Road vehicle suspension system - utilises flexible hose under tension containing fluid at high pressure

摘要

The wheels (1) of a road vehicle are mounted at the ends of arms (3) which pivot in lugs (4) forming part of the chassis (4). The arms (3) have projections (7) attached to fittings (8) which in turn are attached to lengths of flexible hose (9). The other ends of the hoses (9) are attached to blocks (12) by fittings (11). The blocks (12) are joined by a pipe (16) connected to an hydraulic accumulator (24). The fittings (11) contain flow restrictors. When a wheel (1) moves upwards the hose (9) is stretched and this stretching reduces its internal volume so that fluid is forced through the restrictor in the fitting (11) into the accumulator (24). This flow of fluid through the restrictor creates a damping force.