Suspension device for amphibious vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166828-B2
Application number	US-201415522903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A pressure system of a suspension device for an amphibious vehicle includes: a pump configured to discharge a working fluid; a first control valve disposed in a first flow path extending between the pump and a first hydraulic chamber, the first control valve being configured to control supply of the working fluid from the pump to the first hydraulic chamber; a pilot check valve disposed in a portion of the first flow path which extends between the first hydraulic chamber and the first control valve, the pilot check valve being configured to open and close the first flow path in accordance with a pilot pressure; and a second control valve disposed in a pilot flow path extending between the pump and the pilot check valve, the second control valve being configured to control supply of the pilot pressure to the pilot check valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suspension device for an amphibious vehicle, comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder body and a piston disposed slidably inside the cylinder body, the piston defining a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber inside the cylinder body;
an accumulator connected to the first hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder; and
a pressure system configured to selectively perform supply of a working fluid to one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and discharge of the working fluid from the other one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber,
wherein the pressure system includes:
a pump configured to discharge the working fluid;
a first control valve disposed in a first flow path extending between the pump and the first hydraulic chamber, the first control valve being configured to control supply of the working fluid from the pump to the first hydraulic chamber;
a pilot check valve disposed in a portion of the first flow path which extends between the first hydraulic chamber and the first control valve, the pilot check valve being configured to open and close the first flow path in accordance with a pilot pressure; and

a second control valve disposed in a pilot flow path extending between the pump and the pilot check valve, the second control valve being configured to control supply of the pilot pressure to the pilot check valve, and
wherein the accumulator is directly connected to the first hydraulic chamber without passing through the first flow path.

2. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 1 ,
further comprising at least one pressure-regulation valve for regulating a pressure of the working fluid discharged from the pump.

3. A suspension device for an amphibious vehicle, comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder body and a piston disposed slidably inside the cylinder body, the piston defining a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber inside the cylinder body;
an accumulator connected to the first hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder; and
a pressure system configured to selectively perform supply of a working fluid to one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and discharge of the working fluid from the other one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber,
wherein the pressure system includes:
a pump configured to discharge the working fluid;
a first control valve disposed in a first flow path extending between the pump and the first hydraulic chamber, the first control valve being configured to control supply of the working fluid from the pump to the first hydraulic chamber;
a pilot check valve disposed in a portion of the first flow path which extends between the first hydraulic chamber and the first control valve, the pilot check valve being configured to open and close the first flow path in accordance with a pilot pressure;
a second control valve disposed in a pilot flow path extending between the pump and the pilot check valve, the second control valve being configured to control supply of the pilot pressure to the pilot check valve; and
at least one pressure-regulation valve for regulating a pressure of the working fluid discharged from the pump,

wherein the at least one pressure-regulation valve comprises a first pressure-regulation valve configured to regulate a pressure of the working fluid to be supplied to the first hydraulic chamber, and a second pressure-regulation valve configured to regulate a pressure of the working fluid to be supplied to the second hydraulic chamber, and
wherein the pressure of the working fluid regulated by the second pressure-regulation valve is lower than the pressure of the working fluid regulated by the first pressure-regulation valve.

4. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a base having a main shaft portion, the base being mountable to a vehicle body of the amphibious vehicle;
a hub being engaged rotatably with the main shaft portion; and
an arm provided integrally with the hub,
wherein the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator are disposed inside the arm.

5. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the pilot check valve is disposed inside the arm.

6. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 4 ,
wherein the pilot check valve is disposed closer to a distal end side of the arm than the hydraulic cylinder.

7. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein the arm includes a block constituting a distal end portion of the arm,
wherein the pilot check valve is mounted to the block, and
wherein an inner channel which brings the first hydraulic chamber and the pilot check valve into communication is disposed inside the block.

8. The suspension device for an amphibious vehicle according to claim 5 ,
wherein an inner channel which brings the pilot check valve and the first control valve into communication is formed inside the arm.

9. A suspension device for an amphibious vehicle, comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder body and a piston disposed slidably inside the cylinder body, the piston defining a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber inside the cylinder body;
an accumulator connected to the first hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder;
a pressure system configured to selectively perform supply of a working fluid to one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and discharge of the working fluid from the other one of the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber;
a base having a main shaft portion, the base being mountable to a vehicle body of the amphibious vehicle;
a hub being engaged rotatably with the main shaft portion; and
an arm provided integrally with the hub,
wherein the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator are disposed inside the arm,
wherein the pressure system includes:
a pump configured to discharge the working fluid;
a first control valve disposed in a first flow path extending between the pump and the first hydraulic chamber, the first control valve being configured to control supply of the working fluid from the pump to the first hydraulic chamber;
a pilot check valve disposed in a portion of the first flow path which extends between the first hydraulic chamber and the first control valve, the pilot check valve being configured to open and close the first flow path in accordance with a pilot pressure; and
a second control valve disposed in a pilot flow path extending between the pump and the pilot check valve, the second control valve being configured to control supply of the pilot pressure to the pilot check valve,

wherein the pilot check valve is disposed inside the arm, and
wherein an inner channel which brings the pilot check valve and the first control valve into communication is formed inside the arm,
the suspension device further comprising a sleeve having a hollow cylindrical shape and being formed integrally with the hub,
wherein the base includes a solid cylindrical portion which protrudes from the main shaft portion and which engages with the sleeve,
wherein the solid cylindrical portion has a plurality of circumferential grooves formed on an outer periphery of the solid cylindrical portion,
wherein the sleeve has a plurality of communication holes formed corresponding to the plurality of circumferential grooves, and
wherein the plurality of circumferential grooves each have a bottom surface on which a

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Iwasaki Koji

Classifications

• B60G2300/28

  Amphibious vehicles · CPC title

• B60G2300/32

  Track vehicles · CPC title

• B60G2204/47

  Means for retracting the suspension · CPC title

• B60F3/003 Primary

  Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60G17/056

  Regulating distributors or valves {for hydropneumatic systems}(B60G17/044 - B60G17/048, {B60G17/0416} take precedence; {Fluid interconnection systems to control vehicle inclination B60G21/06, B60G21/10}; valves per se F16K) · CPC title