Trailers used in road trains are typically provided with a relatively simple suspension system. These trailers are typically provided with tandem axles, with each axle being located by means of a trailing or leading arm in conjunction with a Panhard rod or other means for providing lateral location of the axle. Air springs are typically used to provide the load support for the trailer.

While such a suspension arrangement is adequate for most on-road conditions, it would nevertheless be preferable that the trailer be also provided with additional roll support to minimize the roll motion of the trailer. Furthermore, it would be preferable that the wheel assemblies of the trailer be adapted to have relatively free cross-axle articulation motion (also called"warp"motion) where the trailer needs to go over uneven road or off-road surfaces. This will enable the trailer to more safely traverse such uneven surfaces and reduce the loading of a wheel riding up a curb.

The Applicant has developed a number of different hydraulic suspension systems that provide for roll support while at the same time allowing free cross-axle articulation of the wheel assemblies of the vehicles. These suspension systems are for example described in U. S. Patent Nos. 5447332,5480188,5562305,5915701 and 6010139. Such systems are however impractical to use on the tandem axles of trailers because of their complexity and cost.

It would however still be advantageous to use a hydraulic or pneumatic suspension arrangement for such tandem axle applications because such an arrangement can be readily retrofitted onto existing suspension systems.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a suspension arrangement which is relatively simple in design, which provides improved roll control

while at the same time allowing free cross-axle articulation motion of the wheel assemblies of a vehicle.

With this in mind, there is provided a suspension system for a vehicle having a body and at least one pair of forward and one pair of rearward wheels, including: a suspension arm for each said wheel providing at least partial location of the associated wheel, the suspension arm of a said forward wheel being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body at a pivot position rearward to an axle line of the forward wheel, the suspension arm of a said rearward wheel being pivotally mounted to the vehicle body at a pivot position forward to an axle line of the rearward wheel ; at least one lever arm moving in conjunction with and extending radially from the pivot position of each said suspension arm; wherein at each respective side of the vehicle, a ram assembly means is located between the lever arms of the forward and rearward wheel, the ram assembly means including at least a first and second variable volume fluid chamber, each fluid chamber being in fluid communication with a fluid chamber of an opposing ram assembly means provided on the opposing side of the vehicle, such that there is fluid flow between the chambers of the ram assembly means during heave motion of the vehicle, there is little to no fluid flow between the chambers of the ram assembly means during roll motions, and there is an at least substantially longitudinal motion of the ram assembly means with little to no flow of fluid between the chambers of the ram assembly means during cross axle articulation motion of the wheels.

The suspension system may use hydraulic fluid, although it is to be appreciated that a partial or completely pneumatic arrangement is also envisaged.

The ram assembly means may include a single double acting ram having a cylinder separated into said first and second fluid chambers by a piston located therein. The lever arm of one of the wheels may be interconnected with the cylinder, the lever arm of the other wheel on the same vehicle side being interconnected with the piston. Therefore, motion of the lever arms relative to each other results in movement of the piston within the cylinder. This results in a change of volume of the first and second fluid chambers of that double acting ram.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lever arms on one vehicle side may extend in a generally upward direction, while the lever arms on the opposing vehicle side may extend in a generally downward direction.

The first fluid chamber of the double acting rams on each side of the vehicle may be in fluid communication, and the second fluid chambers of said two double acting rams may also be in fluid communication.

Each fluid chamber of a said double acting ram preferably have at least substantially equal effective areas, being the area of the face of the piston facing the fluid chamber. If the effective areas are equal, the pressure generated in roll within the double acting ram are more uniform and even such that the suspension system may operated in a symmetrical manner with little to no differences in the operation of opposing sides of the system. The effective areas may not be substantially different if the piston rod diameter is significantly smaller than the diameter of the piston. The cross-sectional area of the rod is then not large enough to significantly influence the effective area of the associated piston face. Alternatively, a through rod may be provided within the fluid chamber that is not accommodating the piston rod. This through rod may extend from the opposing piston face opposite the piston rod, and the diameter of the through rod may be at least substantially identical to the piston rod. This results in an at least substantial equalisation of the effective areas of each fluid chamber of the double acting ram.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lever arms on both sides of the vehicle may extend in the same general upward or downward direction. The first fluid chamber of each said double acting ram may be in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber of the opposing double acting ram. This arrangement would operate most effectively where the fluid chamber effective areas of each double acting ram are at least substantially equalised. It should be noted that the arrangement where the lever arms on each side of the vehicle extend in generally opposing directions, it is possible to utilize double acting rams having unequal effective areas, although it is preferred that the acting rams on each side of the vehicle have the same effective areas.

