Suspension system and vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a suspension system and a vehicle, which can meet the functional requirements of an electric wheel. The suspension system comprises a rotary support, a cantilever assembly and a support with a rotary interface. The rotary support is used for connecting a frame of the vehicle. The rotary support is connected to the rotary interface of the support. The support is connected to a transmission shaft of a steering system through the rotary interface and / or the rotary support, so that the support rotates relative to the frame along with the transmission shaft. One end of the cantilever assembly is rotatably connected to the support, and the other end is used for rotatably connecting a wheel. The cantilever assembly can realize 360-degree relative steering between the frame and the wheel, can play the characteristics that each wheel of the electric wheel can be controlled individually, and can realize various driving modes such as oblique driving, lateral driving and in-place steering of the whole vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more specifically to a suspension system and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With social development and technological advancements, automobiles have become an indispensable means of transportation in people's daily lives. The suspension system is a general term for all force-transmitting connections between the vehicle's frame and axles or wheels. Its function is to transmit the forces and torques acting between the wheels and the frame, buffer the impact forces transmitted from uneven road surfaces to the frame or body, and dampen the resulting vibrations to ensure a smooth ride. To meet the needs of passengers for ride and driving comfort, structural characteristics have become one of the most important features of automobiles. Currently, the suspension system mainly consists of elastic elements, guiding mechanisms, shock absorbers, and other components.

[0003] In traditional vehicles, engine power is transmitted to the wheels through a series of transmission devices and drive shafts. Suspension systems must be designed to avoid these transmission components, occupying considerable space and resulting in poor versatility. New energy vehicles represent the future of automotive development, and electric wheels are one technological approach. Electric wheels can eliminate many transmission components, providing more space for batteries and other auxiliary mechanisms. Each wheel can be individually controlled, enabling complex drive configurations. However, existing suspension systems cannot fully utilize the advantages of electric wheels. Developing a suspension system that is suitable for and leverages the advantages of electric wheels is an urgent task. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a suspension system and vehicle capable of 360° relative steering between the frame and wheels, thus meeting the installation and operational requirements of electric wheels.

[0005] The solution to achieve the technical objective of this invention is a suspension system, comprising:

[0006] Support with a swivel joint;

[0007] The cantilever assembly has one end rotatably connected to the support, and the other end rotatably connected to the wheel;

[0008] A slewing support is used to connect to the vehicle frame. The slewing support is connected to the slewing interface of the support. The support is connected to the drive shaft of the steering system through the slewing interface and / or the slewing support, so that the cantilever assembly rotates relative to the frame with the drive shaft.

[0009] In some embodiments, the slewing support has an inner ring and an outer ring that can rotate relative to each other; one of the outer ring and the inner ring is connected to the frame, and the other is connected to the slewing interface of the support, and the slewing interface and / or the inner ring connected to the slewing interface is connected to the drive shaft of the steering system.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner ring includes a rotating shaft and a connecting edge connected to the periphery of the rotating shaft; the outer ring has a stepped hole, the rotating shaft extends into the stepped hole, and the connecting edge is positioned by the shoulder of the stepped hole;

[0011] The slewing support also includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers, which are disposed between the slewing shaft and the wall of the stepped hole along the radial direction of the slewing support.

[0012] In some embodiments, the connecting edge and the shoulder of the hole are respectively provided with countersunk grooves; the slewing support further includes a bearing roller and an annular retainer, the retainer being provided with a plurality of first mounting positions spaced apart along the circumference; the bearing roller is disposed at the first mounting position and rotatably engages with two countersunk grooves located on both sides of the retainer; the axial direction of the bearing roller is arranged along the radial direction of the retainer.

[0013] In some embodiments, the outer ring has a central through hole, and the central through hole forms the stepped hole at both axial ends of the outer ring;

[0014] The number of inner rings is two, and the two inner rings are respectively installed at both ends of the outer ring; a plurality of second mounting positions are provided at intervals on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft of the two inner rings, and each cylindrical roller is simultaneously installed in the second mounting position of the two inner rings.

[0015] In some embodiments, the support includes a body having a first part and a second part arranged at an angle, the first part being located above the second part; the slewing interface is disposed on the first part, the cantilever assembly is rotatably connected to the second part, and the slewing interface and the cantilever assembly are located on the same side of the second part.

[0016] In some embodiments, the support further includes a cover plate connected to the body, the cover plate and the body forming a pipeline arrangement cavity, the pipeline arrangement cavity and the rotary interface being respectively located on two opposite sides of the second part; the rotary interface has an arrangement through hole for pipelines to pass through; the support is provided with at least two wire passages communicating with the pipeline arrangement cavity, the wire passages leading to the side where the rotary interface is located.

[0017] In some embodiments, the suspension system further includes a gas spring, and the second part is provided with a cantilever mounting interface and a gas spring mounting interface for mounting the cantilever assembly and the gas spring respectively; along the height direction of the support, the cantilever mounting interface, the gas spring mounting interface and the slewing interface are arranged sequentially from bottom to top; one end of the gas spring is rotatably connected to the gas spring mounting interface, and the other end is rotatably connected to the cantilever assembly or used to rotatably connect to the wheel, and the gas spring and the cantilever assembly are located on the same side of the second part.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cantilever assembly includes an upper arm assembly and a lower arm assembly, the two ends of which are rotatably connected to the support and the wheel respectively via pins; the gas spring is rotatably connected to the upper arm assembly.

[0019] The upper arm assembly includes two upper arms that are disposed opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle; the lower arm assembly includes two lower arms that are disposed opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle.

