Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G17/00—Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load
  • B60G17/015—Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
  • B60G17/018—Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
  • B60G17/0185—Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method for failure detection
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
  • B60G2204/11—Mounting of sensors thereon
  • B60G2204/113—Tyre related sensors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/80—Interactive suspensions; arrangement affecting more than one suspension unit
  • B60G2204/81—Interactive suspensions; arrangement affecting more than one suspension unit front and rear unit
  • B60G2204/8102—Interactive suspensions; arrangement affecting more than one suspension unit front and rear unit diagonally arranged
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2400/00—Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
  • B60G2400/50—Pressure
  • B60G2400/52—Pressure in tyre
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2500/00—Indexing codes relating to the regulated action or device
  • B60G2500/30—Height or ground clearance
  • B60G2500/32—Height or ground clearance of only one vehicle part or side
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2600/00—Indexing codes relating to particular elements, systems or processes used on suspension systems or suspension control systems
  • B60G2600/04—Means for informing, instructing or displaying
  • B60G2600/044—Alarm means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2600/00—Indexing codes relating to particular elements, systems or processes used on suspension systems or suspension control systems
  • B60G2600/08—Failure or malfunction detecting means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2800/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of movement or to the condition of the vehicle and to the end result to be achieved by the control action
  • B60G2800/18—Starting, accelerating
  • B60G2800/182—Traction
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2800/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of movement or to the condition of the vehicle and to the end result to be achieved by the control action
  • B60G2800/21—Traction, slip, skid or slide control
  • B60G2800/214—Traction, slip, skid or slide control by varying the load distribution
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2800/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of movement or to the condition of the vehicle and to the end result to be achieved by the control action
  • B60G2800/80—Detection or control after a system or component failure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to tires and the ground connection of motor vehicles, in particular suspension devices, and more particularly the distribution of the load on the wheels.
• Tires for vehicles are designed for normal operation under internal pressure of a gas, generally air. However, it sometimes happens that after a loss of pressure, they are brought to operate at reduced or even zero pressure. In the case of a conventional tire, operation at reduced or zero pressure has mainly two consequences. The first consequence is that the vehicle becomes difficult to manage, uncomfortable or unstable. The second consequence is the irreversible damage to the tire, which quickly becomes irreparable, sometimes after only a few tens of meters traveled.
• Tires or systems for passenger vehicles are known which are capable of operating at reduced or zero pressure with the aim of guaranteeing or extending the mobility of the vehicle with respect to the conventional tire, for example after a puncture. These tires or systems are commonly called “run flat” because they are able to roll when they are flat.
• One of the concepts allowing this performance is based on a significant rigidity of the sidewalls which can then work in radial compression and support the tread. This concept is known as "ZP" (Zero Pressure).
• US Patent 5968294 describes such a tire.
• Another concept uses a support placed inside the tire in order to limit the deflection.
• the system offered commercially under the brand name "Pax System” is an example of implementation of this concept.
• One goal of the invention is to further extend the mobility of vehicles in particular that of vehicles fitted with tires "run flat” to enable them to travel a greater distance (eg 500 or 1000 km), and / or drive at a higher speed (for example 100, 110 or 120 km / h) without necessarily modifying the tire, the assembly fitted or the system (tire, wheel, and support if applicable).
• Another object of the invention is to maintain the current performance of "run flat” in terms of mobility and improve other performances such as comfort, noise, rolling resistance by challenging the compromise current design of run flat tires.
• Figure 1 shows an example of the load distribution on the four wheels of a vehicle.
• the total load corresponding to the mass of the vehicle in running order, is for example 1600 DaN. This load is distributed equally between the four wheels here, that is to say that, on flat ground, each wheel carries 400 DaN.
• Called “diagonal” a pair of diagonally opposite wheels.
• the assembly consisting of the left front wheel (ANG) and the right rear wheel (ARD) constitutes the diagonal ANG-ARD and the assembly consisting of the right front wheel (AVD) and the left rear wheel (ARG) constitutes the AND-ARG diagonal.
• each diagonal carries 800 Da ⁇ . This corresponds to the "ideal" case where the ground is flat and the vehicle's suspension system is correctly adjusted.
• the method of the invention consists in acting both on the two wheels of a diagonal and more preferably on the two wheels of the diagonal whose tires are at normal pressure so that the injured diagonal is very discharged compared to the healthy diagonal.
• the method consists in using the suspension to reduce the load of the injured wheel in a lasting or only episodic manner, for example by varying the stiffness or the preload of the suspension springs (for example pneumatic) and / or the damping.
• “Episodic reduction” means a reduction which is not permanent throughout the rolling time of the injured wheel. An episodic reduction can for example make it possible to reduce the average load and / or to limit the load peaks.
