Vehicle suspension system

• Main Authors: ITO; NAGANORI, AIKAWA; HIROSHI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.03.1975
• Edition: 2
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; SPRINGS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

An accumulator is divided by two diaphragms into two auxiliary fluid chambers forming an auxiliary gas chamber therebetween. The fluid chambers of two hydropneumatic suspension struts are connected to the respective auxiliary fluid chambers through a spool valve normally open for unrestricted fluid flow between the fluid chambers of the struts and their respective auxiliary fluid chambers. When one wheel hits a road hump or elevation, fluid from the affected strut flows into the respective auxiliary fluid chamber increasing the auxiliary gas chamber pressure which in turn is applied through the diaphragm to the other auxiliary fluid chamber causing fluid to flow therefrom into the respective strut to increase the effective length thereof. A sensor for sensing a large horizontal force exerted on the vehicle is connected to the valve spool closing the spool valve during a high speed turn when the horizontal force is sensed. The total volume of air available for absorbing the tendency of the vehicle to tilt is thus reduced to the volume of the gas chamber of the hydropneumatic strut affected, increasing the resistnace to tilting. In another embodiment, the spool valve is arranged to isolate the fluid chamber of each suspension strut also from a fluid pump and reservoir of a levelling device to prevent deterioration of driveability.