Vehicle with independently adjustable suspension
AssigneeGlydways Inc.
InventorsErik Shahoian, Patrick Kessler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle may include a frame structure, four wheels, and four independent suspension systems coupled to the frame structure and configured to support the wheels relative to the frame structure. Each suspension system may include a suspension arm movably coupling a respective wheel to the frame structure, a torsion bar coupled to the suspension arm and imparting a spring force on the suspension arm, a preload arm coupled to the torsion bar, and a preload adjustment motor coupled to the preload arm and configured to rotate the torsion bar to adjust a preload on the torsion bar.
Claims20
A vehicle configured to autonomously travel between passenger loading stations in a transportation system, the vehicle comprising:
- a frame structure;
- a set of wheels;
- an adjustable suspension system supporting the set of wheels relative to the frame structure and configured to adjust a height of the frame structure relative to a road surface;
- and
- a control system operably coupled to the adjustable suspension system and configured to:
- cause the vehicle to travel to a passenger loading zone at a passenger loading station;
- at the passenger loading zone, adjust the height of the frame structure to a first height relative to the road surface to position a floor of the vehicle substantially level with a loading platform at the passenger loading zone;
- and
- prior to departing the passenger loading zone, adjust the height of the frame structure to a second height relative to the road surface, the second height different from the first height, to facilitate travel to a next destination.
A vehicle configured to autonomously travel between passenger loading stations in a transportation system, the vehicle comprising:
- a frame structure;
- a set of wheels;
- an adjustable suspension system supporting the set of wheels relative to the frame structure and configured to adjust a height of the frame structure relative to a road surface;
- and
- a control system operably coupled to the adjustable suspension system and configured to:
- operate the adjustable suspension system in a first mode during transit to a passenger loading station, wherein in the first mode the frame structure is suspended, relative to the road surface, by the adjustable suspension system;
- and
- operate the adjustable suspension system in a second mode upon arrival at a passenger loading zone, wherein in the second mode the frame structure is lowered onto a rigid support structure at the passenger loading zone.
A method for operating a vehicle comprising:
- the vehicle comprising a frame structure and an adjustable suspension system:
- adjusting, with the adjustable suspension system of the vehicle, a height of the frame structure relative to a road surface to position a floor of the vehicle substantially level with a loading platform at a passenger loading zone;
- and
- prior to departing the passenger loading zone, changing, with the adjustable suspension system, the height of the frame structure relative to the road surface to facilitate travel to a next destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.