[0020] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention also provides a vehicle, comprising,

[0021] Frame;

[0022] In the aforementioned suspension system, the slewing support is connected to the vehicle frame, and the slewing interface of the support is connected to the slewing support.

[0023] A transmission system includes a drive shaft; the drive shaft is connected to the support via the rotary interface and / or the rotary support member, so that the support rotates coaxially with the drive shaft and can rotate relative to the frame.

[0024] The wheel is rotatably connected to the cantilever assembly.

[0025] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the suspension system provided by the present invention includes a slewing support, a support, and a cantilever assembly. The connection of the slewing support, support, and cantilever assembly forms a structural component that can be connected to the wheels, frame, and steering system. The slewing support is used to connect to the vehicle frame. The slewing support is connected to the slewing interface of the support. The support is connected to the drive shaft of the steering system through the slewing interface and / or the slewing support, so that the cantilever assembly rotates relative to the frame with the drive shaft. On the one hand, the slewing support transmits the force exerted by the ground on the wheels and support to the frame. The loads on the frame and its superstructure, as well as the force exerted by the ground on the tires when the vehicle is in motion, are all transmitted through the support and slewing support. It is an important load-bearing component of the suspension system. All load forces and torques are transmitted through the support or slewing support. The steering system only outputs steering torque, and the high-strength, high-rigidity frame ensures its strength. On the other hand, under the action of the support and slewing support, the support connected to the cantilever assembly can rotate relative to the frame with the drive shaft, thereby causing the cantilever assembly to drive the wheels to rotate relative to the frame. This application, through the joint design of the suspension system, frame, and steering system, and the optimization of the connection method, enables the vehicle to achieve a maximum 360° steering function between the frame and the wheels, and can take advantage of the characteristic that each electric wheel can be controlled independently, realizing multiple driving modes such as diagonal driving, lateral driving, and stationary turning.

[0026] The suspension system provided in this application, designed in conjunction with a steer-by-wire mechanism, can adapt to and leverage the advantages of electric wheels. Compared to existing technologies where the suspension is directly connected and fixed to the vehicle frame, and the wheels are driven to rotate relative to the suspension and frame through cantilever assemblies, transmission components, and universal joints to achieve steering functions, this application can achieve special driving functions that traditional vehicles cannot. The suspension system provided in this application has a compact structure and occupies little space. The entire vehicle only needs to be equipped with one suspension system, and each wheel can be connected to the steering system through one suspension system provided in this solution. This allows for modular design, production, installation, and replacement, and has strong scalability, versatility, and adaptability. It is particularly suitable for medium and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with electric wheels. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the suspension system and the wheel provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the suspension system provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention connected to the wheel and the vehicle frame;

[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the suspension system and the frame and steering system in the vehicle.

[0030] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the suspension system supports;

[0031] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Another perspective diagram of the support;

[0032] Figure 6 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the slewing support component of the suspension system in the image.

[0033] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the inner ring on the left side of the slewing support component;

[0034] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Another perspective view of the inner circle;

[0035] Figure 9 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the inner ring on the right side of the slewing support component;

[0036] Figure 10 for Figure 9 Another perspective view of the inner circle;

[0037] Figure 11 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the outer ring structure of the slewing support component in the middle;

[0038] Figure 12 for Figure 9 Another perspective view of the outer ring;

[0039] Figure 13 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the upper arm assembly of the suspension system in the diagram;

[0040] Figure 14 for Figure 13 An exploded view of the upper arm assembly.

[0041] Figure 15 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the lower arm assembly of the suspension system in the diagram;

[0042] Figure 16 for Figure 15 An exploded view of the lower arm assembly.

[0043] Figure 17 for Figure 2 Diagram showing the connection between the central suspension system and the vehicle frame;

[0044] Figure 18This is a schematic diagram of the piping arrangement in the suspension system;

[0045] Figure 19 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the suspension system applied to four-wheeled medium and heavy vehicles;

[0046] Figure 20 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the suspension system in a low-position driving state.

[0047] Figure 21 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the high-position driving state of the suspension system in the middle;

[0048] Figure 22 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the slope adaptability of the suspension system in the diagram;

[0049] Figure 23 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the suspension system during oblique driving.

[0050] Figure 24 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the lateral movement of the suspension system in the diagram;

[0051] Figure 25 for Figure 19 A schematic diagram of the suspension system's in-situ steering.

[0052] Figure labeling: 1000 - Suspension system.

[0053] 100-Support, 110-Body, 111-First part, 112-Second part, 113-Base plate, 114-Outer side plate, 120-Rotating interface, 121-Through hole, 122-Mounting hole, 123-Neck wire hole, 130-Cover plate, 140-Pipe arrangement cavity, 150-Wire passage, 160-Cantilever mounting interface, 170-Gas spring mounting interface;

[0054] 200-Slewing support, 210-Inner ring, 211-Slewing shaft, 212-Connecting edge, 213-Second mounting position, 220-Outer ring, 230-Cylindrical roller, 240-Bearing roller, 250-Cage, 251-First mounting position, 260-Counterpart, 270-Locking pin, 280-Connecting hole;

[0055] 300-Cantilever assembly, 301-First bushing, 302-Second bushing, 303-Dust seal, 304-Washer, 305-Retaining ring, 306-Nut, 307-Cotter pin, 308-Lubrication nozzle; 310-Upper arm assembly, 311-Upper arm, 312-Upper arm pin, 313-Mounting base, 320-Lower arm assembly, 321-Lower arm, 322-Lower arm pin, 323-Connecting sleeve;

