Patent Description:
The goal is a new type of arrangement which comprises a shock absorbing structure. The characterising features of the invention are disclosed in the independent claims.

The arrangement comprises a device pressing against the ground, a shock absorbing cradle, and an electric motor. The electric motor is configured to control the device pressing against the ground, and to convey the force that is exerted from the ground on the device pressing against the ground to the shock absorbing cradle.

The invention will now be described in closer detail in connection with the preferred embodiments of which:.

The presented embodiments relate to an arrangement comprising a device pressing against the ground, a shock absorbing cradle, and an electric motor. The electric motor is configured to control the device pressing against the ground, and to convey the force exerted on the device pressing against the ground from the ground to the shock absorbing cradle.

The arrangement may be used for activities aimed on a road surface. For example, the arrangement may be used to check the slipperiness of roads, runways at airports, and other areas. As a second example, the arrangement may be used for making road markings.

In an embodiment, the device pressing against the ground comprises a device fixed to a vehicle and which device pressing against the ground is used while the vehicle is moving.

In an embodiment, the device pressing against the ground comprises a friction-measuring apparatus. The friction-measuring apparatus may comprise a measuring device for establishing the friction coefficient of a road surface. Based on the determined friction coefficient, the need for anti-skid activities of the road surface, for example, may be evaluated.

In an embodiment, the device pressing against the ground comprises a treatment device of a road surface. The treatment device of a road surface comprises, for example, a washing device, road marking device, or another treatment device of a road surface.

The device pressing against the ground comprises at least two positions. In an embodiment the first position comprises an upper position. In an embodiment the upper position comprises a transport position in which the device pressing against the ground is not used for activities aimed at a road surface, such as friction measurements. In an embodiment the second position comprises a lower position. In an embodiment, the lower position comprises a measuring position in which the device pressing against the ground is used for activities aimed at a road surface. In a second embodiment, the first position comprises a lower position and the second position comprises an upper position.

<FIG> shows an example of an arrangement <NUM> according to an embodiment. The arrangement comprises a device pressing against the ground <NUM>, a shock absorbing cradle <NUM>, and an electric motor <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> additionally comprises a main body <NUM>, auxiliary body <NUM>, and linkage <NUM>. Furthermore, in the example of <FIG>, the arrangement <NUM> comprises fastening means <NUM> to fix the arrangement <NUM> onto a horizontally installed platform <NUM>. The fastening means <NUM> may comprise mechanical, detachable fastening means such as bolts, or fixed fastening means such as a fastening plate by means of which the apparatus <NUM> may be fastened to the horizontally installed platform <NUM>.

The horizontally installed platform <NUM> comprises a platform which in parallel to the ground. In an embodiment, the horizontally installed platform <NUM> comprises a cargo bed of a vehicle. For example, the cargo bed of a vehicle may comprise a cargo bed of a pickup truck. In a second embodiment, the horizontally installed platform <NUM> comprises a platform in a cargo compartment of vehicle, such as the floor of a van's cargo compartment.

An advantage of fastening the apparatus <NUM> on the cargo bed of a vehicle, or in the cargo compartment thereof, is that there is no need for dedicated devices to transport, use, and/or store of the arrangement <NUM>, but the arrangement <NUM> moves with the vehicle. In addition, if the vehicle cabin has a window towards the cargo bed or cargo compartment of the vehicle, the driver is able to monitor the operation of the arrangement <NUM> through the window.

The purpose of the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is to dampen the shocks that the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is subjected to so that the device pressing against the ground <NUM> could be used in an undisturbed as possible a manner. The impacts on the device pressing against the ground <NUM> may be caused by the roughness of the ground, such as holes or bumps.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> comprises at least one shock absorbing element. The shock absorbing element comprises an element which is arranged to receive a force-induced impact and to dampen the impact. The shock absorbing element may comprise, for example, a spring, cylinder, or another shock absorbing element. In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> comprises at least two shock absorbing elements installed in parallel.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is provided with a suspension. The suspension may be mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic, for example. In an embodiment the shock absorbing cradle is mechanically suspended. When the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is moving horizontally, the springs compress and thus absorb impacts directed at the device pressing against the ground <NUM>.

An advantage of a mechanically-suspended shock absorbing cradle is that it does not require a complicated installation. Mechanical shock absorption is typically more economical to manufacture and often more reliable than hydraulic or pneumatic shock absorption. In addition, a mechanically-suspended shock absorbing cradle is easier to service than, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic shock absorbing cradles.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is configured so that the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> moves horizontally in response to a force that the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is subjected to. In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> moves horizontally in relation to the horizontally installed platform <NUM>. The horizontal movement may comprise horizontal movement in relation to the ground surface, that is, movement parallel to the ground surface. The horizontal movement may also comprise horizontal movement in relation to the horizontally installed platform <NUM>, in other words movement that is parallel to the horizontally installed platform <NUM>. In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is installed on the horizontally installed platform <NUM>, such as the cargo bed or cargo compartment of a vehicle.