When the lever arms on both sides of the vehicle extend in the same general upward or downward direction, the sense of operation from one ram assembly means to the other needs to be reversed to accomplish the same result of roll control with no warp stiffness and little or no heave stiffness. The connection sequence simply needs to be changed to reverse the operation of one ram assembly means such that the first fluid chamber of each ram assembly means is connected to the second fluid chamber of the ram assembly means on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Having the lever arms extending in the same general direction facilitates packaging of the suspension system. For example, to protect the hydraulic components from damage in severe operating conditions, the lever arms may extend generally upwardly to raise the ram assembly means from the ground. Alternatively, the lever arms can extend generally downwardly as dictated by packaging or other design considerations.

Both of the above lever arm positions and connection sequences allow the suspension system according to the present invention to operate to provide for roll control for the vehicle while at the same time allowing free cross axle articulation motion of the wheels.

The use of double acting rams as the ram assembly means minimizes the space required under a vehicle to accommodate the suspension system. It is however also envisaged that alternative ram assembly means arrangements could be used. For example, to reduce the overall width of package required on each side of the vehicle, the ram assembly means may include a pair of single-acting roll control rams. The lever arms on both sides of the vehicle may extend in both the upward and downwards directions. On each side, one upper single-acting roll control ram may be located between the upwards extending lever arms of the forward and rearward wheels, and one lower single-acting roll control ram may be located between the downwards extending lever arms of the forward and rearward wheels. The upper single-acting roll control ram on one side of the vehicle may include a said first fluid chamber and the lower single-acting roll control ram on the same side of the vehicle may include a said second fluid chamber. On the opposite

side of the vehicle the upper single-acting roll control ram on one side of the vehicle may include a said second fluid chamber and the lower single-acting roll control ram on the same side of the vehicle may include a said first fluid chamber. The first fluid chamber of the ram assembly on one side of the vehicle may be connected to the first fluid chamber on the opposite side of the vehicle and the second fluid chamber of the ram assembly on one side of the vehicle may be connected to the second fluid chamber on the opposite side of the vehicle.

It is alternatively envisaged that the ram assembly means may include a series of interconnected rams providing increased functionality of partial or complete support. In a further possible arrangement, the ram assembly means may include a pair of single acting support rams, each single acting ram including a cylinder and piston supported therein and respectively providing third and fourth fluid chambers.

A said double acting ram including the first and second fluid chambers may be located between the single acting rams and may interconnect the respective pistons or cylinders of the single acting rams. The piston or cylinders of the two single acting rams may be respectively interconnected to the piston and cylinder of the intermediate ram. This arrangement may be connected in the following sequence.

In a suspension arrangement where the lever arms on both sides of the vehicle extend in the same general direction, then the third and fourth fluid chambers provided by the single acting rams of one said ram assembly may be respectively in fluid communication with the third and fourth fluid chambers of the single acting rams of the opposing said ram assembly, and the first chamber of each said intermediate ram may be in fluid communication with the second chamber of the opposing intermediate ram. The connection sequence of the intermediate rams would be reversed if the lever arms on each side of the vehicle extend in generally opposite directions. More specifically, the first fluid chambers would be in fluid communication, and the second fluid chambers would be in fluid communication in the pair of intermediate rams. In the arrangement described above, the communicating double acting rams of the ram assembly means may act to provide the heave and roll stiffness of the suspension system. The communicating single acting rams of the ram assembly means may however act to provide at least a

degree of support for the weight of the vehicle. The communicating single acting rams may also provide a degree of pitch support for the vehicle.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a further modification of the previously described suspension system, the double acting ram and the pair of single acting rams of each ram assembly means may be integrated into a single unit. The ram assembly means may include a single piston cylinder accommodating a pair of pistons, each piston having a piston rod extending therefrom. The piston cylinder may then be separated into three fluid chambers, being a central fluid chamber, and side fluid chambers on opposite sides of the central fluid chamber. The central chamber may correspond to the first or second chamber of the previously described arrangement, and the side chambers correspond to the opposing said second or first chamber. Rod cylinders may also be provided on opposing sides of the piston cylinder, each rod chamber accommodating a said piston rod. Each rod cylinder may provide a rod fluid chamber, the volume of which varies depending on the length of the piston rod accommodated therein at any particular time. The pistons of each ram assembly means may be respectively interconnected with the lever arms of a said forward and rearward wheel. The rod chambers correspond to the third and fourth chambers of the previously described arrangement.

