Torsion bar spring active suspension system and vehicle thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a torsion bar spring active suspension system, which is connected to a wheel assembly and includes a motor, a lead screw, a lead screw nut, a shift fork, a torsion bar spring and a swing arm. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the lead screw, and one end of the motor away from the lead screw is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body. The lead screw nut is sleeved on the lead screw, and the lead screw nut is rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork, the second end of the shift fork is fixedly connected to the first end of the torsion bar spring, the second end of the torsion bar spring is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm, and the first end of the swing arm is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body; the motor drives the lead screw to rotate, and the lead screw nut moves along the lead screw, driving the first end of the shift fork to rotate, driving the torsion bar spring connected to the second end of the shift fork to rotate, and the rotation of the torsion bar spring drives the first end of the swing arm to rotate, so that the second end of the swing arm moves vertically, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the height of the vehicle body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle suspension, in particular to a torsion bar spring active suspension system and a vehicle thereof. Background Art

[0002] Active suspension technology is currently a major focus in chassis development. Air suspension and hydraulic suspension are among the most widely used active suspension systems. The first type of active suspension solution typically utilizes components such as an actuator, a speed reducer, a buffer mechanism, a rocker arm, and a push-pull rod, along with a suspension system. The system also includes a buffer mechanism. This active suspension solution places high demands on space, requiring ample clearance around the speed reducer and buffer mechanism, and the suspension system also requires elastic elements such as coil springs or air springs. Furthermore, the system must apply force to the suspension system via rocker arms and push-pull rods, adding two additional rods and making the mechanism more complex. The second type of active suspension solution typically utilizes pressure generated by an electric hydraulic pump to drive the suspension for vertical control. This active suspension solution suffers from low hydraulic transmission efficiency and high energy consumption, requiring sufficient engine or battery power reserve. It also requires elastic elements such as coil springs or air springs.

[0003] The preceding description is intended to provide general background information and does not necessarily constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a torsion bar spring active suspension system and a vehicle thereof, which can realize vertical control of the suspension system and automatic adjustment of the vehicle height.

[0005] The present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system, which is connected to a wheel assembly and includes a motor, a transmission mechanism, a shift fork, a torsion bar spring, and a swing arm. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the transmission mechanism, an end of the motor remote from the transmission mechanism is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body, the transmission mechanism is rotatably connected to a first end of the shift fork, a second end of the shift fork is fixedly connected to a first end of the torsion bar spring, the second end of the torsion bar spring is fixedly connected to a first end of the swing arm, and the first end of the swing arm is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body.

[0006] Among them, the motor drives the transmission mechanism to move, the transmission mechanism drives the first end of the shift fork to rotate, and drives the torsion bar spring fixedly connected to the second end of the shift fork to rotate. The rotation of the torsion bar spring drives the first end of the swing arm to rotate, so that the second end of the swing arm moves vertically.

[0007] Furthermore, the transmission mechanism includes a screw and a screw nut, the output shaft of the motor is connected to the screw, the screw nut is sleeved on the screw, and the screw nut is rotatably connected to the first end of the fork. The motor drives the screw to rotate, drives the screw nut to move along the screw, and drives the first end of the fork to rotate.

[0008] Furthermore, the second end of the torsion bar spring is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm through a spline.

[0009] Furthermore, a through hole is provided at the first end of the shift fork, the middle part of the lead screw nut is sleeved on the outside of the lead screw, and the two ends of the lead screw nut pass through the through hole and are rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork to convert the linear motion of the lead screw nut along the lead screw into the rotational motion of the first end of the shift fork.

[0010] Furthermore, the second end of the shift fork is provided with a through hole, and the first end of the torsion bar spring passes through the through hole and is fixedly connected to the second end of the shift fork.

[0011] Furthermore, the second end of the swing arm includes a ball stud, the wheel assembly includes a steering knuckle, and the ball stud at the second end of the swing arm is connected to the steering knuckle of the wheel assembly.