An advantage of horizontal movement of the shock absorbing cradle is that when installing the shock absorbing cradle <NUM>, the cargo bed or cargo compartment of a vehicle, for example, may be utilized. In addition, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> according to <FIG> is more stable and takes less space vertically than, for example, a vertically installed shock absorbing cradle.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may be fixed by fastening means <NUM> to the horizontally installed platform <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may be fixed on the horizontally installed platform <NUM>, embedded at least partly in the platform <NUM>, or integrated into the platform <NUM>. In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> comprises fastening means <NUM> to fasten the shock absorbing cradle on the horizontally installed platform <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is configured to move in relation to the main body <NUM>. In an embodiment, the main body <NUM> comprises a groove, and the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is arranged to slide in the groove of the main body <NUM>. In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is provided with a bearing.

In an embodiment, the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is installed under the horizontally installed platform <NUM>. For example, if the horizontally installed platform <NUM> comprises a cargo bed of a vehicle, the cargo bed may comprise an opening, and the arrangement <NUM> is so installed that the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is installed on the cargo bed and the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is installed below the cargo bed. If, on the other hand, the horizontally installed platform <NUM> comprises a van's cargo compartment, the floor of the cargo compartment may comprise an opening, and the arrangement <NUM> is installed so that the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is installed in the van's cargo compartment, and the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is installed under the floor of the cargo compartment.

An advantage of installing the device pressing against the ground <NUM> below the horizontally installed platform <NUM> is that the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is quick to switch from the upper position to the lower position and from the lower position to the upper position.

In an embodiment, the electric motor <NUM> is configured to control the device pressing against the ground <NUM>. Controlling the device pressing against the ground <NUM> may comprise, for example, controlling the device <NUM> to a specific position by means of the electric motor <NUM>, linkage <NUM>, and auxiliary body <NUM>. Controlling to a specific position may comprise, for example, raising and/or lowering the device pressing against the ground <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> may be an electric linear actuator, for example.

In an embodiment, the electric motor <NUM> is configured to control the device pressing against the ground <NUM> from a first position to a second position. The first position may comprise an upper position, for example. The second position may comprise a lower position, for example. In the example of <FIG>, the arrangement <NUM> is in the upper position.

In the example of <FIG>, the arrangement <NUM> is in the lower position. The device pressing against the ground <NUM> may be pressed against the surface of the ground by means of the electric motor <NUM> and linkage <NUM>. The purpose of the linkage <NUM> is to keep the device pressing against the ground <NUM> horizontal, when the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is raised and/or lowered by means of the electric motor <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the electric motor <NUM> is configured to press the device pressing against the ground <NUM> against the ground surface. The electric motor <NUM> is configured to press the device pressing against the ground <NUM> against the ground surface so that the use of the device <NUM> is possible. On the other hand, pressing must be so chosen that pressing is not too hard. Excessive pressing causes unnecessary loading on the arrangement <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the electric motor <NUM> is additionally configured to convey the force exerted on the device pressing against the ground <NUM> from the ground to the shock absorbing cradle <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> is fastened to the shock absorbing cradle <NUM>, which moves horizontally.

In an embodiment, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is so installed that in response to the force transmitted by the electric motor, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> moves in the direction of the horizontally installed platform <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the arrow <NUM> illustrates the force that is exerted from the ground on the device pressing against the ground <NUM>. When the device pressing against the ground <NUM> drives over a bump, for example, the force <NUM> is exerted on the device pressing against the ground <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> conveys the force <NUM> to the shock absorbing cradle <NUM>, which moves horizontally. In the example of <FIG>, the arrow <NUM> illustrates the force that is transmitted to the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> by the electric motor <NUM>. When the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> moves horizontally by the effect of the force <NUM>, the springs of the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> compress. The larger the force <NUM> that is exerted on the device pressing against the ground <NUM> is, the more the springs compress.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the arrangement <NUM>. In the example of <FIG>, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>. The shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is equipped with a bearing and the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is so installed that is slides in the groove of the main body <NUM> in relation to the main body.

In the example of <FIG>, the shock absorbing cradle <NUM> is installed on top of the horizontally installed platform <NUM>, and the device pressing against the ground <NUM> under the horizontally installed platform <NUM>.

An advantage of the disclosed arrangement is that the arrangement is independent of the installation platform so that it may easily be installed on a cargo bed of a vehicle, for example. An additional advantage is that the arrangement may be installed on a plurality of different vehicles, such as the cargo bed of a pickup truck or cargo compartment of a van. The arrangement may also be transferred from one vehicle to another. A further advantage is also that the arrangement may be quickly controlled from the upper position to the lower position and from the lower position to the upper position. Yet another advantage is that the arrangement does not require a lot of space.

Claim 1:
An arrangement (<NUM>) to be installed on a vehicle, the arrangement (<NUM>) comprising a device pressing against the ground (<NUM>),
a shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>), and
an electric motor (<NUM>) which is configured to press the device pressing against the ground (<NUM>) against the surface of the ground, characterised in that the electric motor (<NUM>) is additionally configured to convey the force (<NUM>) exerted on the device pressing against the ground (<NUM>) from the ground to the shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>), that the shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>) comprises fastening means (<NUM>) to fasten the shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>) on a horizontally installed platform (<NUM>), wherein optionally the horizontally installed platform (<NUM>) comprises a cargo bed of a vehicle, and that the shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>) is installed so that in response to the force transmitted by the electric motor (<NUM>) the shock absorbing cradle (<NUM>) moves horizontally in the direction of the horizontally installed platform (<NUM>).