[0056] 400 - Gas spring; 500 - Connector; 600 - Piping;

[0057] 2000 - Wheels; 3000 - Frame; 4000 - Steering system; 40 - Drive shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0058] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand this application, the technical solution of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0059] To address the technical problem that existing suspension systems cannot meet the usage requirements of vehicles with electric wheels, this invention provides a suspension system and vehicle capable of 360° relative steering between the chassis and wheels. It leverages the individual controllability of each electric wheel to achieve various driving modes, including oblique driving, lateral driving, and stationary turning. The invention is further detailed below through two specific embodiments:

[0060] Example 1

[0061] In the existing technology, the traditional suspension is directly connected and fixed to the frame 3000, and the wheels 2000 are driven to rotate relative to the suspension and the frame 3000 through the action of structural components such as cantilever arms, transmission components and universal joints to achieve steering. Since the suspension is fixed to the frame 3000 and cannot rotate relative to it, the range of motion of the wheels 2000 relative to the suspension is limited, which means that traditional vehicles cannot achieve special driving functions. At the same time, the suspension system 1000 needs to be designed to avoid the transmission device between the wheels 2000 and the vehicle body. The suspension often occupies a lot of space and has poor versatility.

[0062] like Figures 1-16As shown, the suspension system 1000 provided in this embodiment includes a slewing support 200, a support 100, and a cantilever assembly 300. The support 100 has a slewing interface 120. One end of the cantilever assembly 300 is rotatably connected to the support 100, and the other end is rotatably connected to a wheel 2000. The slewing support is used to connect to the vehicle frame. The slewing support is connected to the slewing interface of the support. The support is connected to the drive shaft of the steering system through the slewing interface and / or the slewing support, so that the cantilever assembly rotates relative to the frame with the drive shaft. The connection of the slewing support 200, the support 100, and the cantilever assembly 300... This structure forms a universal structural component that can be connected to the wheel 2000, frame 3000, and steering system 4000. The slewing support 200 transmits the forces exerted by the ground on the wheel 2000 and support 100 to the frame 3000. The loads on the frame 3000 and its superstructure, as well as the forces exerted by the ground on the tires during vehicle movement, are all transmitted through the support 100 and slewing support 200. The frame 3000 is a crucial load-bearing component of the suspension system 1000. All load forces and torques are transmitted through the slewing interface 120 and slewing support 200. The steering system 4000 only outputs steering torque, and the high-strength, high-rigidity frame 3000 ensures its structural strength. Simultaneously, under the action of the support and slewing support, the support connected to the cantilever assembly can rotate relative to the frame with the drive shaft, thereby causing the cantilever assembly to drive the wheel to rotate relative to the frame. This application integrates the suspension system 1000, the frame 3000, and the steering system 4000, and optimizes the connection method. The slewing support 200 enables the vehicle to achieve 360° steering between the frame 3000 and the wheels 2000. It also leverages the feature that each wheel of the electric wheel can be controlled independently, enabling multiple driving modes such as diagonal driving, lateral driving, and stationary turning.

[0063] The suspension system 1000 provided in this application is designed to work in conjunction with a steer-by-wire mechanism, enabling it to utilize and leverage the advantages of electric wheels. The suspension system 1000 is compact and occupies little space; the entire vehicle only needs to be equipped with one type of suspension system 1000. Each wheel 2000 can be connected to the steering system 4000 via one suspension system 1000 provided in this solution, achieving modular design, production, installation, and replacement. It possesses strong scalability, versatility, and adaptability, and is particularly suitable for medium and heavy-duty vehicles equipped with electric wheels.

[0064] It should be noted that this application does not limit the specific structure of the slewing interface and the slewing support. To enable the cantilever assembly to drive the wheels to rotate relative to the frame, it is only necessary to ensure that the part or the entire structure of the support connected to the cantilever assembly can rotate coaxially with the drive shaft. As an optional implementation, the slewing interface or the slewing support can have two relatively rotatable parts to achieve the technical objective of this invention. This invention does not specifically limit the optional implementation methods.

[0065] For example, in some embodiments, the rotary interface includes an inner ring and an outer ring that can rotate relative to each other. The body of the support is integrally formed with the inner ring. After the inner ring is connected to the drive shaft, the body and the cantilever assembly on the body can rotate coaxially with the drive shaft. The outer ring of the rotary interface is connected to the bracket through a rotary support member to improve the overall strength.

[0066] Considering the advantages of modular production, manufacturing, subsequent maintenance, and modular expansion when applied to vehicles, designing the swivel interface of the support as a relatively rotatable structure would require additional machining of mounting ports for other components. Furthermore, if the internal rotatable structure fails, repairing or replacing the swivel interface would necessitate complete disassembly, hindering modularity. As one preferred embodiment, the swivel support 200 includes a relatively rotatable inner ring 210 and an outer ring 220. One of the outer ring 220 and the inner ring 210 is connected to the frame 3000, and the other is connected to the swivel interface 120 of the support 100. The swivel interface 120 and / or the inner ring 2100 connected to the swivel interface 120 are connected to the drive shaft 40 of the steering system 4000. With the rotational engagement of the inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220, the support 100 can rotate relative to the frame 3000 along with the drive shaft 40. Furthermore, since the slewing support and the bearing are two independent components, they do not affect each other during use. Both the bearing and the slewing support can be manufactured and used in a modular manner.