[0012] Furthermore, a limit piece is provided on the lead screw away from the motor.

[0013] Furthermore, a connecting piece is fixedly provided on one end of the motor away from the lead screw, and the end of the motor away from the lead screw is rotationally fixed to the vehicle body through the connecting piece.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a controller and multiple sensors. The controller is connected to the motor and the sensors. The sensors feed back the collected vehicle operation information and road surface information to the controller. Based on the feedback information, the controller controls the start and stop of the motor.

[0015] The present invention further provides a vehicle comprising the above-mentioned torsion bar spring active suspension system.

[0016] The present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system, which drives the torsion bar spring through a motor and a transmission mechanism, and the torsion bar spring drives the swing arm to move, thereby realizing the active vertical movement of the torsion bar spring active suspension system and realizing automatic adjustment of the vehicle height. Among them, by controlling the torque and speed of the motor, the rotation angle of the torsion bar spring can be controlled, thereby driving the second end of the swing arm to swing up and down, and the active vertical movement of the torsion bar spring active suspension system can be realized through the active movement of the second end of the swing arm. By designing different motor control strategies, the posture control, active roll, active pitch and other scenarios of the whole vehicle can be realized, thereby improving the handling stability and smoothness of the whole vehicle. In addition, the present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system, which also solves the problem that the existing active suspension scheme has a complex structure and high requirements for layout. Since the layout space next to the wheel of a passenger car is very limited, it is very necessary to simplify the structure of the active suspension for the research and development of the active suspension. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the connection structure between the torsion bar spring active suspension system and the wheel assembly;

[0018] Figure 2Schematic diagram of the structure of the torsion bar spring active suspension system;

[0019] Figure 3 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of the connection between the shift fork, the lead screw nut and the lead screw;

[0020] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the controller and sensor structure of the torsion bar spring active suspension system.

[0021] In the figure, 1. wheel assembly; 2. motor; 3. screw; 4. screw nut; 5. shift fork; 6. swing arm; 7. torsion bar spring; 8. limiter; 9. connector; 11. steering knuckle; 34. transmission mechanism; 51. through hole; 52. through hole; 61. ball stud. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0023] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system connected to a wheel assembly 1 and comprising a motor 2, a transmission mechanism 34, a shift fork 5, a torsion bar spring 7, and a swing arm 6. The output shaft of the motor 2 is connected to the transmission mechanism 34 and drives the transmission mechanism 34 to move. The end of the motor 2, remote from the transmission mechanism 34, is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body. The transmission mechanism 34 is rotatably connected to the shift fork 5, and the shift fork 5, the torsion bar spring 7, and the swing arm 6 are, in turn, fixedly connected. More specifically, the transmission mechanism 34 is rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork 5, and movement of the transmission mechanism 34 drives the first end of the shift fork 5 to rotate. The second end of the shift fork 5 is fixedly connected to the first end of the torsion bar spring 7, so that rotation of the first end of the shift fork 5 drives rotation of the torsion bar spring 7, which is fixedly connected to the second end of the shift fork 5. The second end of the torsion bar spring 7 is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm 6, and the first end of the swing arm 6 is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body. Rotation of the torsion bar spring 7 drives rotation of the first end of the swing arm 6, causing the second end of the swing arm 6 to move vertically, thereby driving vertical movement of the wheel assembly 1. In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism 34 is a screw drive mechanism, comprising a screw 3 and a screw nut 4, which is sleeved onto the screw 3. The torsion bar spring 7, made of spring steel such as 50CrV, inherently supports the suspension system and provides cushioning, eliminating the need for additional spring elements in the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention. The swing arm 6 can be any of a variety of suspension systems, including a McPherson strut, double wishbone, three-link, four-link, five-link, or H-arm rear suspension. It should be understood that the transmission mechanism 34 in this embodiment is not limited to a screw drive mechanism and can also be other structures for reducing speed and increasing torque, such as a worm gear mechanism or a planetary gear mechanism.