The following connection sequence may be used for this arrangement when the lever arms are extending in the same general direction. The central fluid chamber of one ram assembly means may be in fluid communication with the side fluid chambers of the other ram assembly means on the other side of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the rod fluid chambers of each ram assembly means associated with the forward wheels may be in fluid communication. Similarly, the rod fluid chambers associated with the rearward wheels may be in fluid communication. This arrangement therefore operates in the same way as the previously described arrangement, with the communicating central and side chambers providing the heave and roll stiffness for the suspension system, while the communicating rod chambers provide at least a degree of support for the vehicle.

In all of the above preferred embodiments, the said fluid chambers may be connected by fluid conduits such as hydraulic lines to provide the fluid communication therebetween. Fluid accumulators may be provided in one or more of these fluid conduits to provide roll resilience for the vehicle. It is to be appreciated that other communication means are also envisaged. For example, if the ram assembly means are manufactured as a single unit having a common block, the fluid communication may be provided by passages passing through the common block.

Fluid accumulators can then be mounted on that common block.

Although accumulators can be used to provide the roll resilience, it is to be appreciated that the roll resilience can also be provided by any of the following : mechanical deflection of the suspension arms and/or lever arms, bearing deflection or bushing stiffness in any of the bearings or bushings interconnecting the vehicle suspension system, fluid compressibility and fluid line expansion.

Such suspension and lever arms are used in existing trailing and leading arm vehicle suspension systems and in suspension systems associated with the tandem axles of road train trailers. The suspension system according to the present invention can be readily retrofitted into such vehicles. It is of course also envisaged that vehicles be produced having a suspension system according to the present invention.

The suspension system according to the present invention allows vehicles having trailing and leading arm suspensions to be readily adapted to improve roll control for the vehicle while at the same time allowing free cross axle articulation of the wheels of the vehicle.

It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the suspension system of the present invention. Other arrangements of the present invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a tandem axle trailer wheel configuration showing a first preferred embodiment of the vehicle suspension system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic detail view of the vehicle suspension system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the vehicle suspension system according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a trailing arm and leading arm vehicle suspension configuration showing a third preferred embodiment of the vehicle suspension system according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a trailing arm and leading arm vehicle suspension configuration showing a fourth preferred embodiment of the vehicle suspension system according to the present invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, the tandem axle trailer wheel configuration includes a forward axle 1 having one or more wheels 3,4 mounted at each end. The axle 1 is attached to the body of the vehicle (not shown) by one leading arm 7,8 at each side thereof and may also have additional links (not shown) such as an upper A-frame to securely locate the axle 1 laterally, react brake torque, and control the wheel envelope. Each leading arm 7,8, has bearings 11,12 to permit lateral motion of the axle 1 locating end relative to the vehicle body. Each leading arm 7,8 also has a substantially laterally aligned bearing 15,16, to permit vertical motion of the axle end relative to the vehicle body. Although these bearings are illustrated separately, the effective centre point of each bearing for one arm, ie bearing 11,15 may be coincidental-at the same point, such as in the spider of a universal joint.

A lever arm 19,20 extends from the bearing 15,16, approximately perpendicular to the leading arms 7,8. While both lever arms 19,20 are substantially vertical at ride height, the lever arm 19 on one side of the vehicle extends generally upwards, while the lever arm 20 on the opposite side of the vehicle extends generally downwards.

The rearward axle arrangement is a mirror of the front, about a vertical plane across the trailer. Therefore the rearward axle 2 has wheels 5.6 mounted at each end. The axle 2 is however attached to the body of the vehicle (not shown) by one trailing arm 9,10 on each side and may similarly have additional links (not shown) such as an upper A-frame to securely locate the axle laterally, react brake torque, and control the wheel envelope. Each trailing arm 9,10, has bearings 13,14 to permit lateral motion of the axle 2 locating end relative to the vehicle body. Each trailing arm 9,10 also has a substantially laterally aligned bearing 17,18, to permit vertical motion of the axle end relative to the vehicle body. Once again, it should be noted that although these bearings are illustrated separately, the effective centre point of each bearing for one arm, i. e. bearing 11,15 may be coincidental-at the same point, such as in the spider of a universal joint.

