Hydropneumatic System Provided With Hydropneumatic Cylinders for Suspensions of Vehicle Wheel Assemblies, and Relative Vehicle

Abstract

A hydropneumatic system for suspensions of vehicle wheel assemblies is provided, for each suspension, with a respective hydropneumatic cylinder having a first and a second body, which can move axially relative to each other and define respective chambers, axially separated from each other via a piston element; the latter is coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the second body and floats between two stroke end positions in response to the pressures in the two chambers; the two chambers of each hydropneumatic cylinder communicate respectively with a hydraulic supply line and with a pneumatic supply line; the system further has a pressurization device which sets the pressure in the pneumatic supply line to a value at least equal to the pressure in the hydraulic supply line.

Claims

1.Hydropneumatic system for suspensions of vehicle wheel assemblies, the system comprising: at least two hydropneumatic cylinders, each of which is associated with a respective vehicle wheel assembly, extends along a first axis, and comprises: a) a first and a second body, which can move axially relative to each other and suitable to be coupled to respective attachment points in the respective vehicle wheel assembly; b) a first piston element, coupled in a fluid-tight manner to said second body and floating along said first axis relative to said second body; c) a first and a second chamber, defined respectively by said first and second body and axially separated from each other by said first piston element; a hydraulic supply line communicating with the first chambers of said hydropneumatic cylinders and suitable to receive pressurized oil; a pneumatic supply line communicating with the second chambers of said hydropneumatic cylinders and suitable to receive pressurized air; and a pressurization device configured to set the pressure in said pneumatic supply line to a value at least equal to the pressure in said hydraulic supply line.

2.The system according to claim 1, wherein in each said hydropneumatic cylinder said second body comprises two shoulders axially facing respective faces of said first piston element so as to define respective axial stroke end positions for said first piston element.

3.The system according to claim 1, wherein said first body comprises a tubular portion that radially defines said first chamber.

4.The system according to claim 3, wherein said second body comprises a stem that engages said tubular portion and is coupled in a fluid tight manner to an inner surface of said tubular portion.

5.The system according to claim 4, wherein said stem is axially hollow and radially defines said second chamber; said first piston element being coupled in a fluid tight manner to an inner cylindrical surface of said stem.

6.The system according to claim 1, wherein said second chamber has two ports separate from each other, for connection to said pneumatic supply line and for discharging possible oil from said second chamber.

7.The system according to claim 1, wherein said pressurization device comprises a pressurizing cylinder, extending along a second axis and having a third and a fourth chamber axially separated from each other by a second piston element, floating along said second axis; said third chamber communicating with said hydraulic supply line, and said fourth chamber communicating with said pneumatic supply line; said second piston element having a first and a second face, which axially delimit said third chamber and, respectively, said fourth chamber; said first face having an area larger than an area of said second face.

8.The system according to claim 7, wherein said hydraulic supply line communicates with said third chamber via a first throttling.

9.The system according to claim 7, wherein a valve is interposed between said fourth chamber and a pressurized air source; said valve being normally closed and being openable to pressurize said fourth chamber and said pneumatic supply line to a predefined pressure value.

10.The system according to claim 1, wherein said pneumatic supply line communicates with the second chambers of said hydropneumatic cylinders via a respective second throttling.

11.The system according to claim 1, wherein the second chambers of said hydropneumatic cylinders are connected to a tank via respective further valves, which can be opened to discharge oil from said second chambers.

12.The system according to claim 1, wherein said hydraulic supply line communicates with the first chambers of said hydropneumatic cylinders via respective parachute valves.

13.Vehicle comprising: a hydropneumatic system, according to claim 1, and a plurality of wheel assemblies comprising respective least one of said suspensions, each having at hydropneumatic cylinders.

