Suspension System

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to suspension system and more particularly to an electromagnetic suspension system for a two wheeler.

Background of the Invention:

In general a shock absorber or suspension system has a wheel side member connected to a wheel and a body side member connected to the body of the vehicle , and is configured to generate a damping force acting against a relative movement of the wheel side member and body side member. Typically an electromagnetic shock absorber or suspension system is configured to generate the damping force based on a force generated by an electromagnetic motor that is included in the electromagnetic suspension system.

Known type of electromagnetic suspension system, is disclosed in US 2009/0121398. This particular document discloses an electromagnetic suspension system, wherein it employs a linear arrangement of the motor with the body side member and wheel side member. The stationary element of the motor is elastically supported by one of the wheel side member and body side member.
The problem with this method is, if a vehicle employs two suspension systems, one need to have two separate motors to make the said is electromagnetic suspension work.

Therefore the present invention is devised in keeping this problem in mind, and tries to provide an electromagnetic suspension system which has a higher usability when there is more than one suspension system in the vehicle.

Summary of the Invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic suspension system wherein one motor is used for atleast two shock absorbers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic suspension system wherein two shock absorbers are combined to generate a single damping force.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic suspension system wherein the relative motion between body side and wheel side member is converted to rotary motion of the rotor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic suspension system for a two wheeler with reduced part counts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic suspension system which is cost effective to develop.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description
given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein

FIGURE. 1 is a conventional motorcycle.

FIGURE. 2 shows the perspective view of suspension system according to one of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE.3 shows the front view of the suspension system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE. 4 shows the cross section view of the damping force generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the Drawings:

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with different embodiments. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather those embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

The subject matter of present invention relates to electromagnetic suspension system for a motorcycle.

The present invention is illustrated with the help of a motorcycle. Referring to Figure 1, a motorcycle comprises of a frame (101), front fork (102) attached to a pivot tube (201) of the vehicle frame, a front wheel (103) attached to these front forks (102), a handle bar (104) connected to the front forks (102), a fuel tank (105) attached so as to straddle an upper part of the vehicle frame, a seat (106) attached to the upper rear portion of the vehicle frame, an engine unit (107) attached to the lower front section of the vehicle frame, a swing arm (108) attached to a lower rear section of the vehicle frame, suspended by a rear shock absorber (not shown) from the vehicle frame and a rear wheel attached to a rear end of swing arm (108). The intake system of the engine comprises of a fuel air metering device such as a carburettor (109), intake duct and an air cleaner. The exhaust system of the engine comprises of exhaust pipe and a muffler. The motorcycle is also provided with a side cover for covering a side section of the vehicle frame, a seat cover for covering a rear section of the vehicle frame below the seat, a front fender (110) for covering an upper part of the front wheel (103), and a rear fender (111) for covering an upper part of the rear wheel (112). The drive from the engine (107) is transmitted from the engine to the driven wheel sprocket mounted on the rear wheel hub mounted on the rear wheel assembly.

Referring to Figure 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention the electromagnetic suspension for a motorcycle comprises at least two shock absorbers (301) and a damping force generator (302). The said shock absorber (301) is connected in between the body side member and wheel side member (303) of the motorcycle.

The said shock absorber (201) has bottom side portion (405) and top side portion (404) wherein a conventional helical spring (406) is provided. The said spring (406) is compressed and extended when vehicle runs on irregular road and thus minimizes the movement of the vehicle body. The passengers do not feel the road irregularities, vibration and bumps. The vehicle body is suspended by spring. The static compression of spring depends upon vehicle chassis weight. If only spring is used in suspension system, there will be a continuous oscillation. It is required to damp out the oscillation and hence energy absorbing element is required in the system.

Both top side (404) and bottom side portions (405) are connected to the corresponding member of the vehicle through pin joints, which allow rotary freedom. Each shock absorber (301) is provided with a damping rod (407) which moves in between the wheel side member (303) and body side member. The said damping rod (407) having two ends called as bottom end (407a) and top end (407b). The said bottom end (407a) is mechanically fixed to the bottom side portion (405) of the shock absorber and the said top end (407b) of the damping rod (407) is provided, with a rack and pinion gear arrangement (308, shown in Figure 3).

Referring to Figure 5, the said damping force generator (302) comprises a stationary element (502a) and a rotary element (502b). The said rotary element (502b) is having an extended shaft (509) which has pinion gear at both left hand side and right hand side and thus mechanically coupled with the damping rod (407). The stationary element (502a) is mechanically connected to a mounting bar (510).

The said mounting bar (510) is rigidly fixed with the top side portion (404) of the shock absorber and connected to the body side member.

The said damping force generator (302) is provided with an coil (502a1) on the stationary element (502a) and permanent magnet (502b1) which is fixed on rotary element (502b). The linear movement of the said damping rod (407) is converted to the rotary movement of the extended shaft (509) of the damping force generator (302) through the rack and pinion arrangement (408).

Whenever there is a relative motion between the body side member and wheel side member (303) of the vehicle then the damping rods (407) move in the up and down direction. The said rack and pinion arrangement (408) converts this linear motion of the damping rod (407) into the rotary motion of the rotary element (502b) and hence the voltage is generated at the coil terminal of the damping force generator (302). And finally the damping force is controlled by the damping controller according to the road profile.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We Claim:

1. An electromagnetic suspension system for motorcycle having at least two shock absorbers comprising:

a wheel side member connected to the wheel;

a body side member connected to mounting bar of the vehicle;

a spring disposed between the wheel side member and body side member;

a damping rod inside the spring movable relative to the wheel side member and body side member;

a damping force generator having a motor which includes a stationary element and a movable element, the said stationary element having a coil and said movable element having a permanent magnet, said damping force generator is capable of generating a voltage; and

a means of converting the liner motion of damping rod in to rotary motion to be fed to the said rotary element of the damping force generator;

wherein the said rotary element is provided with an extended shaft on both left hand side and right hand side to be connected with the top side of the damping rod; and

wherein the said stationary element is connected to the mounting bar on both left hand side and right hand side.

2. The electromagnetic suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said means of converting linear motion in to rotary motion is preferably a rack and pinion arrangement.

3. The electromagnetic suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said wheel side member is connected to the wheel axle of the vehicle.

4. The electromagnetic suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said damping force generator, generated voltage at the coil terminal is controlled by the damping controller according to the road profile.