Vehicle with movable and inwardly tilting safety body

Abstract

Enhanced vehicle handling is achieved by the improved suspension systems constructed in accordance with aspects of the present invention, in which not only do the roll couple and jacking couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body roll to counteract the jacking effect, but also the pitch couple and the pitching couple oppose each other, thereby causing the body pitch to counteract the pitching effect. This results in the improvement of the cornering traction of the vehicle, the braking traction of the vehicle, the acceleration traction of the vehicle (especially in a front-wheel-drive vehicle), the simultaneous cornering and braking traction of the vehicle, and the simultaneous cornering and acceleration traction of the vehicle.

1 . A vehicle suspension system for a vehicle having a body, the body having a pitch center and a roll center, the vehicle having at least one surface engaging vehicle support assembly, the vehicle having a reaction center, comprising:
 (a) at least one tie structure interposed between the vehicle support assembly and the body of the vehicle to serve as the path for the forces imposed on the vehicle that travel between the pitch or roll center and the support assembly, wherein the tie structure is selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) a singular tie structure interposed between the vehicle support assembly and the body; 
 (ii) a tie structure at the front of the vehicle interposed between the front portion of the vehicle and a front vehicle support assembly and/or interposed between the rear portion of the vehicle and a rear vehicle support assembly; and 
 (iii) a tie structure at each of the vehicle support assemblies interposed between a corresponding vehicle support assembly and the body; 
 (iv) a tie structure interposed between the body and multiple vehicle support assemblies; and 
 (v) a tie structure at individual vehicle support assemblies and interposed between a corresponding vehicle support assembly and the body at one location of the vehicle and at another location of the body, a tie structure interposed between the body and multiple vehicle support assemblies; 
   (b) a first interconnecting system for interconnecting two or more of the (i) vehicle support assembly, (ii) the tie structure(s), and (iii) the body so as to allow one of the pitch center, roll center and pitch and roll center, such center being located at an elevation above the reaction center of the vehicle, to move in the direction of the forces that are imposed on the vehicle, thereby to preclude the applicable roll center, pitch center, or pitch and roll center from serving as the reaction center of the vehicle;   (c) a second interconnecting system for interconnecting the tie structure(s) and the body about the pitch center or the roll center, both centers being located at elevations above the reaction center of the vehicle, whereby upon forces being imposed on the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the body rotates around the center(s) of rotation relative to the tie structure, in the direction opposite to the direction of the forces acting on the vehicle in pitch or roll; and   (d) a load control system for generating a resistance to the movement of the pitch or roll center(s) which is greater than the resistance generated by the load control system to the movement of the center of gravity of the vehicle due to forces applied to the vehicle during operation of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . A vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , comprising one tie structure connecting the body and the support assembly, wherein the tie structure has a construction including a space frame, one piece, and/or different materials. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , wherein the load control system includes a load control means selected from the group consisting of a torsion bar, a rubber structure, an air spring, a shock absorber, a rotational actuator, and a linear actuator. 
     
     
         4 . A vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the pitch and/or roll centers are adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , wherein the load control system is operationally interconnected. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , wherein the path of the forces from the center of gravity to the support assembly is substantially the same as that from the pitch and/or roll centers.