[0067] It should be noted that when the outer ring of the slewing support is connected to the frame, the support can be connected to the drive shaft through the slewing interface and / or the inner ring of the slewing support connected to the slewing interface. When the inner ring of the slewing support is fixedly connected to the frame through a connector, the support is connected to the outer ring of the slewing support. Since the drive shaft can only be coaxial with the slewing support, the support can only be fixedly connected to the drive shaft through the slewing interface so that the support can rotate relative to the frame with the drive shaft.

[0068] The slewing support 200, as a structural component that transmits load forces and moments, in order to achieve relative rotation of its own structure while ensuring strong radial load-bearing capacity, in some embodiments, such as... Figures 6-12As shown, the inner ring 210 includes a rotating shaft 211 and a connecting edge 212 connected to the periphery of the rotating shaft 211; the outer ring 220 has a stepped hole, into which the rotating shaft 211 extends, and the connecting edge 212 is positioned by the shoulder of the stepped hole; the rotary support 200 also includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers 230 arranged radially between the rotating shaft 211 and the hole wall of the stepped hole. The hole wall of the outer ring 220, the cylindrical rollers 230, and the rotating shaft 211 of the inner ring 210 cooperate together to form a radial constraint pair, which gives the rotary support 200 a strong load-bearing capacity in the radial direction.

[0069] Similarly, in order to enable the slewing support 200 to have a strong axial load bearing capacity, in some embodiments, the connecting edge 212 and the shoulder of the hole are respectively provided with countersunk grooves 260, and the two circumferential grooves of the outer ring 220 and the inner ring 210 cooperate to form a certain amount of movement space. For example Figure 6 As shown, the slewing support 200 also includes a bearing roller 240 and an annular retainer 250. The retainer 250 is provided with a plurality of first mounting positions 251 spaced apart along the circumference. The bearing roller 240 is located at the first mounting position 251 and is rotatably engaged with two recesses 260 located on both sides of the retainer 250. The axial direction of the bearing roller 240 is arranged along the radial direction of the retainer 250. The bearing roller 240 is first installed on the retainer 250 and then assembled into the recess along with the retainer 250. The groove on the connecting edge 212 of the inner ring 210, the bearing roller 240 and the groove on the shoulder of the outer ring 220 cooperate to form an end face axial constraint pair.

[0070] This embodiment does not specifically limit the installation method of the cylindrical rollers 230. A second mounting position 213 for accommodating some of the cylindrical rollers 230 can be opened on the hole wall of the outer ring 220 or on the rotating shaft 211 of the inner ring 210, so that multiple cylindrical rollers 230 are distributed circumferentially at intervals in a shape that is axially parallel to the center of the rotating shaft of the rotating support 200, so as to bear the load evenly.

[0071] To further improve the axial load-bearing capacity of the slewing support 200, in a preferred embodiment, the outer ring 220 has a central through hole, and the central through hole forms stepped holes at both axial ends of the outer ring 220. There are two inner rings 210, which are respectively installed in the stepped holes at both ends of the outer ring 220 and positioned axially. In one embodiment, multiple second mounting positions 213 are spaced apart on the outer circumferential surface of the slewing shaft 211 of the two inner rings 210. Each cylindrical roller 230 is simultaneously disposed in the second mounting position 213 of the two inner rings 210. The cylindrical rollers 230, the second mounting positions 213, and the inner hole of the outer ring 220 are rotatably engaged, so that the two inner rings 210 rotate coaxially together via the transmission of the cylindrical rollers 230. In this embodiment, the inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220 can rotate relative to each other along the rotation axis 211, with no displacement degrees of freedom in the radial and axial directions. They can simultaneously bear large axial and radial loads, resulting in high load-bearing capacity. The inner ring 210 and the outer ring 220 use rollers as the relative motion connection method. When the suspension system 1000 rotates around the rotation support 200, the resistance is small, and the steering is easy. The steering system 4000, which is integrated with it, requires low torque and low power.

[0072] This embodiment does not specifically limit the load-bearing roller 240; cylindrical rollers 230, tapered rollers, etc., can be selected according to requirements.

[0073] like Figure 6 As shown, this embodiment does not specifically limit the method of fixing the two inner rings 210 to the outer ring 220. In order to ensure axial positioning and coaxial rotation of the two inner rings 210, and to simplify the structure, the rotating shaft 211 is provided with a through connecting hole 280 for selectively installing a positioning pin 270 or a connector 500 (such as a bolt). The two inner rings 210 are connected by the positioning pin 270 that is interference-fitted with the connecting hole 280 to achieve axial fixation, so that the two inner rings 210 are installed at both ends of the outer ring 220. No other connection or fastening is required between the inner rings 210 and the outer ring 220. Preferably, the connecting holes 280 are evenly spaced along the circumference of the inner rings 210.

[0074] This embodiment does not specifically limit the connection method of the drive shaft 40, the rotary interface 120, and the rotary support 200. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 40 can be connected to only one of the rotary interface 120 and the rotary support 200 through the connector 500, or the support 100 and the rotary support 200 can be axially positioned and connected through the same connector 500. That is, in some embodiments, a ring of mounting holes 122 can be provided on the rotary interface 120, and the number of connecting holes 280 on the inner ring 210 is also one ring. In this case, the threaded fastener (connector 500) passes through the connecting holes 280 of the inner ring 210 of the drive shaft 40 and the mounting holes 122 of the rotary support 200 in sequence and is tightened. In other embodiments, the mounting holes 122 on the rotary interface 120 can be two rings. In this case, the mounting holes 122 on the inner ring of the rotary interface 120 are used to install threaded fasteners for connecting the drive shaft 40. The drive shaft 40 passes through the center hole of the rotary support and abuts against the rotary interface, and is connected and fixed by the connector 500. The mounting holes 122 on the outer ring are used to install threaded fasteners for connecting the rotary support 200. Figure 17 Of the two rings of connectors 500 shown, the inner ring of connectors 500 passes through the mounting hole 122 on the outer periphery of the rotary interface 120 to connect the rotary interface 120 and the inner ring 210 of the rotary support 200, while the outer ring of connectors 500 connects the frame 3000 and the outer ring 220 of the rotary support 200.

