Hydraulic Suspension Load Distribution Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems fail to independently optimize roll stiffness, roll damping, pitch damping, and optionally pitch stiffness, often requiring additional support structures and high-pressure fluid systems, which increase cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic suspension system with diagonally interconnected wheel assemblies, load distribution units, and adjustable piston rod assemblies that provide independent control of heave, roll, and pitch modes, using single-acting or double-acting wheel rams with compression and rebound chambers, and fluid communication with accumulators to manage damping and stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a passive pressure balancing load distribution unit is used to provide roll stiffness and damping, then roll control is improved, but the system requires high pressure fluid sources, sensors, control electronics and valves, increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the suspension control into separate functional elements: wheel rams provide individual wheel control, the load distribution unit provides diagonal load balancing, and support springs provide heave stiffness. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing the need for complex high-pressure fluid systems while maintaining roll control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The load distribution unit uses passive fluid communication between diagonally opposite wheel rams to automatically balance loads without requiring active sensors or control electronics. The system self-regulates pressure distribution based on diagonal wheel position differences, eliminating the need for complex active control systems.
2Device complexity
If wheel rams are made single-acting with one fluid port to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but the amount of damping that can be provided is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The load distribution unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it balances diagonal wheel loads, provides additional damping through fluid communication, and enables both single-acting and double-acting ram configurations. This multi-functionality compensates for the reduced damping capacity of single-acting rams by distributing damping forces across the diagonal fluid communication path.
3Force
If the system provides significant heave stiffness through the hydraulic system, then vertical support is improved, but separate support springs are required when heave stiffness is negligible
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functions of hydraulic support and mechanical spring support by integrating support springs with the wheel ram assemblies. The hydraulic system provides primary suspension and damping, while the integrated support springs provide supplemental heave stiffness, eliminating the need for separate support structures.
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
Enables optimized control of suspension parameters, reducing the need for additional support structures and minimizing fluid leakage, while maintaining vehicle attitude and comfort through adjustable pressure and damping settings.
Implementation Method 1
a first hydraulic volume (151) in fluid communication with a second hydraulic volume (152), a third hydraulic volume (153) in fluid communication with a fourth hydraulic volume (154), wherein the first hydraulic volume is interconnected to the third hydraulic volume and the second hydraulic volume is interconnected to the fourth hydraulic volume
Implementation Method 2
fluid communication with accumulators to manage damping and stiffness
Implementation Method 3
at least one piston rod assembly including at least one rod and at least one piston, the diameter of the at least one rod and at least one piston defining first, second, third and fourth effective areas
Data Source
AI summary
A damping and stiffness system for a vehicle suspension system including at least two forward and two rearward wheel assemblies each associated with vehicle resilient support means (27-30) between a vehicle body and the wheel assemblies. The damping and stiffness system including: a wheel ram (11-14) with at least a compression chamber (45-48) between each wheel assembly and the vehicle body and a load distribution unit (76). The load distribution unit (76) includes two pairs of chambers (77-80), each chamber (77-80) being divided into front (89, 90) and back (91, 92) system chambers (which vary in volume proportionally and in opposite senses therein with piston motion) and the remaining pitch chambers (93-96) by interconnected pistons (81-84) supported therein. The compression chamber (45-48) of each wheel ram (11-14) is in fluid communication with a respective system chamber (89-92) wherein the vehicle is primarily supported by the vehicle resilient support means (27-30).