In-Arm Compressible Fluid Suspension for Military Vehicle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional suspension systems, both passive and active, face challenges in providing optimal comfort and performance over uneven terrain, especially for military vehicles and mobile firing platforms, due to limitations in isolating vibrations and maintaining stability during high-speed movements and recoil absorption.
Innovation Solution
A novel swing arm suspension system with a compressible fluid strut that acts as a fluid spring, shock absorber, and actuator, featuring a fluid control system to actively manage fluid pressure within a sealed chamber, allowing for selective locking of the piston rod to stabilize the platform during firing and quick absorption of recoil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional passive suspension systems are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the system cannot actively counteract vibrations and impacts, resulting in poor comfort and performance over rough terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spring, shock absorber, and actuator functions into a single compressible fluid strut assembly. The fluid chamber serves multiple purposes: it provides spring elasticity through fluid compression, shock absorption through controlled fluid flow, and active actuation through selective fluid displacement. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving complex active suspension performance without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible fluid strut is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs suspension, damping, and active control functions. The fluid control system can operate in multiple modes (passive spring behavior, active vibration counteraction, recoil absorption) using the same basic structure, thereby improving suspension performance without requiring separate specialized components for each function.
2Reliability
If active suspension systems with multiple components are used, then comfort and performance are improved, but the space and weight requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates spring, shock absorber, and actuator functions into a single compressible fluid strut assembly. The fluid chamber serves multiple purposes: it provides spring elasticity through fluid compression, shock absorption through controlled fluid flow, and active actuation through selective fluid displacement. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving complex active suspension performance without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Speed
If high wheel travel is provided for mobility over rough terrain, then mobility is improved, but vehicle stability is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system dynamically adjusts its characteristics using active fluid control. The system can transition between soft compliance for mobility and rigid stability for firing platforms by controlling fluid flow and pressure in real-time. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to provide both high wheel travel for mobility and vehicle stability for firing operations at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the suspension by controlling fluid pressure and flow. By adjusting the amount of fluid in the chamber and the rate of fluid flow through valves, the system can alter its stiffness, damping characteristics, and response time to match different operational requirements, thereby maintaining both mobility and stability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the suspension is locked to provide a stable firing platform, then stability is improved, but the ability to maneuver over rough terrain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system dynamically adjusts its characteristics using active fluid control. The system can transition between soft compliance for mobility and rigid stability for firing platforms by controlling fluid flow and pressure in real-time. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to provide both high wheel travel for mobility and vehicle stability for firing operations at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system uses periodic or intermittent locking and unlocking of the fluid passages to achieve different operational states. The pump can periodically adjust fluid pressure to maintain stability during firing while allowing movement during transit, creating a rhythm of locked/unlocked states that satisfies both contradictory requirements.
5Ease of manufacture
If traditional separate spring and damper systems are used, then manufacturing is simple, but the system cannot provide active control to counteract vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spring, shock absorber, and actuator functions into a single suspension arm assembly with integrated fluid control. This merging maintains manufacturing simplicity by using a unified structure rather than multiple separate components, while simultaneously enabling active vibration control through the fluid pressure system and pump.
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
This system enhances vehicle stability and mobility by actively managing ride height and recoil, providing improved comfort and rapid recovery from firing vibrations, while maintaining maneuverability over rough terrain.
Implementation Method 1
pressure applied to a compressible fluid in the cylinder chamber urges the piston to extend from within the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The strut includes a piston damper which seals between the cylinder and the piston rod, and includes flow passages for passing the compressible fluid between bounce and rebound portions of the sealed chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An in-arm suspension (12) is provided for actively controlling a suspension arm (20) mounted to a vehicle frame (14). The suspension arm (20) has a housing (60) in which the a compressible fluid strut (32) and a fluid control section (90) are enclosed. The compressible fluid strut (32) includes a cylinder (134) and a piston rod (136) which is urged to extend from within the cylinder (134) in response to fluid pressure applied to compressible fluid disposed within the cylinder (134). A damper piston (174) is mounted to an interior portion of the piston rod (136), and moves with the piston rod (136) to pass the compressible fluid through the damper piston 174 and attenuate bounce and rebound of the piston rod (136) within the cylinder (134). A damper lock (210) is mounted to the piston rod (136) for selectively preventing the flow of compressible fluid through the damper piston (174).