Hydraulic Chassis Safety Lock Against Accidental Ground Lowering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle chassis control systems face challenges in preventing accidental lowering of the chassis to the ground due to actuator failures, requiring complex and bulky mechanical stops that are difficult to control remotely.

Innovation Solution

A safety device with a cylinder and piston arrangement that locks in a safety position when the actuator fails, using a fluid passage and safety valve to prevent unwanted rotation of the suspension arm, allowing remote control and integration with shock absorber functions for reduced size and improved reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If retractable mechanical stops are provided to prevent accidental chassis lowering, then safety is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex retractable mechanical stops with a hydraulic safety device comprising a cylinder, piston, and fluid passage system. The safety function is achieved through hydraulic pressure control rather than mechanical linkages, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a hydraulic system with a cylinder, piston, and fluid passages to create the safety stop mechanism. The retractable stop is actuated through hydraulic pressure control, allowing for simpler implementation compared to purely mechanical retractable stop systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If retractable mechanical stops are provided to prevent accidental chassis lowering, then safety is improved, but the size of the stops increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidsize of safety stops
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces bulky mechanical stop structures with a compact hydraulic actuation system. The cylinder and piston assembly occupies less space than traditional mechanical stops while providing the same safety function through hydraulic pressure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters from mechanical force transmission to hydraulic pressure control. This allows for a more compact design as hydraulic systems can generate high forces in small volumes, reducing the overall size of the safety stop mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If mechanical stops are made remotely controllable, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote controllabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hydraulic fluid passages and pressure control to enable remote actuation of the safety stop. The hydraulic system allows the stop to be engaged or disengaged from the driver's seat through fluid pressure control, providing remote controllability without complex mechanical linkages or additional control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents accidental chassis contact with the ground, enhances safety, and simplifies the design by enabling remote control, while reducing bulk and improving reliability through integrated fluid circuitry and anti-roll functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a jack, a cylinder of which is mounted on the chassis and a piston of which is mounted on the suspension arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the piston locks in a safety position at a distance from the bottom of the first chamber, position in which the fluid is compressed between the piston head and the safety valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4087743B1Vehicle comprising a controlled vertical position chassis, in order to be lowered into a low position supported on the ground
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP4087743B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4087743B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4087743B1 patent drawingFigure 6~6'

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a controlled vertical position chassis, in order to be able to be moved into a low position supported on the ground, and, associated with each wheel, a suspension arm, an arm actuator, and a safety device (40) capable of limiting the accidental lowering of the chassis, the device (40) being able to adopt an active state in which the rotation of the suspension arm can be limited, the device (40) comprising an actuator (46), a cylinder (48) of which is mounted on the chassis (2) and a piston (50) of which is mounted on the suspension arm (28), or vice versa, the actuator defining a first chamber (54) connected to a first (62) and a second (64) fluid passage through the cylinder (48), the second passage (64) being connected to a first fluid pipe (68) fitted with a safety valve (72).