Search Results

In this paper we consider a new design of adaptive suspension systems of vehicles with better technical characteristics and functional abilities in comparison with existing designs. We have developed the following main suspension components of vehicles: a lockable adaptive shock absorber with a wide range of control performance, implementing "lockout" mode by means of blocking adaptive shock absorber, and an elastic element with progressive non-linear characteristic and automatic optimization of localization of work areas. Advantages of our developments in the vehicle suspensions are the following: 1) when the vehicle is in a wide range of speeds in a so-called "comfort zone", we have managed, by applying the non-linear elastic element, to reduce significantly the stiffness of the elastic suspension elements in compare with the regular structures - at least in two times. This means that comfort, smooth motion, high performance the vehicle when driving over bumps are improved in times.

Overrunning clutches are devices for transmitting rotary motion in one direction only. These mechanisms are widely used in automotive industry, for example, in torque converters, impulse stepless transmissions, inertial continuously variable transmissions, starter engine starting system, and in other similar devices, where torque transmission is performed only in one direction. There are many different designs of the overrunning clutches, for example, ball, roller, cam, ratchet, spring ones, etc. But despite such a variety of designs and great efforts to establish reliable overrunning clutches, these mechanisms are still the weakest parts of many drive systems. Therefore, creation of reliable overrunning clutches is an urgent problem of mechanical engineering. Unfortunately, existing designs of the overrunning clutches have insufficient reliability and durability, which in many cases limits reliability of drive as a whole.

The inertial continuously variable transmissions are transmissions of mechanical type. They have a number of advantages in comparison with other types of transmissions. For example, they have a big value of the coefficient of efficiency, since the principle of their action does not imply the need to convert energy from one type to another one. These transmissions have a compact design, a wide range of torque transformation. They can operate in direct mode, smoothing the torsional vibrations in the system. At the moment when the output shaft is stopped, the input transmission shaft continues to rotate, that prevents the engine from overloading. There are other advantages. But despite these advantages, the inertial transmissions are not widely used in the automotive industry. The main reason for this is the inadequate durability of the freewheel mechanisms involved in the designs of the inertial transmissions.

Overrunning clutches are devices for transmitting rotary motion in one direction only. These mechanisms are widely used in automotive industry, for example, in torque converters, impulse stepless transmissions, inertial continuously variable transmissions, starter engine starting system, and in other similar devices, where torque transmission is performed only in one direction. There are many different designs of the overrunning clutches, for example, ball, roller, cam, ratchet, spring ones, etc. But despite such a variety of designs and great efforts to establish reliable overrunning clutches, these mechanisms are still the weakest parts of many drive systems. Therefore, creation of reliable overrunning clutches is an urgent problem of mechanical engineering. Unfortunately, existing designs of the overrunning clutches have insufficient reliability and durability, which in many cases limits reliability of drive as a whole.