Abstract: An axle assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle includes an elongate axle member adapted to rotatably receive wheels of a vehicle, a first arm member operatively associated with the axle member and flexibly connected, in use, to a chassis of the vehicle, a second arm member operatively associated with the axle member and flexibly connected, in use, to the chassis, and a first ram operatively associated with the first arm member and the axle member. The axle assembly is incorporated, in use, into a suspension system as a roll control component of the suspension system. The arrangement is such that when expansion or contraction of the ram is restricted, rotation of the axle member relative to the first arm member is restricted and roll of the vehicle is resisted, and when expansion or contraction of the ram is permitted, rotation of the axle member relative to the first arm member is permitted and articulation of the axle member is permitted.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes two laterally spaced front and rear wheel assemblies, each assembly including a wheel and a wheel mounting, permitting movement of the wheel in a generally vertical direction, bounce support devices supporting the vehicle body, and roll control devices controlling roll attitude. The roll control devices include respective second coupling devices interconnecting the longitudinally adjacent wheel assemblies, and further include transfer devices interconnecting the second coupling devices of each pair of longitudinally adjacent wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension control system that allows substantially vertical motion of each wheel relative to the vehicle body includes front and rear resilient support means for supporting the body, a front roll stabilization assembly interconnecting at least one forward pair of wheels and a rear roll stabilization assembly interconnecting at least one rearward pair of wheels. Each roll stabilization assembly includes at least one lateral torsion bar (2) and a double-acting hydraulic actuator (3) interconnected to the at least one lateral torsion bar (2), the front and rear hydraulic actuators (3) being interconnected by first and second fluid conduits (5). Roll moments applied to the vehicle body generate pressure within the fluid conduits (5) thereby transmitting the roll moment into each lateral torsion bar (2).

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle suspension system for a vehicle body supported by a plurality of spaced apart wheels arranged in at least generally diagonally opposite pairs, the vehicle suspension system including an adjustment system for adjusting the position of each of the wheel rams relative to the vehicle body, sensors adapted to generate a signal indicative of the position of each of the wheels, an electronic control unit arranged to receive the signals, wherein the required position for each wheel ram is determined as a function of the diagonal average of the positions of each pair of diagonally opposite wheels, the position of each wheel being adjusted on the basis of the diagonal averages.

Abstract: A vehicular suspension system for a vehicle includes at least one pair of transversely adjacent front surface engaging members and at least one pair of transversely adjacent back surface engaging members for supporting a body of the vehicle. The suspension system further includes a first force transmitting device interconnecting the at least one pair of transversely adjacent front surface engaging members, and a second force transmitting device interconnecting the at least one pair of transversely adjacent back surface engaging members. The force transmitting devices transfer forces between the interconnected surface engaging members. Each force transmitting device includes an adjustment device for progressively varying the magnitude and direction of the force transferred between the associated surface engaging members by the force transmitting devices as a function of the relative positions of and the load applied to at least two pairs of the interconnected surface engaging members.

Abstract: A load distribution unit is utilized in a vehicle suspension system having at least one pair of laterally adjacent forward wheel assemblies, and at least one pair of laterally adjacent rear wheel assemblies. A wheel ram is associated with each of the wheel assemblies, each wheel ram including a major chamber therein. The load distribution unit includes a plurality of fluid chambers, each fluid chamber being divided into at least two control chambers by at least one piston supported therein. Two pairs of the control chambers which vary in volume proportionally and in opposite senses therein with piston motion are system chambers, and at least two of the remaining control chambers are bump chambers. The pistons are interconnected by at least one connection device. The major chamber of each wheel ram is in fluid communication with a respective system chamber. The vehicle suspension system provides a roll stiffness and a pitch stiffness while providing minimum cross-axial articulation stiffness.

