Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gene R Hawkins

Bernard J Finn

An active damper is provided for a motor vehicle including a sprung mass, an unsprung mass coupled thereto and at least one wheel and tire combination coupled to the unsprung mass such that road terrain movement acting on the at least one wheel and tire combination along a z-axis induces movement of the unsprung mass along the z-axis which, in turn, induces movement of the sprung mass along the z-axis. The active damper may include a housing configured to be mounted to the unsprung mass, a damper mass received within the housing and movable relative to the housing, and an actuator configured to be responsive to a drive signal to cause the damper mass to move within the housing so as to cancel, or at least reduce, movement of the unsprung mass resulting from the road terrain movement.

Active suspension control system for a motor vehicle

Steerable vehicle suspension in which lateral support is provided to the strut body as opposed to support of the strut rods to eliminate or minimize the bending loads and the strut rod. This support and provides equilibrium against the moment from the offset of the wheel load to the ball joint. The lateral support is provided by a support bracket which is attached to the inner race of the upper strut mount and turns about the kingpin axis with the strut and spring assembly during steering maneuvers. One or more rolling elastomer elements are disposed between the support bracket and the strut body. These elements provide support while allowing relative vertical motion to occur between the support bracket and the strut.

Suspension strut with side load support

An 'adaptive' wheel suspension linkage for automobiles and the like includes a pair of lateral extending arms or links spaced fore and aft of one another at pivots on the auto chassis and pivotally secured to the wheel knuckle, with one of such links having its inboard end automatically or adaptively adjusted to various positions vertically on the chassis, without any significant lateral displacement, in response to varying operating conditions, so as to suitably vary the roll steer property of the linkage.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Gene R Hawkins