11, 12 are connected by links 31, 101 and 32, 102 to rams 61, 62 and by thin torsion bars 41, 42 and a rod 12 to a fluidpressure loaded valve 10, Fig. 5, controlling vehicle height. Transverse inclination is controlled by pilot wheels 1<SP>1</SP> 1 ,  1 1 2  independently controlled by height-adjusting valves 10<SP>1</SP> 1 , 10<SP>1</SP> 2  and connected to rams 61<SP>1</SP>, 62<SP>1</SP>. The pressures from all four rams are applied as shown to the self-centring arrangement 100 of slide valves 30, 31, illustrated by Fig. 4. When moderate pressure differences occur between the rams of the pilot wheels the arrangement 100 operates in series with the valve 10 to alter the ratio of the pressures P 1 , P 2  applied to the rams 61, 62 while abrupt pressure differences, such as occur on a curve, cause the valve 10 to be by-passed. This is accomplished by grooves 60 ... 63 which increase the pressure in a duct 50 and decrease it in a duct 55 when valves 30, 31 are moved in the direction of arrow F10 to bringthe grooves 60 and 63 increasingly into register with supply and exhaust ports H 2 , B 1 , respectively, connected with the valve 10. Further movement brings the grooves into register with ducts HP 2  and BP 1  in direct communication with supply and exhaust. The grooves 61, 62 perform similar functions when the valves are moved in the direction of the arrow F 11 . Figs. 6 and 7 show a construction in which suspension rams 110, 111 communicate with chambers 128, 129 of a valve 130 while the rams for the pilot wheels communicate with chambers 138, 139. Lengthwise movement of the valve causes grooves 131, 132 to place the rams 110, 111 in communication with exhaust or supply conduits 170, 171 respectively. A roll connection is interposed between the valve 130 and the rams and is actuated through a lever 120a by rods 116, 117 and levers 114, 115 having torsion bar connections 112, 113 with the wheel suspensions. When the valve 154 is displaced by transverse inclination of the vehicle, grooves 173, 174 connect conduits from the rams 110, 111 to supply and exhaust. A modified construction (Fig. 20, not shown), of the valve 130 is described and the valve 154 may be replaced by the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 or by a similar arrangement for operation by more than two pilot wheels. The wheels at one side of a vehicle may be used as pilot wheels to control the wheels on the opposite side which are connected by a system of links to a common depth regulating valve and are additionally controlled by an arrangement such as that illustrated in Fig. 4. The pilot wheels may be additionally controlled by an acceleration detector 351, Fig. 14, which contains a suspended mass 274, Fig. 13, responsive to centrifugal force and centred by levers 286, 287. When the mass is displaced one of a pair of slide valves 292, 293 actuated by a roller 294 or 295 causes the height-regulating valve 318, which is resiliently connected with the wheel suspension, to be fluid-pressure adjusted. A pneumatic accumulator 323 is inserted in the conduit between the detector 351 and the valve 318 while the displacement of the mass 274 is resisted by a pressure which increases with wheel deflection. This pressure is applied to one of a pair of bellows 280 through a conduit 266 by a device 350 operated from the suspension linkage and comprising a body 253, Fig. 12, connected to the chassis by a plastic layer 268 and fitted with a diaphragm 257 subjected to gas pressure and a diaphragm 256 in contact with the pressure liquid communicating with the bellows 280. Modified construction of the device 350 (Fig. 15, not shown), the acceleration detector (Fig. 16, not shown), and the height-regulating valve (Fig. 17, not shown), are described. Fig. 19 shows a further system in which a doubleacting ram 600 1  is controlled by an acceleration detector 625 and adjusts a height-regulating valve 1001 through a torsion bar 624<SP>1</SP> which is also connected to the wheel suspension 31. A modification (Figs. 21 and 22, not shown), of this system includes a member which replaces the ram 600 and combines the actions of two acceleration detectors to operate the heightregulating valve. To compensate for the effects of longitudinal acceleration, the front wheel suspensions are connected to ducts 908, 910, Fig. 23, and the rear wheel suspensions to ducts 907, 909 leading to chambers at the opposite ends of a stepped piston 902 having a connection 916 with bellows 918, 919 subjected to pressure changes produced by a longitudinal acceleration detector. The spaces within the bellows communicate with ducts 926, 927 for supplying correcting pressures while ducts 911, 912 enable leakage fluid to drain back to a reservoir. Fig. 24 illustrates a device for connecting the effects of vertical acceleration in which two pivoted detecting masses 804 1 , 804 2  are arranged at equal distances fore and aft of the centre of gravity of the vehicle and operate a pair of valves 813 1 , 813 2  through rods or cables 8091, 809 2 , 8101 and 810 2 . Pressures derived directly from the pilot wheel suspensions and indirectly through a capacity and constrictions in communication therewith are applied to pistons 801 1 , 801 2  and 802 to oppose the movements of the masses 8041, 804 2 . The latter are urged in opposite directions when the vehicle pitches so that the device does not respond. The application of some of the devices to a complete vehicle chassis and to a semiboiler is described.