[0024] See also Figure 1-Figure 3 The output shaft of motor 2 is connected to lead screw 3, and the end of motor 2 away from lead screw 3 is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body. More specifically, a connector 9 is fixedly provided at the end of motor 2 away from lead screw 3, and the end of motor 2 away from lead screw 3 is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body via connector 9. Lead screw nut 4 is rotatably connected to the first end of shift fork 5. More specifically, a threaded hole is provided in the middle of lead screw nut 4 for passage of lead screw 3, and a through-hole 51 is provided at the first end of shift fork 5. Both ends of lead screw nut 4 pass through through-hole 51 and are rotatably connected to the first end of shift fork 5, thereby converting the linear motion of lead screw nut 4 along lead screw 3 into rotational motion of the first end of shift fork 5. The second end of shift fork 5 is fixedly connected to the first end of torsion bar spring 7. More specifically, a through-hole 52 is provided at the second end of shift fork 5, and the first end of torsion bar spring 7 passes through through-hole 52 and is fixedly connected to the second end of shift fork 5. The second end of torsion bar spring 7 is fixedly connected to the first end of swing arm 6, and the first end of swing arm 6 is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body. More specifically, the second end of the torsion bar spring 7 is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm 6 via a spline (not shown) to better transmit mechanical torque. The first end of the swing arm 6, near the torsion bar spring 7, is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body via bolts or a hinged connection. The first end of the swing arm 6, away from the torsion bar spring 7, is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body via a bushing (not shown). The second end of the swing arm 6 is connected to the wheel assembly 1.

[0025] Because the first end of the swing arm 6 and the end of the motor 2 away from the lead screw 3 are both rotatably fixed to the vehicle body, the height position of the first end of the swing arm 6 relative to the vehicle body remains unchanged, using the first end of the swing arm 6, which is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body, as a reference. Consequently, the height position of the torsion bar spring 7, which is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm 6, relative to the vehicle body remains unchanged. Consequently, the height position of the second end of the shift fork 5, which is fixedly connected to the first end of the torsion bar spring 7, relative to the vehicle body remains unchanged. When the motor 2 is started, the output shaft of the motor 2 drives the lead screw 3 to rotate, causing the lead screw nut 4 to move linearly along the lead screw 3. Because the torsion bar spring 7 has a certain stiffness, it can be assumed that the height of the torsion bar spring 7 relative to the vehicle body remains unchanged, so that the height position of the second end of the shift fork 5 (i.e., the end away from the screw nut 4) relative to the vehicle body remains unchanged. The linear motion of the screw nut 4 along the screw 3 can be converted into rotational motion of the first end of the shift fork 5, thereby driving the second end of the shift fork 5 to rotate, and the torsion bar spring 7 connected to the second end of the shift fork 5 to rotate. The rotation of the torsion bar spring 7 in turn drives the first end of the swing arm 6 to rotate. Since the first end of the swing arm 6 is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body, the second end of the swing arm 6 can move vertically relative to the vehicle body. The second end of the swing arm 6 is connected to the wheel assembly 1, driving the wheel assembly 1 to move vertically relative to the vehicle body, thereby adjusting the vehicle body ground clearance.

[0026] The main design parameters of the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention are as follows:

[0027] The formula for calculating wheel centrifugal force is:

[0028]

[0029] Wherein, T is the torque of the motor 2, which is 20 N·m in this embodiment;

[0030] γ is the efficiency of the screw transmission mechanism, which is 95% in this embodiment;

[0031] L1 is the distance from the rotation center of the swing arm 6 (the first end of the swing arm 6) to the wheel center of the wheel assembly 1, which is 440 mm in this embodiment;

[0032] L2 is the length of the fork 5, which is 170 mm in this embodiment;

[0033] P is the lead of the screw transmission mechanism, that is, the linear distance traveled by the screw nut 4 when the screw nut 4 rotates one circle, which is 5 mm in this embodiment;

[0034] According to calculations, the maximum wheel force that this solution can provide is 9220N, which can meet the needs of most passenger cars. Compared with other active suspension structures, based on the same motor torque, the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention can achieve a larger wheel force output, provide greater roll angle or pitch angle control, and has a wider range of applications, suitable for vehicles with larger loads. If there is a different demand for wheel force, it can be achieved by adjusting the following parameters: (1) adjusting the output torque T of motor 2; (2) adjusting the length L2 of fork 5 to adjust the lever ratio; (3) adjusting the lead of the screw drive mechanism to adjust the transmission ratio.