A lever arm 21,22 extends from the bearing 17,18, approximately perpendicular to the trailing arms 9,10. While both cylinder arms are substantially vertical at ride height, the cylinder arm 22 on one side of the vehicle extends generally upwards, while the lever arm 21 on the opposite side of the vehicle extends generally downwards.

Between the two axle arrangements are located two ram assembly means 23, 24 the ram assembly means 23 on the left side of the vehicle interconnecting the lever arms 19 and 22, and the ram assembly means 24 on the right side of the vehicle interconnecting the cylinder lever arms 20 and 21. The ram assembly means 23,24 are in the form of double-acting rams. Each ram assembly means 23,24 has a first chamber 25,27 and a second chamber 26,28. The chambers are connected from the left to the right side of the vehicle by conduits 29,30, the first conduit 29 providing communication between the first chambers 25,27 of the ram assembly means 23,24, and the second conduit 30 providing communication between the second chambers 26,28 of the ram assembly means 23,24.

With this above described arrangement, as the vehicle wheels move with respect to the body in the basic suspension modes of heave, roll, pitch and warp, the suspension system reacts differently, thereby providing passive suspension mode differentiation. For example, in heave, the ram assembly means on one side of the

vehicle tries to contract, while the other tries to extend. As the first chambers of the ram assembly means are interconnected, and the second chambers of the ram assembly means are interconnected, fluid is transferred from one first chamber to the other, and from one second chamber to the other, thereby providing zero heave stiffness. In roll, both ram assembly means try to contract or both try to extend, thereby creating a hydraulic lock.

It should be appreciated that, due to the very high forces required in the ram assembly means 23,24 to react the high roll moments of a laden trailer, the lever arms 19, 20,21,22 may all be alike, each extending vertically both upwards and downwards. Then two double acting rams or preferably, two single acting rams can be used on each side of the vehicle. Figure 3 therefore illustrates a detail view of the suspension system similar to Figure 2, but including symmetrical lever arms extending both upwards (shown at 19a, 20a, 21 a, 22a) and downwards (19b, 20b, 21 b, 22b). The upper and lower portions of the lever arms and the pivotal fixings 15- 18 between the suspension arms 7-10 and the body, may all be integrated and formed from one piece of material. Each pair of upper and lower rams 23a, 23b and 24a, 24b are analogous to the double acting rams 23,24 in Figures 1 and 2, with the first chambers 25,27 and the second chambers 26,28 being correspondingly numbered. ie the upper ram 23a on the left side of the vehicle includes the second chamber 26 for that side of the vehicle, which is connected to the second chamber 28 of the lower ram 24b on the opposite side of the vehicle by conduit 30. This design allows for the highest strength components and/or lowest pressures in roll in the system for a given package width, ie between the tyres and chassis of a truck or trailer, where height is not so restricted.

The present invention may be simply adapted to vehicles other than large tandem axle vehicles. For example, in Figure 4 there is shown another possible arrangement of the suspension system according to the present invention for an independent suspension vehicle. Here, for packaging reasons, to allow the ram assembly means to fit the envelope under the side sills of the vehicle, the lever arms 119,120,121,122 all point generally downwards. Each ram assembly means comprises a central double acting roll ram 123,124, and a pair of single acting

support rams 141,142,143,144 on opposing sides of each roll ram 123,124. The roll rams 123,124 can have through rods (not shown), or as shown, they can provide some support of the vehicle weight. The support rams provide the balance of the vehicle support and provide pitch stiffness, without providing roll or warp stiffness.

The support rams do not have to be cross-linked, so may provide some roll/warp stiffness if required.

Looking in more detail at the suspension system shown in Figure 4, the front left wheel 103 is located at least in part by a suspension arm 107, which is in turn pivotally connected by a bearing or bushing 115 to the vehicle body (not shown).