14.The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein each said wheel assembly comprises at least one wheel, which can rotate about a rotation axis, and wherein each said suspension comprises a support structure fixed to a vehicle chassis and at least one oscillating arm, having a first end that supports said wheel, and a second end coupled to said support structure so as to rotate, together with said wheel, about a pivot axis; the at least one of said hydropneumatic cylinders being arranged between said wheel and said support structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the following, in order to better understand the present invention, preferred embodiments will be described by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 are schemes relative to solutions of the prior art, described above;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram which shows the trend of the pressure in the solution of FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates, in cross-section and in a schematic manner, a hydropneumatic cylinder for a suspension of a vehicle wheel assembly, according to a preferred embodiment of the hydropneumatic system of the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 5 shows the hydropneumatic system according to the teachings of the present invention; and

[0039] FIGS. from 6 to 8 are similar to FIG. 5 and show different operating conditions of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 indicates a hydropneumatic cylinder (schematically illustrated) for a suspension of a wheel assembly.

[0041] The cylinder 1 extends along a rectilinear axis A and comprises two bodies 10 and 11 which can move axially relative to each other and having respective attachment portions 12 and 13, arranged at the opposite axial ends of the cylinder 1 and having shape, structure and dimensions such as to be connectable, in a known manner, to respective support portions (not illustrated) in the wheel assembly.

[0042] The cylinder 1 has, on the inside, two chambers 14 and 15, sealed in a fluid-tight manner relative to each other and suitable to receive pressurized oil and pressurized air via respective ports 16 and 17, carried by the bodies 10 and 11, respectively. In particular, the body 11 also has a port 18, separate from the port 17, for discharging possible oil which leaks during use from the chamber 14 to the chamber 15. In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, the oil is discharged from the chamber 15 and collected in a tank 19 after opening a valve 20 arranged downstream of the port 18.

[0043] With reference to the specific example of FIG. 4, the body 10 comprises a jacket 21, which is fixed relative to the attachment portion 12 and comprises, in turn, a bottom portion 22 and a tubular portion 23. In particular, the bottom portion 22 axially delimits a side of the chamber 14, supports the attachment portion 12 and is perforated so as to define the port 16; the tubular portion 23 radially delimits at least a part of the chamber 14 and protrudes from a peripheral edge of the bottom portion 22.

[0044] The body 11 comprises a stem 25, which is fixed relative to the attachment portion 13. In particular, the stem 25 comprises a bottom portion 26 and a tubular portion 27. The bottom portion 26 axially delimits a side of the chamber 15, supports the attachment portion 13 and is perforated so as to define the ports 17 and 18. The tubular portion 27 radially delimits the chamber 15 and protrudes from a peripheral edge of the bottom portion 26.

[0045] The stem 25 engages the tubular portion 23, in a fluid-tight manner, and is axially slidable between two stroke end shoulders defined by the body 11. In particular, at the opposite axial end relative to the attachment portion 13, the tubular portion 27 has a flange 29, which radially protrudes outwards and has two opposite faces, suitable to axially abut against such shoulders.

[0046] In the illustrated solution, the flange 29 is slidable along the inner surface of the tubular portion 23 without gaskets (i.e. with a plunging cylinder configuration). According to not illustrated variations, the flange 29 is coupled via gaskets to such inner surface, and the tubular portions 23 and 27 radially form between each other an annular gap, which can be put in communication with the ambient pressure (for a single-acting cylinder configuration), via a filter, or be put in communication with a further hydraulic line (for a double-acting cylinder configuration), for example a discharge line connected to a tank.

[0047] According to an aspect of the present invention, a piston element 30 axially separates the chambers 14 and 15 from each other, in a fluid-tight manner. In the illustrated example, the stem 25 is internally hollow and houses the piston element 30, and the latter is preferably disk-shaped. The piston element 30 is coupled via gaskets to a surface 31 of the body 11, which guides the axial translation of the piston element 30.

[0048] In the illustrated example, the surface 31 is the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular portion 27. According to a not illustrated variation, the piston element could be defined by an axially hollow element, fitted in an axially slidable manner on a side surface of the body 11.

[0049] The piston element 30 is free to axially slide or float relative to the body 11 in response to the pressures in the two chambers 14 and 15, between a first and a second stroke end position, defined by shoulders 32, 33 of the body 11, axially facing the piston element 30. The piston element 30 reaches the first stroke end position when the air pressure in the chamber 15 exceeds the oil pressure in the chamber 14, thus the volume of the chamber 15 becomes maximum, and simultaneously the port 16 is put in communication with a discharge pipe for making the oil flow out. Whereas, the piston element 30 reaches the second stroke end position when the oil pressure in the chamber 14 exceeds the air pressure in the chamber 15, thus the volume of the chamber 15 becomes minimum, and simultaneously the port 17 is put in communication with a discharge pipe for releasing the air.