[0035] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second end of the swing arm 6 includes a ball stud 61 , and the wheel assembly 1 includes a steering knuckle 11 . The ball stud 61 at the second end of the swing arm 6 is connected to the steering knuckle 11 of the wheel assembly 1 .

[0036] Please continue reading Figure 1 and Figure 2 A limit member 8 is provided at one end of the lead screw 3 away from the motor 2 to prevent the lead screw nut 4 from sliding off the lead screw 3 .

[0037] See also Figure 4The torsion bar spring active suspension system provided by the present invention also includes a controller and multiple sensors. The controller is connected to motor 2 and the sensors. The sensors feed back collected vehicle operating and road surface information to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller controls the on / off operation of motor 2. In this embodiment, the sensors include various sensors such as a suspension height sensor, a vehicle acceleration sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and a rain sensor.

[0038] When using the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention, combined with signal inputs from various sensors such as the suspension height sensor and the vehicle acceleration sensor, a controller determines the vehicle's operating information. For example, if the controller detects that the vehicle body is rolling while turning, it issues a command to motor 2, which then outputs torque. This torque is transmitted through transmission mechanism 34, swing arm 6, and wheel assembly 1 to achieve reverse control of the vehicle body, reduce ground clearance, and restore vehicle balance. As the vehicle exits the turn, the sensor detects the vehicle body posture signal and reduces the torque output of motor 2 to maintain vehicle stability. Therefore, using the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention, the vehicle can achieve active roll and pitch, improving the vehicle's handling stability and ride comfort.

[0039] Furthermore, the torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention enables vertical motion control of the suspension system, enabling automatic vehicle height adjustment, thereby setting a different vehicle height based on different road conditions. Specifically, when the vehicle is traveling on a rough road, the vehicle body vibration is detected by the body acceleration sensor. Based on the signal, the controller determines that the vehicle is navigating a bumpy off-road surface and controls the torsion bar spring active suspension system to raise the vehicle body, improving vehicle maneuverability. When the vehicle is traveling on a highway, the controller determines that the vehicle is traveling on a smooth highway using the wheel speed sensor and controls the torsion bar spring active suspension system to lower the vehicle body, reducing wind resistance and fuel consumption. Furthermore, when passengers are getting on and off the vehicle, the torsion bar spring active suspension system can be controlled to adjust the vehicle height to different levels, facilitating boarding and disembarking, as well as the retrieval of items. When the vehicle is parked outdoors, the controller detects heavy rain through the rain sensor and controls the torsion bar spring active suspension system to raise the vehicle body to prevent water immersion.

[0040] The torsion bar spring active suspension system of the present invention can also utilize a voice recognition system, with the controller responding accordingly to the recognized voice or music. For example, the vehicle body can be controlled to perform feedback control according to the rhythm of the music, thus realizing various application scenarios.

[0041] In summary, the present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system that drives the torsion bar spring 7 via a motor 2 and a transmission mechanism 34. The torsion bar spring 7 drives the swing arm 6 to move, thereby achieving active vertical movement of the torsion bar spring active suspension system and enabling automatic vehicle height adjustment. By controlling the torque and speed of the motor 2, the rotation angle of the torsion bar spring 7 can be controlled, thereby driving the second end of the swing arm 6 to swing up and down. The active movement of the second end of the swing arm 6 enables active vertical movement of the torsion bar spring active suspension system, driving the vertical movement of the wheel assembly 1 and adjusting the vehicle ground clearance. Furthermore, by designing different motor control strategies, vehicle posture control, active roll, and active pitch can be implemented, improving vehicle handling and ride quality. Furthermore, the present invention provides a torsion bar spring active suspension system that addresses the complex structure and high layout requirements of existing active suspension solutions. Because the layout space around the wheels of passenger vehicles is very limited, simplifying the structure of the active suspension is essential for its development.