The lever arm 119 associated with the front left wheel is rigidly fixed to the suspension arm 107, and rotates with the suspension arm about the body mount point 115. Due to the wheelbase of the vehicle, connecting rods 133,134,135,136 interconnect the ram assemblies to the lever arms 119,120,121,122. To prevent the ram assemblies vibrating, guides (not shown) may be fixed to the vehicle body which allow the rods to slide through and help prevent buckling of the rods when they are in compression. Additional joints may be used in the connecting rods to allow for misalignment during motion.

The central double acting roll rams 123,124 shown are of unequal area, i. e. the effective piston area facing the first chambers 125,126 is larger than the effective piston area facing the second chambers 127,128. Therefore the roll rams 123,124 as illustrated provide a heave stiffness in addition to the desired roll stiffness and the first chamber 125,126 of one roll ram must be connected to the second chamber 127,128 of the other roll ram by first and second conduits 129,130.

The ratio of roll stiffness to heave stiffness is determined by the rod and bore relationship of the roll rams 123,124. Obviously it is possible to use a ram design having equal effective areas for the first and second chambers to remove the heave stiffness, leaving the roll rams123, 124 providing only roll stiffness. It can be advantageous to use an arrangement as shown as it can provide a lowering of the vehicle in cornering. This happens due to the non-linearity of the hydropneumatic accumulators 131. The roll moment on the vehicle produces an approximately equal and opposite force change on the left and right roll ram, 123,124. The pressure in the

accumulators therefore has to change to suit, with the one absorbing fluid at a decreasing rate and the other releasing fluid at an increasing rate. The sum of the fluid volume in the roll ram 123,124 is increased, displacing more rod out of the roll ram, and causing a lowering of the vehicle.

It can be desirable to provide all the vehicle heave and pitch stiffness within the single arrangement. This is what is illustrated in Figure 4, in addition to the application of the system to an independent suspension. To this end, support rams 141,142,143,144 are provided, fixed to the vehicle body, with the piston rod of each support ram being respectively part of the connecting rod 133-136. The support cylinders are shown connected laterally across the vehicle by front and rear support conduits 145,146, to interconnect the support rams for each pair of laterally spaced wheels. Resilience may be included in the fluid, the expansion of the conduits, or by accumulators 147,148. The sizing of the roll and support rams and accumulators can be used to vary the roll, heave and pitch stiffness of the suspension.

Alternatively, the support rams for at least one laterally spaced pair of wheels may be individual for each wheel. Interconnecting all supports to give zero roll and warp stiffness can be desirable in some applications, but in other applications it can be preferable to have the support means for at least one pair of laterally spaced wheels, providing roll stiffness. Primarily, this can help with levelling and making component sizes similar front to rear when there is a significantly uneven roll moment distribution or lever ratio, front to rear. The support springs, if individual, may even be replaced by coil springs, ideally located longitudinally around the connecting rods and being connected to the body at their wheel ends, and actuated by plates fixed to the through connecting rods in much the same way as used by Citroen in the past on the 2CV.

Although all the lever arms 119,120,121,122 associated with the wheels 103,104,105,106 are shown pointing generally downwards, for the preferred small vehicle package, they may alternatively all point substantially upwards to move the ram assembly up away from potential damage on rocks, etc. One significant advantage of using the configuration shown with the lever arms pointing downwards is that compression motions put the connecting rods in tension. This is of especial

advantage when the connecting rods are also carrying vehicle support loads.

Obviously the suspension arms can be substituted for any arrangement to transfer the cylinder lever arm force to a vertical wheel force.

Figure 5 shows a further preferred embodiment of the vehicle suspension system according to the present invention similar to the system shown in Figure 4, but with the support rams 141,142,143,144 integrated into the roll rams 123,124, reducing the number of high pressure to atmosphere seals, and therefore the friction and possible oil leak paths. Corresponding reference numerals have therefore been used for corresponding features. The functionality is exactly the same, despite the different appearance of the roll rams in the centre of the ram assembly. Two pistons in each ram assembly are used and the body of each ram assembly is fixed to the vehicle body. Each ram assembly 123,124 may have a central fluid chamber 125,125 corresponding to the first chamber of the ram assembly shown in Figure 4, and two opposing side chambers 127,128 corresponding to the second chamber of Figure 4. The two side chambers 128 of the left ram assembly are interconnected to each other and to the central chamber 126 of the ram assembly on the opposite side of the vehicle. The two side chambers 127 of the right ram assembly are interconnected to each other and to the middle chamber 125 of the ram assembly on the opposite side of the vehicle.