[0075] To avoid friction between the support and the slewing support during rotation, in this embodiment, the center of the slewing interface is a boss structure. The innermost of the two rings of connecting holes 122 in the slewing interface 120 is located on the boss structure, so that the slewing support is fixedly connected to the outer ring of the frame and does not contact the top surface of the slewing interface.

[0076] In this embodiment, the connecting holes 280 evenly distributed radially in the axial space of the slewing support 200 are used to fix the inner ring 210, the support 100 and the flange end of the drive shaft 40 of the steer-by-wire system together through the connector 500, and connect the outer ring 220 to the frame 3000. The suspension system 1000 can rotate relative to the frame 3000 through the slewing support 200. The steer-by-wire system 4000 does not bear the load force, but only provides the steering torque. The suspension system 1000 has high load-bearing capacity.

[0077] In this embodiment, the drive shaft 40 passes through the inner ring 210 of the slewing support 200 and then connects to the slewing interface 120. The structures of the two inner rings 210 are somewhat different. In the slewing support 200, the end of the inner ring 210 that is farther away from the support 100 has a concave structure at one end of the outer ring 220. That is, the axial end face of the inner ring 210 is closer to the support 100 than the axial end face of the outer ring 220, so as to reduce the impact of friction between the slewing support 200 and the frame 3000 when the inner ring 210 rotates with the drive shaft 40.

[0078] To improve space utilization and ensure that the structure of the support 100 can be compatible with most vehicles, in this embodiment, such as... Figures 4-5 The support 100 includes a body 110, which has a first part 111 and a second part 112 set at an angle. A swivel interface 120 is provided on the first part 111, and a cantilever assembly 300 is rotatably connected to the second part 112 to meet the connection requirements between the support 100 and the wheel 2000, the frame 3000 and the steering system 4000. The swivel interface 120 and the cantilever assembly 300 are located on the same side of the second part 112, so that an installation space is designed on the side connected to the wheel 2000, which allows the cantilever assembly 300 to have enough space to make full use of the space and improve the applicability of the support 100.

[0079] Meanwhile, thermal management must be considered for electric wheels, and the limited size of the hub motor necessitates an efficient cooling method within a confined space. To meet varying cooling requirements, in this embodiment, such as... Figure 4 The support 100 also includes a cover plate 130 connected to the body 110. The cover plate 130 and the body 110 together form a pipe arrangement cavity 140. The pipe arrangement cavity 140 and the rotary interface 120 are respectively located on two opposite sides of the second part 112. The rotary interface 120 has an arrangement through hole 121 for the pipe 600 to pass through. The support 100 is provided with at least two wire passages 150 that communicate with the pipe arrangement cavity 140. The wire passages 150 lead to the side where the rotary interface 120 is located. The cooling pipes 600 required for the wheel 2000 are introduced into the space of the frame 3000 through the arrangement through hole 121 of the support 100 and the corresponding through hole of the drive shaft 40. The support 100 provides support and positioning for the pipes 600, and the pipes 600 are arranged in a dedicated pipe arrangement cavity 140. The pipes 600 are neatly and orderly arranged. With the use of the cover plate 130, the pipes 600 can be protected. This can meet the cooling needs of different wheels 2000 and provide a feasible arrangement scheme for the thermal management of the wheels 2000.

[0080] In order to further control the weight of the support 100 while meeting the structural strength requirements, the rotary interface 120 is a cover connected to the end of the second part 112; the through hole 121 and the mounting hole 122 are both located on the top surface of the cover and are connected to the cavity of the cover.

[0081] like Figure 5 As shown, in order to further facilitate the arrangement and installation of the cooling system pipes 600 and to avoid the components installed on the support 100, in this embodiment, the side of the cover is provided with a neck wire hole 123 that communicates with the cavity of the cover. The neck wire hole 123 leads to the wire passage 150. That is, in this solution, the pipes 600 of the cooling system of the vehicle used to cool the wheel 2000 pass through the middle hole cavity of the output shaft, pass through the arrangement through hole 121 and the neck wire hole 123 in sequence, and then enter the pipe arrangement cavity 140 for arrangement through the wire passage 150 near the neck wire hole 123. Finally, they pass out through the wire passage 150 near the cantilever mounting interface 160 and are supported and connected to the wheel 2000 by the cantilever assembly 300.

[0082] As one implementation method, the structure of the support 100 is shown in the figure. The support 100 is a frame structure, including a base plate 113 and outer side plates 114 located on both sides of the base plate 113. The base plate 113 and / or the outer side plates 114 are designed with reinforcing ribs and weight-reducing holes. It is manufactured using lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy or titanium alloy. This design scheme gives the support 100 the advantages of light weight and strong load-bearing capacity.