[0042] The present invention further provides a vehicle comprising the above-mentioned torsion bar spring active suspension system.

[0043] In this document, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed, removable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediary; and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms based on specific circumstances.

[0044] In this article, the sequential adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc. used to describe elements are only used to distinguish elements with similar attributes, and do not mean that the elements described in this way must follow a given order, or be subject to time, space, level or other restrictions.

[0045] In this document, the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "far", "near", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "vertical", and "horizontal" are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the clarity of the technical solution and the convenience of description, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0046] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion of elements other than the listed elements and may also include additional elements not specifically listed.

[0047] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A torsion bar spring active suspension system connected to a wheel assembly (1), characterized in that: The invention comprises a motor (2), a transmission mechanism (34), a shift fork (5), a torsion bar spring (7) and a swing arm (6), wherein the output shaft of the motor (2) is connected to the transmission mechanism (34), one end of the motor (2) away from the transmission mechanism (34) is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body, the transmission mechanism (34) is rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork (5), the second end of the shift fork (5) is fixedly connected to the first end of the torsion bar spring (7), the second end of the torsion bar spring (7) is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm (6), and the first end of the swing arm (6) is rotatably fixed to the vehicle body; The motor (2) drives the transmission mechanism (34) to move, the transmission mechanism (34) drives the first end of the shift fork (5) to rotate, drives the torsion bar spring (7) fixedly connected to the second end of the shift fork (5) to rotate, and the rotation of the torsion bar spring (7) drives the first end of the swing arm (6) to rotate, so that the second end of the swing arm (6) moves vertically; the transmission mechanism (34) includes a lead screw (3) and a lead screw nut (4), the output shaft of the motor (2) is connected to the lead screw (3), the lead screw nut (4) is sleeved on the lead screw (3), and the lead screw nut (4) is rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork (5), the motor (2) drives the lead screw (3) to rotate, drives the lead screw nut (4) to move along the lead screw (3), and drives the first end of the shift fork (5) to rotate.

2. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second end of the torsion bar spring (7) is fixedly connected to the first end of the swing arm (6) via a spline.

3. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end of the shift fork (5) is provided with a through hole (51), the middle portion of the lead screw nut (4) is sleeved on the outside of the lead screw (3), and both ends of the lead screw nut (4) pass through the through hole (51) and are rotatably connected to the first end of the shift fork (5), so as to convert the linear motion of the lead screw nut (4) along the lead screw (3) into the rotational motion of the first end of the shift fork (5).

4. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second end of the shift fork (5) is provided with a through hole (52), and the first end of the torsion bar spring (7) passes through the through hole (52) and is fixedly connected to the second end of the shift fork (5).

5. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second end of the swing arm (6) includes a ball stud (61), the wheel assembly (1) includes a steering knuckle (11), and the ball stud (61) at the second end of the swing arm (6) is connected to the steering knuckle (11) of the wheel assembly (1).

6. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A limiting member (8) is provided on the lead screw (3) away from the motor (2).

7. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting member (9) is fixedly provided at one end of the motor (2) away from the lead screw (3), and the end of the motor (2) away from the lead screw (3) is rotationally fixed to the vehicle body via the connecting member (9).

8. The torsion bar spring active suspension system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a controller and a plurality of sensors. The controller is connected to the motor (2) and the sensors. The sensors feed back collected vehicle operation information and road surface information to the controller. Based on the feedback information, the controller controls the motor (2) to start and stop.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that: The invention comprises a torsion bar spring active suspension system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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