[0050] For example, the shoulder 33 is defined by the bottom portion 26, and the shoulder 32 is defined by a flange, which radially protrudes inwards, at the axial end of the tubular portion 27.

[0051] In practice, the inner cavity of the stem 25 is divided by the piston element 30 into two zones, the one belonging to the chamber 14, and the other one defining the chamber 15.

[0052] It is thus evident that the volume of the chambers 14 and 15 is variable on the basis of the relative axial position of the bodies 10 and 11, and on the basis of the axial position of the piston element 30 along the surface 31 of the body 11.

[0053] FIG. 5 schematically shows a plurality of wheel assemblies W1, W2, etc. . . . , each having a respective cylinder 1. Specifically, the cylinder 1 forms part of a suspension 40 of the wishbone type, which comprises a support structure 42, suitable to be fixed to a vehicle chassis (not illustrated), and at least one oscillating arm 44, having two opposite ends, 45 and 46: the end 45 supports, in a known manner and not illustrated, at least one wheel 48; whereas, the end 46 is coupled to the structure 42, in a known manner, for oscillating, together with the wheel 48, about a pivot axis parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel. The latter can be of motorized or idle type.

[0054] The cylinder 1 is arranged between the wheel 48 and the structure 42 so as to determine the angle of the arm 44 about the pivot axis and thus the height from the ground of the vehicle and for absorbing a possible unevenness present along the forward movement direction.

[0055] The cylinders 1 form part of a hydropneumatic system 51 for lifting the respective structures 42 from the ground and perform a function of suspension and absorption of the impacts during the travel.

[0056] The system 51 comprises a hydraulic supply line 52, which is suitable to receive pressurized oil from a pump (not illustrated) during the step of initial lifting of the vehicle, and communicates with the chambers 14 of the cylinders 1, via the respective ports 16 and via respective parachute valves 55, normally open. The valves 55, of known type and not specifically described, can be integrated in, or separated from, the corresponding ports 16. During normal travel conditions, the pressure inside the line 52 and the chambers 14 will essentially depend on the mass of the transported load, unless there are dynamic effects.

[0057] The system 51 further comprises a pneumatic supply line 57, which is in communication with the chambers 15 of the cylinders 1, via the respective ports 17 and via respective throttlings or restrictions 59. The latter can be elements integrated in, or separated from, the corresponding ports 17.

[0058] Furthermore, the system 51 preferably comprises at least one pressurizing cylinder 61, extending along a rectilinear axis B and having a jacket 62 and a piston element 63, which is housed in the jacket 62 so as to axially separate, in a fluid-tight manner, two chambers 64 and 65.

[0059] The piston element 63 is guided by a cylindrical inner surface of the jacket 62 so as to be able to axially float. The chamber 64 has a port 66 which is connected to the line 52 via a throttling or restriction 69, which insulates the chamber 64 in dynamic conditions, so as to cut pressure peaks possibly present in the line 52 (deriving from the road unevenness) and keep the pressure in the cylinder 61 as constant as possible.

[0060] The chamber 65 has a port 67 directly connected to the line 57, for pressurizing the latter in response to the pressure in the chamber 64. In fact, the pressure in the chamber 65 is determined by the oil pressure in the chamber 64 and by the ratio between the areas of the opposite axial faces 71 and 72 of the piston element 63. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the area of the face 71, thrusted by the oil in the chamber 64, is larger than the area of the face 72, which axially defines the chamber 65. For example, the area of the face 72 is reduced by the presence of a stem 74 which protrudes from the piston element 63 and passes through the wall of the jacket 62.

[0061] Therefore, the cylinder 61 is configured to set, in static or almost static conditions, the pressure value of the air in the chambers 15 of the cylinders 1, as a function of the pressure in the chamber 64.

[0062] According to a variation not illustrated, the cylinder 61 is replaced by an electro-pneumatic device comprising a sensor, which measures the hydraulic pressure in the line 52, and a control unit connected to the sensor and configured to set, according to suitable logics, the pneumatic pressure in the line 57 so that it is at least equal to the measured value.