[0083] A dedicated space structure is designed for the support 100, which includes the arrangement of the piping 600 for the power wheel cooling system. The piping 600 for the cooling system is arranged within this dedicated space (e.g., Figure 18 As shown in the figure, a cover plate 130 structure is also designed to protect the cooling system pipes 600. This embodiment does not specifically limit the forming method of the pipe arrangement cavity 140. As a feasible implementation method, the two sides of the bottom plate 113 are respectively connected to the middle of the two outer side plates 114, or the outer side plates 114 protrude from one side of the bottom plate 113 and the other side of the bottom plate 113 has a groove 260, so as to form two receiving spaces on both sides of the bottom plate 113, one of which, together with the cover plate 130, forms the pipe arrangement cavity 140.

[0084] To achieve shock absorption, cushioning, and vehicle height adjustment, in this embodiment, the suspension system 1000 further includes a gas spring 400. One end of the gas spring 400 is rotatably connected to the support 100, and the other end is rotatably connected to the suspension arm assembly 300 or used to rotatably connect to the wheel 2000. The gas spring 400 and the suspension arm assembly 300 are located on the same side of the second part 112. Figure 1 As shown. The 400 gas spring adopts a structure with a reverse pressure chamber and an integrated damping valve. Together with the height adjustment valve and the corresponding hydraulic system, it can adjust the vehicle height to adapt to complex road conditions or other special needs.

[0085] To implement a modular design for the support 100, as one implementation method, such asFigure 4 and Figure 5 The second part 112 is equipped with a cantilever mounting interface 160 and a gas spring mounting interface 170 for mounting the cantilever assembly 300 and the gas spring 400, respectively. Along the height direction, the cantilever mounting interface 160, the gas spring mounting interface 170, and the slewing interface 120 are arranged sequentially from bottom to top. Through standardized and integrated design of the support 100's structure, it achieves a compact and versatile structure with minimal space occupation, enabling modular design, production, installation, and replacement of the suspension system 1000.

[0086] To enhance connection stiffness and improve lateral stability, in this embodiment, as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 The cantilever assembly 300 includes an upper arm assembly 310 and a lower arm assembly 320. The upper arm assembly includes two upper arms that are opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle; the lower arm assembly includes two lower arms that are opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle. The two ends of the upper arm assembly 310 and the lower arm assembly 320 are rotatably connected to the support 100 and the wheel 2000 respectively via pins. The two upper arms and two lower arms are also fastened together via pins. A gas spring 400 is rotatably connected to the upper arm assembly 310. The upper arm assembly 310, lower arm assembly 320, and gas spring 400 are all connected to the support 100 via pins. The slewing support 200 is connected to the support 100 via axially evenly distributed connecting pieces 500. The flange end of the steer-by-wire output shaft is connected to the support 100 via axially evenly distributed connecting pieces 500 passing through the mounting holes 122 of the slewing support 200. The support 100, the drive shaft 40 / output shaft of the steer-by-wire system 4000, and the inner ring 210 of the slewing support 200 are fixed together, rotating with the steer-by-wire output shaft to realize the steering function of the wheel 2000. The connection relationship of the slewing support 200 is shown in the figure. Figure 3 .

[0087] During driving, when the wheel 2000 bounces, the pin connecting the wheel 2000 will rotate relative to the pin connected to the other end of the upper arm 311. Therefore, in order to prevent potential corrosion after a period of rotational friction, the upper arm assembly 310 and the lower arm assembly 320 are provided with a first bushing 301 at the mounting holes for mounting the pin. The first bushing 301 and the upper arm assembly 310 are preferably made of different materials.

[0088] To further prevent potential corrosion, in some embodiments, a second bushing 302 may be added between the mounting hole of the upper arm 311 and the first bushing 301. Preferably, the first bushing 301 and the second bushing 302 are made of different materials.

[0089] To ensure lubrication, a lubricant channel is provided inside the pin, and grease is added through the lubrication nozzle 308. Each bushing is equipped with a dustproof ring 303 and a gasket 304 at both ends. This serves two purposes: firstly, it isolates external dust to keep the sliding pair clean; secondly, it prevents grease leakage and improves lubrication reliability. The pin is connected by a retaining ring 305, a slotted nut 306, and a cotter pin 307, making the connection simple and reliable.

[0090] To install the gas spring 400, as one implementation method, such as... Figure 14 The upper arm assembly 310 has a protruding mounting seat 313 in the middle section. The upper arm pin 312 for connecting the gas spring 400 passes through the mounting seat 313. After assembly, the protruding part of the mounting seat 313 can constrain the axial movement of the gas spring 400 spherical bearing.

[0091] As one implementation method, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the upper arm assembly 310 mainly consists of two upper arms 311, two upper arm pins 312 (only the pins connecting the wheel 2000 and the gas spring 400 are included here; the pin connecting the support 100 is not shown), a first bushing 301, a second bushing 302, a dust seal 303, a gasket 304, a retaining ring 305, a slotted nut 306, a cotter pin 307, and a lubrication nozzle 308. The upper arm assembly 310 is connected to the support 100 and the wheel 2000 at both ends via pins. The upper arm 311 is made of lightweight forged aluminum alloy. A first bushing 301, which is a copper bushing, is designed at the mounting hole of the upper arm assembly 310. To prevent aluminum-copper potential corrosion, a second steel bushing 302 is designed between the upper arm 311 and the copper bushing.