• An example of a preferred semi-active suspension system is the hydro-pneumatic system (used for example on certain models of vehicles of the Citro ⁇ n brand) in which the quantity of oil can be modified to vary the suspension height.
• Another example is that of pneumatic suspensions in which, the suspension spring being pneumatic, the quantity of gas or the volume of the chamber can be modified to manage the height and / or the force transmitted.
• Another way to implement the method of the invention is to intervene via an anti-roll device on the distribution of left-right load of an axle, preferably the distribution of left-right load sound axle (i.e. the axle without the injured wheel).
• Another preferred way of implementing the method of the invention is to intervene through an anti-roll device on both the distribution of left-right axle load injured and, at the same time in the same way but conversely on the left-right load distribution of the healthy axle.
• the method of the invention consists in intervening by means of an active anti-roll device.
• an active anti-roll device is described in application WO 99/67100. This document relates to a rotary actuator controlling the torque anti-roll in the transom.
• the variation in torque in the anti-roll cross member can be controlled by varying the length of one of the links connecting the cross member to the mobile elements of the suspension. For example, this length can be changed by a telescopic screw system and electric motor.
• the leveling correctors comprise an actuator for each side of the axle, the two actuators being controlled by a single means.
• trim corrector comprising independent actuators for each side of the vehicle, to intervene on the load distribution by means of these actuators .
• Unloading a wheel via a leveling corrector may preferably consist in "raising” the body using the opposite wheel on the same axle and / or via the wheel on the same side of the axle. other axle. But it can also consist in “lowering” the body to the level of the injured wheel or the other wheel of the same diagonal. "Raising” the body generally consists of increasing the preload of a spring (for example the pressure of an air spring) while “lowering” the body generally consists of reducing the preload of the spring. Using one or the other solution can have practically the same effect on the load variation but has an entirely different effect on the attitude of the vehicle.
• the desired load variation can also be obtained by means of a screw mechanism arranged in series with the suspension spring and controlled for example by a motor. electric.
• hydraulic cylinders can replace the screw mechanism and its motor, for example according to the principle of the "Active Body Control" system used on vehicles sold under the Mercedes brand.
• Yet another way of implementing the method of the invention consists in preventing the suspension of at least one of the wheels of the injured diagonal from relaxing normally.
• a simple mechanical device such as a retractable expansion stop which only comes into action in the event of a puncture.
• This function can also be integrated into the shock absorber in which the hydraulic flow is blocked or reduced in rebound. In this way an at least episodic reduction of the charge is obtained.
• by reducing (or even eliminating) the compression damping force it is possible to obtain an advantageous reduction in load peaks and also in the average load during the period of running flat.
• Another way of implementing the method of the invention consists in providing a ratchet system (which is only activated in the event of a puncture) and which comes to maintain a stress in the suspension, taking advantage of the fact that this stress was generated punctually in the suspension during running flat (for example due to roll or any vertical movement).
• the system benefits from a large clearance which follows the detection of an insufficient pressure to limit the return to rebound and thus keep the wheel unloaded.
• a system can act through the anti-roll device.
• An advantage of such a system is that it uses the efforts and the energy of the ground connection for passive operation.
• Yet another way of implementing the method of the invention consists, on the contrary, in providing energy for a short time to modify the balance of the vehicle.
• a dedicated system can be used for this, such as a pyrotechnic element for example intended to durably lengthen one of the connecting rods of the anti-roll link, a gas cartridge in the shock absorber which modifies the balance or the release of a spring. additional (acting for example on a rod of the anti-roll system). It was found that, surprisingly, a 10% charge could allow a very interesting increase in mobility, for example well above 10% for the distance criterion or maximum permissible speed.
• the invention also relates to a system for implementing the method of the invention.
• the system of the invention comprises means for detecting the under-inflation state of a tire of the vehicle and means (such as those described above) making it possible to reduce the load carried by said tire, reducing the load being triggered by the detection of under inflation.
• the invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with the system according to the invention
• the invention can also make it possible to give conventional tires a certain extension of mobility, for example by allowing the vehicle to roll with a wheel at zero pressure for a few kilometers at reduced speed to reach a secure area where the repair or replacement of the tire. can be done without problem.
• mobility almost zero offered by a conventional tire is greatly extended.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (20)

• 2003
  • 2003-11-28 EP EP03767695A patent/EP1567369A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-11-28 WO PCT/EP2003/013397 patent/WO2004048136A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2003-11-28 JP JP2004554515A patent/JP2006507971A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-11-28 AU AU2003292149A patent/AU2003292149A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2005
  • 2005-05-27 US US11/138,690 patent/US7546763B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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