[0063] The chamber 65 is suitable to be put in communication with a compressed air source S, defined by a pneumatic system (not illustrated) on board the vehicle. For example, the chamber 65 has a port 75 which is separate from the port 67 and is connected to the compressed air source via a valve 77 which can be open/closed. Simultaneously, in dynamic conditions, the restrictions 59 insulate the chambers 15 of the cylinders 1 from the line 57 and thus from the chamber 65.

[0064] Preferably, the chamber 65 has a port 78, separate from the ports 67 and 75, for discharging possible oil that leaks during use from the chamber 64 to the chamber 65. In particular, the port 78 communicates with the tank 19 via a valve 79 which can be open for discharging the oil.

[0065] In use, the operation of the embodiment described above for the cylinder 1 and for the system 51 is as follows.

[0066] Before lifting the chassis of the vehicle, in loadless state, it is necessary to perform some preliminary operations, which consist in connecting the line 52 to a discharge port (in a known and not illustrated manner), and opening the valve 77 so as to pressurize the pneumatic circuit defined by the combination of the chamber 65, the line 57 and all the chambers 15, to a predefined pressure value, via the source S.

[0067] During this step of pneumatic pressurization, since the oil is in communication with a discharge pipe (not illustrated), the cylinders 1 are completely closed (i.e. the body 11 is completely retracted in the body 10), as is schematically shown in FIG. 6.

[0068] Furthermore, by effect of the air pressure, the piston element 30 reaches the first stroke end position against the shoulder 32, and similarly also the piston element 63 reaches a stroke end position, with maximum volume of the chamber 65.

[0069] Once the target pressure value has been reached, the valve 77 is closed, so as to insulate the aforementioned pneumatic circuit.

[0070] Subsequently, the lifting of the chassis from the ground is achieved by supplying pressurized oil in the line 52 and, thus, in the chambers 14 of all the wheel assemblies associated with the system 51, as well as in the chamber 64 of the cylinder 61. In response to the oil pressure, the bodies 10 and 11 axially distance themselves from each other (FIG. 5).

[0071] Simultaneously, the air pressure in the pneumatic circuit increases beyond the initial pressure value, thanks to the cylinder 61. Specifically, if the oil pressure is equal to a value p_oil, automatically in the line 57 a pressure p_air is established which is greater, i.e. equal to:

[00001]$\mathrm{p\_air}=\mathrm{p\_oil}.Math.D^2/\left(\left(D^2-d^2\right)\right)$ [0072] where [0073] D=outer diameter of the piston element 63, and [0074] d=diameter of the stem 74.

[0075] This slight air overpressure in the line 57 is transferred to the chambers 15 and 14 of the cylinder 1 and keeps the piston element 30 in the first stroke end position during the lifting operations.

[0076] During travel of the vehicle (FIG. 7), when the first wheel assembly associated with the system 51 encounters an obstacle, at a relatively high speed, such obstacle causes an upward thrust of the corresponding suspension 40. Such thrust, in turn, causes an axial compression on the cylinder 1 and, thus, an axial translation of the body 11 relative to the body 10, with consequent compression of the air in the chamber 15. Simultaneously, oil flows into the cavity of the stem 25, thus changing the axial position of the piston element 30 relative to the body 11.

[0077] In other words, the cylinder 1, which is subject to a sudden compression, behaves like an air spring. The restriction 59 associated with this cylinder 1 dynamically insulates the air in the chamber 15, which therefore does not condition the pressurization value of the line 57.

[0078] Therefore, in response to an obstacle on the road, the body 11 axially re-enters towards the body 10, so as to absorb the difference in height due to such obstacle. The oil pressure in the chamber 14 increases. If the event velocity is relatively high, this pressure increase tendentially remains confined in the chamber 14, i.e. transfers to the hydraulic line 52 only in a limited manner; in order to increase this insulation, a restriction or throttling (not illustrated) could possibly be added at, or in the proximity of, the port 16.

[0079] The possible increase in hydraulic pressure in the line 52, however, is also distributed on the other suspensions. Simultaneously, the restriction 69 insulates the cylinder 61 from this possible oil pressure increase in the line 52.