[0092] As one implementation method, such as Figure 15 and Figure 16As shown, the lower arm assembly 320 mainly consists of two lower arms 321, a lower arm pin 322 (only the pin connecting the wheel 2000 is included here; the pin connecting the support 100 is not shown), a connecting sleeve 323, a first bushing 301, a second bushing 302, a dust seal 303, a gasket 304, a retaining ring 305, a slotted nut 306, a cotter pin 307, and a lubrication nozzle 308, among other components. The lower arm assembly 320 is connected to the support 100 and the wheel 2000 at both ends via pins. Lubricant channels are provided inside the pins, and grease is added through lubrication nozzles 308 for lubrication. When the wheel 2000 bounces, a first bushing 301 made of copper is designed at the mounting hole of the lower arm assembly 320. The lower arm 321 is made of lightweight aluminum alloy forging. To prevent aluminum and copper potential corrosion, a second bushing 302 made of steel is designed between the lower arm 321 and the first bushing 301. The first bushing 301 and the second bushing 302... Dustproof rings 303 and gaskets 304 are designed at both ends of the 2. On the one hand, they can isolate external dust to keep the sliding pair clean, and on the other hand, they can prevent grease leakage and improve lubrication reliability. The pin is connected by a retaining ring 305, a slotted nut 306 and a cotter pin 307, which is simple and reliable. There is a connecting sleeve 323 in the middle of the lower arm assembly 320. The connecting sleeve 323 is fastened to the two lower arms 321 by a connector 500 and a nut 306. The structure of the connecting sleeve 323 improves the rigidity of the lower arm assembly 320 and enhances the lateral stability.

[0093] The cantilever assembly 300 can limit the trajectory of the wheel 2000 during its bounce, and the gas spring 400 can dampen the force on the vehicle body. Therefore, by reasonably designing the length of the cantilever assembly 300 and the length, stiffness, damping, and other properties of the gas spring 400, the trajectory of the wheel 2000 during its bounce can be changed, thus altering the K&C characteristics of the suspension. This allows for the selection of appropriate suspension systems based on different vehicle requirements or usage scenarios, improving vehicle adaptability, ensuring vehicle stability, and expanding the scope of application.

[0094] Among these, it is understandable that, see Figure 5 As shown, the upper arm, lower arm, support, and wheel on one side form a four-bar linkage, which can effectively limit vehicle sway. There can be multiple connecting rods 312, such as... Figure 5 In this configuration, there can be four connecting rods 312, which enables the transmission of lateral forces, ensuring high force-bearing capacity and extending the service life of the suspension. A suspension system consists of two four-bar linkages distributed on either side of the air spring, which allows for a more even distribution of lateral forces, further guaranteeing the suspension's load-bearing capacity.

[0095] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram showing the suspension system 1000 equipped with electric wheels and the steering system 4000. The suspension system 1000 and steering system 4000 are integrated into a single design, resulting in a compact structure and high space utilization, providing more installation space for the battery and other auxiliary components. The support provides mounting positions for the cantilever assembly, air springs, wheel cooling system piping 600, etc., while also providing connection interfaces for the frame and steering system. Through standardized and integrated design of the modular support structure, the system is compact, highly versatile, and occupies little space, enabling modular design, production, installation, and replacement of the suspension system.

[0096] The slewing support 200 gives the suspension system 1000 a greater load adaptability, making it suitable for medium and heavy-duty vehicles. The suspension system 1000 is modularly designed and manufactured. When the vehicle has axle load or length extension requirements, there is no need to redesign the suspension system 1000. The suspension system 1000 can be extended and assembled on the standardized frame 3000 mounting interface. Each electric wheel is connected to the frame by a suspension system 1000 and can rotate relative to the frame. When the suspension fails or other unforeseen damage occurs during the use of the vehicle, causing the suspension function to be lost, the support, slewing support, cantilever assembly, or air spring of the suspension system 1000 can be modularly replaced, which greatly saves maintenance time and enhances the vehicle's maneuverability and adaptability, making it particularly suitable for military vehicles.

[0097] The suspension system 1000, in conjunction with a height adjustment valve and corresponding hydraulic system, can adjust the vehicle's height and body posture. During high-speed driving or other situations requiring a lower vehicle height, height adjustment allows the vehicle to be in a low-profile driving position (e.g., ...). Figure 20 As shown), this improves overall vehicle stability; in off-road terrain, unpaved roads, or other situations requiring increased vehicle height, the height adjustment allows the vehicle to be driven in a higher position (e.g., Figure 21 As shown in the figure, the chassis achieves a larger minimum ground clearance, which improves the vehicle's adaptability and passability on complex road surfaces.

[0098] like Figure 22 As shown, the suspension system 1000, in conjunction with the height sensor, height adjustment valve, and corresponding hydraulic system, can keep the vehicle level on a slope, improving the vehicle's stability and adaptability when driving on a slope.

[0099] The suspension system 1000 provided in this embodiment has a compact structure. Utilizing the slewing support 200, it enables 360° steering between the suspension system 1000 and the vehicle frame 3000. Combined with the feature that each wheel of the electric wheel can be individually controlled, it allows for oblique driving of the entire vehicle (e.g.,...). Figure 23 As shown), lateral movement (as shown) Figure 24 As shown), turning in place (as shown) Figure 25With multiple driving modes (as shown), the vehicle possesses extremely high maneuverability.

[0100] Example 2

[0101] Based on the same inventive concept, this embodiment provides a vehicle including a frame 3000, a transmission system, wheels 2000, and the suspension system 1000 of Embodiment 1. The inner ring 210 / outer ring 220 of the slewing support 200 is connected to the frame 3000, and the slewing interface 120 of the support 100 is connected to the outer ring 220 / inner ring 210. The transmission system includes a drive shaft 40. The drive shaft 40 is connected to the slewing interface 120, or to the outer ring 220 / inner ring 210 connected to the slewing interface 120, so that the support 100 and the drive shaft 40 rotate coaxially. The wheels 2000 are rotatably connected to the cantilever assembly 300. The slewing support 200 allows the wheels 2000 and the support 100 to rotate coaxially and can rotate 360° relative to the frame 3000, that is, the vehicle can achieve 360° steering function.

