Abstract: A roll control system for a vehicle suspension system and a method for controlling said control system, the suspension system including support means, the roll control system including: wheel cylinders each including first and second chambers; and first and second fluid circuits, each said fluid circuit providing fluid communication between the said first chambers on one side of the vehicle and the second chambers on the opposite side of the vehicle by fluid conduits to thereby provide roll support decoupled from a warp mode of the vehicle suspension system by providing a roll stiffness about a level roll attitude whilst simultaneously providing substantially zero warp stiffness; and the method including bypassing fluid flow from at least a substantial portion of the conduits during predetermined wheel inputs to the control system to thereby minimize line damping and/or fluid inertia effects on the damping of the control system.

Abstract: A roll control system for a vehicle suspension system and a method for controlling the control system is disclosed. The vehicle has at least one pair of laterally spaced front wheel assemblies and at least one pair of laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel and a wheel mounting permitting wheel movement in a generally vertical direction relative to the vehicle body, and vehicle support means for providing at least substantially a major portion of the support for the vehicle. The roll control system includes: wheel cylinders respectively locatable between each wheel mounting and the vehicle body. Each wheel cylinder includes an inner volume separated into first and second chambers by a piston supported within, and first and second fluid circuits respectively providing fluid connection between the wheel cylinders by fluid conduits.

Abstract: A roll control system (1) for a vehicle suspension system, the vehicle having at least one pair of lately spaced front wheel assemblies (2) and at least one pair of laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies (3), each wheel assembly (2, 3) including a wheel (4) and a wheel mounting (5) permitting wheel movement in a generally vertical direction relative to vehicle body, and vehicle support means (17a, 17b) for providing at least substantially a major portion of the support for the vehicle; the roll control system (1) including: wheel cylinders (8) respectively locatable between each wheel mounting (5) and the vehicle body, each wheel cylinder (8) including an inner volume separated into first (51) and second (52) chambers by a piston (53) supported within; first and second fluid circuits (7) respectively providing fluid connection between the wheel cylinders (8) by fluid conduits (9, 10, 11), each said fluid circuit providing fluid communication between the said first chambers (51) on one side of the vehicle and

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 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 hydropneumatic suspension comprising four double acting rams (1, 2, 3, 4) each between respective one of four spaced wheels at comers of the vehicle. First conduits (9, 11) connecting main chambers (1a, 2a) of front rams (1, 2) with diagonally opposite rear cylinder minor chambers (3b, 4b), respectively, and, second conduits (10, 12) connecting minor chambers (1b, 2b) with main chambers of diagonally opposite rams (3a, 4a), respectively. A load distribution unit (13) has two cylindrical chambers (13a, 13b) each separated by a piston into. respectively, chambers (14, 15) and (16, 17). Conduits (9a, 10a, 11a, 12a) connect respectively conduits (9, 10, 11, 12) to chambers (14, 16, 17, 15). The pistons are connected by a resilient means (20) to allow relative piston movement to provide for independent control of pitch and roll of the vehicle.

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 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 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.

Abstract: A vehicle having a body 25 supported respective pairs of front and rear wheels, 30, 31, 32, 33, two piston and cylinder units, 23-24, 35-36, 37-38, 34-39, being associated with each wheel and connected between the wheel 30 and body 25 so the piston moves in the cylinders in response to relative movement between the wheel and the body. An individual fluid circuit 40, 41, 42, 43, connecting one piston and cylinder unit 23 of each wheel 30 to a corresponding unit 34 longitudinally spaced therefrom on the same side of the vehicle, and the other piston and cylinder unit 24 of each wheel to a corresponding unit 35 on the transversely opposite side of the vehicle.