an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (04/27/84)
-- Lotus (yay!) has proposed to replace conventional suspensions of springs and dampers with hydraulic rams powered by engine driven pumps. Accelerometers on each corner of the car would sense oncoming bumps and dips, and the hydraulic system would pull the affected wheel up or force it down so as to keep a constant pressure on the tyre contact patch. Their testing indicates cornering speeds can go up as much as 10 percent. Lotus also claims that passengers in a sport sedan hitting a brick at 100 mph would hardly be aware of it. Furthermore all this hydraulic technology is based on highly developed and proven jet fighter hydraulic control systems. Summarized, without permission, from "Chassis and Suspension, Part 4," by Kevin cameron. "Cycle" magazine, May 1984.
wookie@alice.UUCP (Keith Bauer White Tiger Racing) (05/02/84)
this suspension system has already been used with some success in Formula one race cars. (I'm referring to the active hydraulic system which anticipates the road ahead). It sounds like a fascinating system but I do hate these high tech things that are expensive to build and maintain. Keith Bauer White Tiger Racing
seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (D.A. Seifert) (05/03/84)
> this suspension system has already been used with some success > in Formula one race cars. (I'm referring to the active hydraulic > system which anticipates the road ahead). It sounds like a fascinating > system but I do hate these high tech things that are expensive > to build and maintain. > > Keith Bauer > White Tiger Racing Rolls Royce uses some sort of active hydraulic system also. A friend of mine who is a RR mechanic claims they corner very flat due to this, and that they actually perform quite well. Of course very very few people drive them fast enough to discover this! The ultimate sleeper? { Keith, did you get my mail message re: unsprung shocks & springs? } -- _____ /_____\ That auto-crossing beagle, /_______\ Snoopy |___| BMWCCA, Windy City Chapter ____|___|_____ ihnp4!ihuxl!seifert
an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (05/04/84)
-- > That auto-crossing beagle: > Rolls Royce uses some sort of active hydraulic system also. Citroen DS19 and DS21's have some kind of hydraulic gizmos, too. When I was young (sigh!) I remember being much impressed with the way a DS would slowly hoist itself up to proper ride height when you first start it up. I don't think they anticipate the road tho'. Au
gt@hplvla.UUCP (05/10/84)
There are basically two disadvantages to such an active
suspension system. One is that it will use more engine
power than a passive system and the other is the added
complexity.
The power losses may be significant to a car (some folks
(detractors) say as much as 10%) or they may not be. A
motorcycle could easily afford to give up the power.
Either way, a refined system would result in reduced lap
times on most tracks for most vehicles.
The added complexity is a fact of life when trading active
control for passive control. We can have either aesthetic
or technical reservations about such a tradeoff. The bottom
line will be how the cost, performance, and reliability
factors all stack up in a refined system.
George Tatge
HP Loveland Instrument Div.
ihnp4!hpfcla!hplvla!gt