[0102] This vehicle naturally possesses all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned suspension system 1000. This invention does not specifically limit the type or category of the vehicle; it can be any type of vehicle in the prior art, such as a passenger car, bus, or truck. Other undescribed structures of the vehicle can be referred to relevant prior art disclosures, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0103] In summary, the suspension system and vehicle provided by this invention are jointly designed with the steering system, resulting in a compact structure that occupies little space. The entire vehicle only needs to be equipped with one type of suspension system, enabling modular design, production, installation, and replacement. This provides strong scalability, versatility, and adaptability. The slewing support allows the vehicle to achieve 360° steering, leveraging the individual control capability of each electric wheel to achieve various driving modes such as diagonal driving, lateral driving, and stationary turning. All load forces and torques are transmitted through the slewing support, with the steering system only outputting steering torque. The slewing support has extremely strong axial and radial load-bearing capacity, enabling the suspension system to meet medium and heavy load-bearing requirements. Combined with a height adjustment valve and corresponding hydraulic system, the vehicle height can be adjusted, allowing the vehicle to operate in a low or high position, improving driving stability and passability.

[0104] The present invention provides a suspension system and vehicle, wherein the support is designed with a proprietary space structure for the arrangement of cooling pipes for the electric wheels, which makes the cooling system pipe routing more standardized and has pipe protection function.

[0105] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

[0106] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A suspension system, characterized in that, include: Support with a swivel joint; The cantilever assembly has one end rotatably connected to the support, and the other end rotatably connected to the wheel; A slewing support for connecting to the vehicle frame, the slewing support being connected to the slewing interface of the support, the support being connected to the drive shaft of the steering system via the slewing interface and / or the slewing support, so that the cantilever assembly rotates relative to the frame with the drive shaft; The slewing support has an inner ring and an outer ring that can rotate relative to each other; one of the outer ring and the inner ring is used to connect to the vehicle frame, and the other is connected to the slewing interface of the support, and the slewing interface and / or the inner ring connected to the slewing interface is used to connect to the drive shaft of the steering system. The inner ring includes a rotating shaft and a connecting edge connected to the periphery of the rotating shaft; the outer ring has a stepped hole, the rotating shaft extends into the stepped hole, and the connecting edge is positioned by the shoulder of the stepped hole; The rotary support also includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers, which are disposed between the rotary shaft and the wall of the stepped hole along the radial direction of the rotary support. The connecting edge and the shoulder of the hole are respectively provided with countersunk grooves; the rotary support also includes a bearing roller and an annular retainer, the retainer is provided with a plurality of first mounting positions spaced apart along the circumference; the bearing roller is provided at the first mounting position and rotates with two countersunk grooves located on both sides of the retainer respectively; the axial direction of the bearing roller is arranged along the radial direction of the retainer; The outer ring has a central through hole, and the central through hole forms the stepped hole at both ends of the outer ring in the axial direction; The number of inner rings is two, and the two inner rings are respectively installed at both ends of the outer ring; the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft of the two inner rings is provided with a plurality of second mounting positions at intervals, and each cylindrical roller is simultaneously installed in the second mounting positions of the two inner rings; The end of the inner ring of the slewing support that is far from the support has a recessed structure at one end of the outer ring, and the axial end face of the inner ring is closer to the support than the axial end face of the outer ring.

2. The suspension system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support includes a body having a first part and a second part set at an angle, the first part being located above the second part; the slewing interface is located on the first part, the cantilever assembly is rotatably connected to the second part, and the slewing interface and the cantilever assembly are located on the same side of the second part.

3. The suspension system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The support also includes a cover plate connected to the main body, the cover plate and the main body forming a pipeline arrangement cavity, the pipeline arrangement cavity and the rotary interface are respectively located on two opposite sides of the second part; the rotary interface has an arrangement through hole for pipelines to pass through; the support is provided with at least two wire passages connected to the pipeline arrangement cavity, the wire passages leading to the side where the rotary interface is located.

4. The suspension system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The suspension system also includes a gas spring. The second part is provided with a cantilever mounting interface and a gas spring mounting interface for mounting the cantilever assembly and the gas spring respectively. Along the height direction of the support, the cantilever mounting interface, the gas spring mounting interface and the slewing interface are arranged sequentially from bottom to top. One end of the gas spring is rotatably connected to the gas spring mounting interface, and the other end is rotatably connected to the cantilever assembly or used to rotatably connect to the wheel. The gas spring and the cantilever assembly are located on the same side of the second part.

5. The suspension system as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The cantilever assembly includes an upper arm assembly and a lower arm assembly, with both ends of the upper arm assembly and the lower arm assembly being rotatably connected to the support and the wheel respectively via pins; the gas spring is rotatably connected to the upper arm assembly; The upper arm assembly includes two upper arms that are disposed opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle; the lower arm assembly includes two lower arms that are disposed opposite to and connected along the length of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle, characterized in that, include, Frame; The suspension system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the slewing support is connected to the vehicle frame, and the slewing interface of the support is connected to the slewing support; A transmission system includes a drive shaft; the drive shaft is connected to the support via the rotary interface and / or the rotary support member, so that the support rotates coaxially with the drive shaft and can rotate relative to the frame. The wheel is rotatably connected to the cantilever assembly.

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