Volvo Truck Corporation

Volvo Trucks Ab

Volvo Lastvagnar Ab

Jean-Marc Blond

Jean-Baptiste Doray

Jérôme Chaudet

Thomas Justin

Olivier Villot

Christopher Lamotte

Philippe Boitard

The invention relates to stabilizer bar () for use with the suspension of a vehicle such as a truck. The stabilizer bar () comprises a shaft () supported by bearings (), cranked parts for example in the form of crank arms () being provided at or adjacent each end of the shaft (), each cranked part having a connection point () for connection, in use, to a respective link member (), wherein each connection point () is substantially aligned with a respective one of the bearings () relative to the axis of the shaft (). The invention also relates to a vehicle incorporating such a stabilizer bar () and to a roll stabilization method using such a stabilizer bar ().

Stabilizer bar and stabilization method

A bar is designed for attaching a steering cylinder of a vehicle to a wheel axle. The bar is twisted around its longitudinal axis. The bar is manufactured by cutting out a rectangular plate of metallic material or of composite material, clamping the longitudinal ends of the cut-out plate, and pivoting one end or pivoting both ends in opposite directions, around a longitudinal axis of the plate.

Twisted bar for attaching a steering cylinder of a vehicle to a wheel axle, vehicle comprising such a bar and process for manufacturing such a bar

A method and a system are provided for optimizing the steering assistance of a vehicle. The method includes the step of comparing the steering angle of the steered wheels with a theoretical value or with the steering angle of the steering wheel.

Method for optimizing the steering assistance

A power steering system includes a first steering mechanism designed to control the steering of at least one of the wheels of a steered axle and includes a mechanical transmission of the movement from a steering wheel of the vehicle to the wheel, a first actuator controlled by a parameter related to the steering wheel movement and capable of providing a steering assistance effort to the wheel. The power steering system further includes a second steering mechanism which includes a second actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort to at least one of the wheels of the same axle, the second actuator having a housing which is secured to the axle, a first and a second piston rods able to slide through the housing and extending, on opposite sides, beyond the housing, with the piston rods being substantially parallel to the axle.

Power steering system for a vehicle

A drive arrangement for a least one auxiliary equipment of a hybrid vehicle includes a gearbox having at least one input shaft connected to a drive internal combustion engine and one output shaft connected to driven wheels of the vehicle. The drive arrangement includes a power split device having no more than three separate input/output couplings, with a first coupling connected to the input shaft, a second coupling connected to the output shaft, and a third coupling connected to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement includes an auxiliary electric machine connected to one of the couplings of the power split device, and adapted to deliver torque to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement further includes an arrangement to disconnect the first coupling from the input shaft of the gearbox.

Drive arrangement for vehicle auxiliaries

A power steering system includes a first steering device which controls the steering of the first wheels of the vehicle according to a first steering angle &#x3b1;and includes a first actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort, a second steering device including a second actuator controlled by a controller as a function of a parameter related to the steering wheel movement, and controlling the steering of the second wheels, according to a second steering angle &#x3b1;. In normal operation of the power steering system, &#x3b1;is set according to a first rule depending on the first steering angle &#x3b1;. In case the steering wheel torque is greater than a predetermined threshold, the second steering device is operated in a forced mode by setting the second steering angle according to a rule depending on the first steering angle and taking into account at least one different or additional data, in order to cause an offset-oversteering of the second wheel.

Control method of a power steering system for a vehicle having two steered axles

A dual drive arrangement has three way power split device such as an epicyclic gearing system converting input rotation from a gearbox or from an electric motor into an output rotation driving a hydraulic pump. A method for controlling the dual drive arrangement driving a hydraulic pump includes setting a minimal flow value to the hydraulic pump, sensing the vehicle speed, processing the sensed vehicle speed where the processing includes comparing the sensed vehicle speed with a reference speed value to thereby determine whether the vehicle operates in a first operational mode I where the speed vehicle is too low to drive the hydraulic pump up to the minimal flow or in a second operational mode II where speed vehicle where the speed vehicle is sufficient to meet at least the minimal flow value, and controlling the operation of the epicyclic gear so that the electric source drives the hydraulic pump when the vehicle runs under the first operational mode I and at least the gearbox drives the hydraulic pump when the vehicle runs under the second operational mode II.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Pierre de Chandieu, France

Jean-Marc Blond