[0080] In this manner, the entity of a localized lifting of the vehicle is limited, when a wheel encounters an obstacle.

[0081] By suitably choosing the diameter D, it is possible to define the stiffness coefficient, or elastic response, of the air spring defined by the chamber 15.

[0082] Such air spring further adjusts to any transported load value, thanks to the cylinder 61. This is valid in the hypothesis of pressurizing the line 57 with completely closed cylinders before the lifting of the vehicle: in fact, the preliminary pneumatic pressurization, described above, virtually increases the operation range of the piston element 30.

[0083] In case of negative difference in height (for example, when a wheel encounters a road dip), the system does not intervene: in this case, the dynamic action is generally less violent, therefore load distribution on all the other suspensions results to be sufficient.

[0084] In case it is necessary to exclude the air springs defined by the chambers 15, and thus configure the cylinder 1 as if it were a purely hydraulic cylinder (FIG. 8), it is sufficient to connect the line 57 to a discharge port, for example by opening the valve 77 and controlling a selector valve, not illustrated, so as to put in communication with the external environment, instead of with the source S.

[0085] In this condition, the piston elements 30 all translate in their second stroke end positions against the shoulders 33; similarly, the piston element 63 axially translates in a stroke end position reducing to the minimum the volume of the chamber 65.

[0086] In practice, in each cylinder 1, the piston element 30 forms one single element with the body 11, being rested on the bottom of the inner cavity of the body 11. The cylinder 1 will thus have a substantially stiff response, equivalent to the response of a conventional hydraulic cylinder devoid of air spring.

[0087] Based on the foregoing, the advantages of the cylinder 1 and of the system 51 according to the invention are evident for a person skilled in the art.

[0088] First, the proposed solution allows exploiting the cylinders 1 of the suspensions 40 for forming respective air springs which absorb the road unevenness without the need to add hydraulic accumulators along the hydraulic supply line 52 for each wheel assembly (W1, W2, etc . . . ). Therefore, thanks to the cylinders 1, the system 51 results to be extremely compact and has a relatively low number of components.

[0089] Secondly, the air springs defined by the cylinders 1 are not subject to a calibration, but intervene for performing a damping function for any compression value. In other words, the intervention of the air springs does not depend on the entity of the difference in height of the road, or on the load arranged on the vehicle, or on the oil pressure in the line 52.

[0090] In particular, the proposed solution allows obtaining a variable height suspension which is provided with air spring and which automatically adapts its stiffness relative to the transported load.

[0091] Furthermore, the intervention of the air springs occurs directly in response to the axial compression due to the differences in height of the road. In other words, in order to absorb the impacts due to the differences in height of the road, there is only a shifting of the body 11 relative to the piston element 30 and to the body 10, with a consequent compression of the air in the chamber 15, without any flow of oil towards the line 52. Therefore, the passage cross-sections for the oil in pipes, connections, etc. . . . of the system 51 do not affect the response times and the effectiveness of the damping.

[0092] For the same reasons, in the proposed solution the response times and the effectiveness of the damping are not affected by more or less high speeds of the vehicle. In fact, the air in the chambers 15 is immediately compressed when the respective wheels encounter a difference in height, whatever the velocity of axial shifting of the body 11 relative to the piston element 30.

[0093] Regardless of the presence of the air springs integrated in the cylinders 1, the pressure of the line 52 automatically adapts to the road unevenness so as to equalize such pressure and, thus, distribute in a uniform manner the pressure increase on all the suspensions of the system 51, as in the known solutions.

[0094] Furthermore, as described above with reference to FIG. 8, the cylinders 1 can be configured as if they were purely hydraulic traditional cylinders, by connecting the line 57 to a discharge port.

[0095] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the cylinder 1 and to the system 51 according to the present invention which do not anyway depart from the protection scope defined by the appended claims.

[0096] In particular, the structure of the components of the cylinder 1 could be different from the one illustrated, and/or the compressed air source S could be connected to the line 57 instead of being connected to a port of the chamber 65.

[0097] Furthermore, the cylinder 1 and the system 51 could be employed for suspensions different from the wishbone suspension, described above with reference to FIG. 5, for example they could be employed for a suspension of push-rod 10 (i.e. double triangle) type.