Abstract: A suspension system is provided for a vehicle having a chassis supported on at least one front pair of laterally spaced wheels and at least one rear pair of laterally spaced wheels. The suspension system includes vehicle support devices for supporting the chassis above each pair of wheels, and roll moment reaction devices for providing location of the chassis about a substantially level roll attitude. The roll moment reaction devices include a respective roll attitude control mechanism for each pair of laterally spaced wheels for passively controlling the position of the wheels relative to each other and the chassis. Each roll attitude control mechanism is connected to at least one other roll attitude control mechanism by roll mechanism interconnection devices. The roll mechanism interconnection devices are arranged such that the roll moment reaction devices resist roll of the vehicle chassis with respect to the wheels, while simultaneously permitting cross-axle articulation motions of the wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle having a load support body, and a pair of front ground engaging wheels and a pair of rear ground engaging wheels connected to the body to support the body is shown, with each wheel being displaceable relative to the body in a generally vertical direction. A double acting fluid ram has a piston and is interconnected between each wheel and the body. Each ram includes a first and second fluid filled chamber on opposite sides of the ram piston, with the first and second chambers varying in volume in response to vertical movement between the respective wheel and the body. First conduits provide fluid communication between the first chambers of the front and rear rams on the same side of the vehicle, and second fluid conduits provide communication between the second chambers of the front and rear rams on the same side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes two laterally spaced forward wheel assemblies and two laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies together supporting a vehicle body. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel and a wheel mounting connecting the wheel to the vehicle body for movement relative to the body in the generally vertical direction. Respective first mechanical coupling members interconnect each wheel assembly to the laterally adjacent wheel, and respective second mechanical coupling members interconnect each wheel assembly. The respective second mechanical coupling members are interconnected to control the roll of the vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension system for a wheeled vehicle including a double acting ram (13, 14, 17, 18) connecting respective wheels to the vehicle body. Each ram has an upper and a lower chamber, a conduit (8, 8a, 10, 10a) individually connecting the upper chamber of a respective ram with the lower chamber of the diagonally opposite ram. Load unit (40) is connected between conduits (8, 8a, 10, 10a) to substantially equalize pressure therebetween and consequently loadings between wheels. A sensor (364) indicates the height of each pair of diagonally opposite wheels. A control unit (68) receives signals from wheel height sensors (360, 361, 362, 363) and sensor (364) to control valves (67) which adjust the quantity of fluid in the rams and the conduits to facilitate optimum position and load equalization for each of the wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system comprising a vehicle body supported upon a plurality of wheels arranged in lateral and longitudinal spaced relation. Individual double acting fluid rams connected between each wheel and the vehicle body to provide the support for the body, each ram having an upper and lower hydraulic chamber. Conduits individually communicating the upper chamber of the respective rams with the lower chamber of the respective diagonally opposite ram and fluid reservoir, and fluid pump arranged to draw fluid from the reservoir. Body attitude control means operable to connect each conduit individually to the pump or reservoir to respectively supply fluid to or receive fluid from the connected conduit. Individual actuators operable in response to the disposition of a respective wheel relative to the vehicle body to effect selective actuation of the control means to connect the circuit of that wheel to the pump or reservoir to maintain a preselected attitude of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension comprising a double acting ram (13, 14, 17, 18) connecting each wheel (1, 2, 3, 4) independently to the body (5) of the vehicle, each ram (13, 14, 17, 18) having respective first (13a, 14a, 17a, 18a) and second (13b, 14b, 17b, 18b) chambers that vary in volume as the wheels move relative to the vehicle body (5). Each front wheel ram (13, 18) is connected to the diagonally opposite rear wheel ram (14, 17) by a respective pair of conduits (8, 10) and (8a, 10a) arranged so the first chamber (13a, 18a) of one wheel is connected to the second chamber (14b, 17b) of the other wheel. Each first and second chamber and the conduits connected thereto are filled with fluid and independent of external fluid and pressure sources. Diagonal interconnection of the front and rear rams minimizes roll movement in a lateral direction and pitch movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a vehicle body, a plurality of wheels arranged in lateral and longitudinal spaced relation to support the vehicle body. Two hydraulic rams are between each wheel and the vehicle body, with one ram of each wheel connected by a fluid circuit with a ram of the laterally adjacent wheel and the other ram of each wheel connected by a fluid circuit to the ram of the longitudinally adjacent wheel. A respective sensor for each wheel is adapted to generate a signal indicative of the positional relation of that wheel relative to the vehicle body. A programmed controller is arranged to receive the signals from each sensor and compare the positional relation of the body with respect to a preset datum position, and a fluid adjustment device is operable in respect to a detected variation of the positional relation from the datum position to adjust the volume of fluid in the relevant fluid circuit to correct the positional relation if required.

Abstract: A vehicle having a load support body, and a pair of front ground engaging wheels and a pair of rear ground engaging wheels connected to the body to support the body is shown, with each wheel being displaceable relative to the body in a generally vertical direction. A double acting fluid ram has a piston and is interconnected between each wheel and the body. Each ram includes a first and second fluid filled chamber on opposite sides of the ram piston, with the first and second chambers varying in volume in response to vertical movement between the respective wheel and the body. First conduits provide fluid communication between the first chambers of the front and rear rams on the same side of the vehicle, and second fluid conduits provide communication between the second chambers of the front and rear rams on the same side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle having a suspension comprising a double acting ram (13, 14, 17, 18) connecting each wheel (1, 2, 3, 4) independently to the body (5) of the vehicle, each ram (13, 14, 17, 18) having respective first (13a, 14a, 17a, 18a) and second (13b, 14b, 17b, 18b) chambers that vary in volume as the wheels move relative to the vehicle body (5). Each front wheel ram (13, 18) is connected to the diagonally opposite rear wheel ram (14, 17) by a respective pair of conduits (8, 10) and (8a, 10a) arranged so the first chamber (13a, 18a) of one wheel is connected to the second chamber (14b, 17b) of the other wheel. Each first and second chamber and the conduits connected thereto are filled with fluid and independent of external fluid and pressure sources. Diagonal interconnection of the front and rear rams minimizes roll movement in a lateral direction and pitch movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.