Patent GB-834809-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to suspensions, particularly vehicle suspensions
IPC: B60G17/04
Filed: 1956-05-09
Abstract: 834,809. Road-vehicle undercarriages; pneumatic springs. SOC. D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES POUR L'APPLICATION INDUSTRIELLES DES BREVETS P. E. MERCIER. May 9, 1956 [May 10, 1955; July 25, 1955; Jan. 13, 1956], No. 14484/56. Classes 108(2) and 108(3) A suspension system comprises members S1, S1<SP>1</SP>, S2, S2<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 8), each of which consists of a deformable space (B, Fig. 2) and main and secondary liquid chambers. C, B1. A damping member 104 is disposed between the main chamber and the deformable space. The main chambers of the members are interconnected and the damping members, themselves controlled by the secondary chambers, control the liquid transfers through the interconnections. In the suspension member shown in Fig. 2 the movement of a piston 151 in its cylinder 152 is damped by the action of a metering rod 154 in conjunction with a bore 155 in the piston rod. Resilience in the deformable chamber B is provided by a pneumatic chamber A defined by a flexible casing m and situated in an extension 101 of the cylinder 152. Liquid flow between the cylinder 152 and the extension 101 is controlled by the action of a valve 104 which is connected to a piston 118 subjected on its side opposite to the valve 104 to the pressure of a chamber B1 which contains a flexible pneumatic chamber A1 The latter forms a pressure of reference for controlling the valve 104 the difference between the pressure in the chamber B1 and the liquid space B within the extension 101 depends on the degree of liquid leakage between the piston 118 and the bore in which it is slidable. The valve 104 is centred by Springs 109, 110, and is associated with sets on non-return valves 114, 115. A further pneumatic chamber is provided by a flexible annular casing 205 disposed in a liquid filled housing 204 at the other end of the cylinder 152. The housing 204 is connected by a passage controlled by an adjustable needle valve 209 with the liquid space C in the cylinder 152. The piston 151 carries a skirt 217 which co-operates with a skirt 216 rigid with the upper wall of the housing 204 so as to trap liquid in an annular space 214 (except for an outlet controlled by the needle valve 209) towards the end of the extension stroke. In a modification (Fig. 1, not shown), the metering rod 154 and the housing 204 with its pneumatic chamber 205 are dispensed with. In a further modification (Fig. 3, not shown), a passage disposed externally of the cylinder 152 connects the space C above the piston with the liquid, space C1 below the piston, and has a controlable liquid restriction. In a further modification (Figs. 12, 13), the annular chamber B1 and its associated pneumatic chamber are disposed in a housing 405 which extends laterally of the suspension unit. The housing 405 comprises a rigid chamber filled with liquid similar to the extension 101 of Fig. 2, and containing a flexible pneumatic chamber similar to the casing m. In this construction, there is a connection (not shown) to an auxiliary pneumatic suspension chamber or chambers. This connection is closed towards the end of the stroke of the piston 151 by the action of a slide valve 408 thus increasing the stiffness of the suspension. The valve 104 of Fig. 2 is replaced by a valve member 418 comprising two discs spaced apart and slidable against the action of springs 421, 422. The sets of ball valves 113, 114, of Fig. 2, are replaced by flap valves 412, 413, loaded by a common spring 417. The valves 418 are connected to a piston 419 corresponding to the piston 118 of Fig. 2. The liquid in the reference chamber B1 is connected by conduits 424. 425 to the chamber at the right hand end of the piston 419. The chamber 433 at the other side of the piston 419 is connected by a conduit 434 with the liquid space B in the main resilient chamber 404. The space 432 on the side of the valve 418 opposite to the chamber 433 is connected directly to the liquid in the cylinder space C by a conduit 430. In the suspension system shown in Fig. 8, S1 and S1<SP>1</SP> represent the suspension units corresponding respectively to the front, wheels of a road vehicle, and S2 and S2<SP>1</SP> correspond to the rear wheels. Each unit is similar to the unit described with reference to Fig. 2 with the omission of the metering rod 154 and the pneumatic chamber 205. In addition, connections y and z are made respectively to the liquid spaces C1 and C. The connections y of the units S1, S2, are connected to a common conduit 348 and the connections y of the units S1<SP>1</SP> and S2<SP>1</SP> are connected to a common conduit 348<SP>1</SP>. These units 348, 348<SP>1</SP> are connected to the housing of a piston valve 346 which is deflectable in either direction, laterally of the vehicle, by the action of a pendular mass M mounted in the vehicle so as to be responsive to the effect of centrifugal force. On deflection of the valve 346 to the left by the mass M due to cornering of the vehicle, the conduit 348 is connected by a conduit 353 to a liquid reservoir, and the conduit 348<SP>1</SP> is connected to a liquid-pressure conduit 352. On movement of the mass in the opposite direction, the valve similarly causes the conduit 348 to be connected to the pressure conduit 352 and the conduit 348<SP>1</SP> to be connected to the reservoir. The connections Z of the units S2, S2<SP>1</SP>, are connected respectively to the chambers 334, 332, of a housing containing a stepped piston 328. A third chamber 336, bounded by the largest end face of the stepped piston 328, is in communication, through a restricted orifice 338, with a flexible diaphragm 340 subject to pressure in a pneumatic chamber 342. The stepped piston housing is integral with an identical housing for a second stepped piston 329 symmetrically arranged with respect to the first stepped piston and similarly connected to the connections Z of the suspension units S1, S1<SP>1</SP>. These two connections are also connected respectively to the chambers of a housing V1 containing a further stepped piston subject to the pressure of a pneumatic chamber similar to the chamber 342. The connection Z of the suspension units S2, S2<SP>1</SP>, are similarly connected respectively to chambers of a stepped piston housing V2 identical with the housing V1. The chambers 336, 337, of the double-stepped piston housing are connected by respective conduits U<SP>1</SP>, U to respective piston and cylinder assemblies acting upon a piston valve 318 (Fig. 9), which controls the supply of pressure liquid to, an exhaust of liquid from, a piston and cylinder device 313. The piston 314 of the latter acts on an arm 312, the angular position of which determines the position of a roller 304, the location of which determines the effective leverage of the suspension arm 300 of a road wheel 302 in respect of its connection to a spring suspension device S. In a modification (Fig. 6, not shown), the variation of the lever arm acting between the road wheel and the unit S, is varied by mechanical, as distinct from hydraulic, means. In the latter modification the wheel supporting arms extend laterally instead of trailing.