INCLINATION DETECTION DEVICE AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH INCLINATION DETECTION DEVICE

• Main Author: KAWACHI KOJI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.01.2007
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NAVIGATION; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY; PHYSICS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; SPRINGS; SURVEYING; TESTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inclination detection device capable of detecting the angle of inclination of a vehicle by installing a sensor hardly influenced by a disturbance, while suppressing cost increase, and a vehicle equipped with the inclination detection device. SOLUTION: In this inclination detection device equipped with buffer members whose each length is changed corresponding to a load applied to a plurality of wheels positioned on the front and the back of the vehicle, the angle of inclination in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle is detected based on a length variation of each buffer member. In each buffer member having an inner cylinder filled with working fluid, an outer cylinder for forming an air chamber between itself and the inner cylinder, a piston movable with respect to the inner cylinder, an orifice for guiding the working fluid from the inner cylinder into the air chamber by movement of the piston, and a thermistor arranged in the air chamber. In the device, the length variation of each buffer member is detected based on the electrical quantity relative to the thermistor, and the angle of inclination in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle is calculated based on the length variation of each buffer member installed on each wheel positioned in the front and the back, and the calculated angle of inclination is transmitted to the outside. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT