PHOTOGRAPH DEVICE OF A RADS AND A WHEEL SUSPENSION, WHICH CONTAIN THIS PHOTOGRAPH DEVICE
AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (-1-1) Application NoAU2001263811 A8 (54) Title Wheel supporting device and suspension device comprising same (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B62D 017/00 B60G 007/00 (21) Application No: 2001263811 (22) Application Date: 2001 .03.26 (87) WIPO No: WO01/72572 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 00/03929 2000 .03 .27 01/01180 2001 .01.23 (33) Country FR FR 200510137 (43) (43) Publication Date : 2001 .10.08 Publication Journal Date : 2001 .12.20 (71) Applicant(s) Societe De Technologie Michelin; Michel n Recherche Et Technique S.A. (72) Inventor(s) Serra, LoiC; Tetaz, Christian (19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (-1-1) Application NoAU2001263811 A8 (54) Title Wheel supporting device and suspension device comprising same (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) B62D 017/00 B60G 007/00 (21) Application No: 2001263811 (22) Application Date: 2001 .03.26 (87) WIPO No: WO01/72572 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 00/03929 2000 .03 .27 01/01180 2001 .01.23 (33) Country FR FR 200510137 (43) (43) Publication Date : 2001 .10.08 Publication Journal Date : 2001 .12.20 (71) Applicant(s) Societe De Technologie Michelin; Michel n Recherche Et Technique S.A. (72) Inventor(s) Serra, LoiC; Tetaz, Christian -1- The invention concerns a suspension device (1) comprising a wheel carrier (31) articulated relative to the suspension elements (18, 19). Said linkage is provided by rigid wishbones (6, 7). That additional degree of freedom enables to vary the camber (α) independently of the suspension travel and of deformations of its elements. Said camber variation is controlled, preferably, by the forces to which the wheel is subjected (2) in the contact zone (AC). This is obtained by the configuration provided wherein the movements of the wheel (2) relative to the vehicle body (5) allow an instantaneous rotation centre (CIR r/c) located beneath the ground plane (S). Support device (3, 6, 7), designed to connect a wheel (2) to suspension elements (4, 8, 9) of a vehicle, the said wheel (2) with a radius "R" being designed to be supported on the ground (S), the said support device comprising a wheel carrier (3) and camber means (6, 7), which provide the said wheel with a degree of freedom in terms of camber relative to the said suspension elements (4, 8, 9), the said support device being characterized in that the said camber means comprise connection rods (6, 7) which are articulated between the wheel carrier and an intermediate support (4; 41; 42; 18; 19; 20), the said intermediate support constituting one of the said suspension elements (4, 8, 9), the intersection of the axes of the connection rods defining the position of a first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) of the said wheel (2) relative to the said suspension elements, the said camber means being configured such that, about a mean position, the first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) is situated in an interval ranging from 0.5 R above the ground, to R beneath the ground. Support device (3, 6, 7) according to claim 1, the said first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) being situated, for a mean position of the wheel, beneath the plane of the ground (S). Support device according to claim 2, configured such that the said first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) is situated transversely beneath the area (AC) of contact the wheel (2) on the ground (S). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, configured such that it is close to equilibrium in the said mean position, in the absence of transverse force (Fy) exerted by the ground (S) on the wheel (2) in the contact area (AC). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the position of the said first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) relative to the centre of the wheel forms an angle of less than 15° with the plane of the wheel (PR). Support device according to claim 5, the said first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) being situated substantially in the plane of the wheel (PR). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lower ends of the said connection rods are connected to the intermediate support (4, 18, 41, 20, 92) and the upper ends of the said connection rods are connected to the wheel carrier (3, 32, 34, 44, 54). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the said degree of camber freedom is provided by resilient deformations of deformable elements (35, 36), which connect the wheel carrier (34) to the said suspension elements (18). Support device according to one of the preceding claims, the said suspension elements comprising a strut (18) of a MacPherson suspension system. Support device according to one of the preceding claims, additionally comprising means for control (30, 50) which can affect the camber of the wheel. Support device according to claim 10, the means for control comprising a resiliently deformable element, which opposes the camber movement. Support device according to claim 11, the resiliently deformable element consisting of elastomeric articulations. Suspension device (1) for a vehicle, comprising the support device according to one of the preceding claims. Suspension device (1) according to claim 13, designed to connect the wheel carrier (3) to a body (5) of a vehicle, the said suspension device comprising suspension means (4, 8, 9) and providing the wheel carrier, relative to the body, with a degree of freedom in terms of camber, and a degree of freedom of suspension travel, which are independent from one another, the said camber means (6, 7) and the said suspension means (4, 8, 9) being configured such that, about a mean position, the camber movement of the wheel carrier relative to the body allows a second instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/c), which is situated in an interval ranging from 0.5 R above the ground, to R beneath the ground. Suspension device (1) according to claim 14, the said second instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/c) being situated in an interval ranging from 0.2 R above the ground, to 0.4 R beneath the ground. Suspension device (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15, comprising an intermediate support (4), which is connected firstly to the wheel carrier (3), and is designed to be connected secondly to the body (5), the connection of the wheel carrier to the intermediate support permitting the said degree of freedom in terms of camber, and the connection of the said intermediate support to the body permitting the said degree of freedom of suspension travel. Suspension device (1) according to one of claims 13 to 16, the said second instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/c) of the camber movement of the wheel carrier (3) relative to the body (5) being situated beneath the plane of the ground (S), so that transverse forces (Fy) exerted by the ground on the wheel (2), in the contact area (AC), induce inclination of the wheel carrier (3) relative to the body, in the direction of a decrease in camber, when the said transverse forces are directed towards the interior of the vehicle, and in the direction of an increase in camber, when the said transverse forces are directed towards the exterior of the vehicle. Suspension device (1) according to one of claims 13 to 17, in which the said degree of freedom in terms of camber is controlled by an active means, according to running parameters of the said vehicle. Suspension device (1) for a vehicle, the device comprising suspension arms or wishbones (8, 9) and a wheel carrier (3) intended to support a wheel (2) with radius "R", the said device being characterized in that it further comprises an intermediate support (4) and connection rods (6, 7), the said intermediate support (4) being articulated relative to the arms or wishbones (8, 9) such as to permit a suspension travel, the said connection rods being articulated by their lower parts to the said intermediate support (4) and by their upper parts to the said wheel carrier (3) such as to permit the wheel (2) a movement in terms of camber relative to the intermediate support (4), the intersection of the axes of the connection rods defining the position of a first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) of the said wheel (2) relative to the intermediate support (4), the first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) being situated, about a mean position, in an interval ranging from 0.5 R above the ground, to R beneath the ground. Vehicle suspension device (1) according to claim 19, in which the first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) is situated beneath the ground (S). Suspension device (1) according to one of claims 19 and 20, in which the said first instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s) is situated substantially in the plane of the wheel (PR). Suspension device (1) according to one of claims 18 to 21 further comprising a passive means (50) for controlling the variations in camber. Vehicle equipped with a suspension device (1) according to one of claims 13 to 22.