GB1208151A - Cross-country vehicle of adjustable ground clearance - Google Patents

Abstract

1,208,151. Variable height suspensions for vehicles. DEMAG BAUMASCHINEN G.m.b.H. 8 Jan., 1968 [27 May, 1967], No. 1079/68. Heading B7D. A cross-country vehicle of adjustable ground clearance has each of four driven wheels independently mounted, each mounting comprising a bell crank lever pivoted at 12 to the vehicle chassis and mounting on its longer arm 4b the wheel 11, and wherein the shorter arm 4a contacts a follower 6c slidable in a sleeve 6b, a first spring 6a extending between a plate 6f located on a rod 6d secured to arm 4a, and a face of the follower, and a second spring being located between an end face of the sleeve and the opposite face of the follower, such that to adjust ground clearance a fluid piston/cylinder unit 7 is actuated which slides sleeve 6b in grooves 9 with the result that the bell crank lever rotates. Shocks are absorbed by piston/ cylinder unit 5 comprising a rod 5a secured to rod 6d which extends from a soft elastomeric material piston in a cylinder 5c connected with sleeve 6b. An hydraulic piston/cylinder unit 8 is connected between chassis 10 and arm 4b. In normal operation fluid flows between opposing ends of the piston through pipes 17, but to prevent overloading of springs 6a, 6e due to an off-centre load this unit may provide a rigid connection between the chassis and arm 4b by closing valve 14 in the pipe 17.