DESCRIPTION

MIDIBUS FULL AIR BELLOWED FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH LATERAL ROD AND RADIUS RODS

Field of invention

This invention relates to usage of air bellows and rods instead of springs in the suspension system, especially in the front engine midi busses, in order to eliminate the negative effects of springs, which are parts of front suspension system, to the comfort of the vehicle; provide the suspension system be more durable and increase the stability of the vehicle under different road circumstances.

Background of the invention

Suspension system, which is placed between the body of the vehicle and the tyres, is the mechanism that absorbs the vibrations arising from the potholes and mounds on roads. In other words suspension system is needed for driving comfort and stability.

Generally, the spring, namely the basic element of suspension system, is one of the elements which connect the chassis, carrying the load of the vehicle, to the tyres. In the state of art, the leaf springs, especially in the suspension system of the front engine midi busses, are used in addition to air bellows. However, springs have negative features to vehicle comfort and endurance of suspension system. Namely; in the laminated leaf spring system, absorption of vibrations caused by the road is realized by sliding of leaves on each other with friction. Although some friction attenuator materials are used to minimize the friction between the leaves,- inner

vibrations of the leaves can not be eliminated totally and vibrations arising from little strokes coming from the road can not be absorbed by the springs and directly conducted to the chassis . This is a very important factor that affects the vehicle comfort .

Also, because of the fracture and curvature of the leaves arising from this friction, springs need regular and frequent attendance .

Detailed description of the invention

In the suspension system which is the subject of this invention; air bellows (2, 3), lateral rod (4) and radius rods (5, 6, 7, 8) are used in order to eliminate the forces being conducted to the chassis; which comes from the road because of the inner vibrations between the leaves of the springs and which can not be absorbed; namely, to make especially the front engine midi busses more comfortable.

The air bellows used in the suspension systems consists of rubber bellows filled with air in a preserving case; these bellows are pumped with pressurized air coming from the vehicle's compressor. Spring effect which provides absorption of the vibrations coming from the road is obtained by pumping air to the air bellows and absorbing it out. In the suspension system which is the subject of this invention vehicle comfort is increased by usage of right (2) and left

(3) air bellows in front of the tyres, on the axle, which do not create any inner vibration during the springback and absorb the vibration more easily and effectively in comparison to mechanical systems such as springs. Also, since the air bellows (2, 3) are the systems which operate vertically to the axle (1) pivot; namely, they are

able to meet the vertical forces to the axle (1) pivot coming from the road; these vertical forces are prevented to reach the chassis with the mentioned suspension system.

In the suspension system which is the subject of this invention together with the usage of air bellows instead of springs, the required short term periodical attendance because of the fracture and curvature of the leaves is eliminated; endurance of the suspension system is increased, as well .

Other important advantage of using right (2) and left (3) air bellows in the suspension system is that; vehicle driving level is always kept stable under all circumstances since the level control valves (9) pump and absorb the air to and from the air bellows (2, 3) in accordance with the weight.

Another important feature of the suspension system which is the subject of this invention is that it comprises lateral rod (4) . The lateral rod (4) that can not be entrained to the front suspension system because of the springs in the known applications; is placed in a suitable position in the area between the engine and the engine fan which emerges by the usage of air bellows instead of springs in the system which is the subject of this invention; so that it realizes its functions much better. In the system which is the subject of this invention the main function of the lateral rod (4) is to provide the stability of the system by keeping the vehicle body connected to the axle (1) in case of vehicle's springing and tilting right or left sides. Namely; lateral rod (4) , contrarily to air bellows (1, 2), provides vehicle's stability by meeting the forces coming from the road parallel to the axle (1) pivot.

Moreover, the right upper radius rod (5) , right bottom radius rod (6) , left upper radius rod (7) and left bottom radius rod

(8) keep the vehicle stable under every circumstance by meeting any force coming from any direction and holding the axle (1) with the help of their astatic structure which is moveable to different lines.

Consequently, in the front suspension system which is the subject of this invention, stability and comfort of the vehicle is increased by not using springs but air bellows (2, 3), lateral rod (4) and radius rods; also by meeting forces coming from any direction except for the vertical direction which is parallel to axle (1) pivot.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1: Isometric appearance of the air bellow suspension system with lateral rod and radius rods .

Brief description of the references

1 Axle shaft

2 Right air bellow 3 Left air bellow 4 Lateral rod 5 Right upper radius rod 6 Right bottom radius rod 7 Left upper radius rod 8 Left bottom radius rod 9 Level control valve