Daimler-benz Ag

Gerhard Hametner

Dieter Koch

Rudolf Maurath

Herbert Hemming

Bernhard Reichl

Lothar Benkowitz

Peter Hofmann

Wolfgang Ackermann

Walter Hornung

A buckling protection control system for articulated vehicles, especially for articulated buses is disclosed. Double acting piston cylinder units are interposed between vehicular sections at the hinged connection therebetween to forceably dampen and control the relative angular movement of the vehicular sections during driving of the vehicle. In addition to controlling the buckling movements during proper driver operation of the vehicle, the control system of the invention includes an arrangement for responding to situations where a driver, as a result of a panic reaction, sharply or rapidly steers the vehicle. For this purpose, the invention includes a computer control system which determines a maximum buckling angle value K-max(V) which is dependent on the vehicle velocity V. Irrespective of other driving conditions, the buckling angle is prevented from exceeding this maximum buckling angle K-max(V).

Buckling control system for articulated vehicles

An anti-buckling control system is disclosed for articulated vehicles, especially articulated busses. Two double acting piston-cylinder units are interposed in the pivot connection between the forward and following vehicular units for applying resistance forces against hinged or buckling movement of the vehicular units with respect to one another. A computerized control unit is provided for controlling the hydraulic circuit for the piston-cylinder units so that they apply resistance forces tending to direct the buckling angle towards desired values determined in dependence upon the forward vehicular unit steering angle, the instantaneous buckling angle, and the vehicle velocity. The piston-cylinder units are disposed with their ends at one vehicle side closely adjacent one another and with their ends at the other vehicle side spaced from one another to form a V-shaped configuration. To increase the effectiveness of the piston-cylinder units for large buckling angles and the like, the ends thereof connected to a pivotal cross piece for supporting the following vehicle section, are disposed at the following vehicle side of the buckling pivot axis during straight driving conditions.

Anti-buckling control system for articulated vehicles

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Unterensingen, Germany

Gerhard Hametner