Avm, Incorporated

Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, Inc.

Maremont Corporation

James B Chamberlin

Dennis A Kramer

Robert P Carlstedt

Ragnar H Ledesma

Nancy L Saxon

Joseph Cubalchini, Jr

Monte G Williams

Doyle R Downey

Mark S Jeffries

Walter Douglas Bauman

Jack R Roach

Archie L Evans

Richard M Boyd

Alfred W Siman

Tommy G Wood

Stan J Lovendoski

Gary Weber

David Laws

Gary R Gunn

Wallace T Colcord

A vehicle suspension is provided that includes a frame supporting a pair of laterally spaced apart suspension members pivotally supported on the frame and movable in a vertical direction. A pair of wheel ends is each supported respectively on one of the suspension members. A stabilizer bar is supported on the frame laterally between the suspension members. The stabilizer bar includes opposing ends each respectively proximate to one of the suspension members. A pair of resilient stabilizer bar links each respectively interconnect one of the ends and one of the suspension members and transmit torsional force to the stabilizer bar in response to movement of the suspension members in the vertical direction during roll conditions. The links have first and second deflection rates during the roll condition with the first rate being less than the second deflection rate. The links transition from the first deflection rate to the second deflection rate and from the second deflection rate to an effective zero deflection rate.

Roll bumper stabilizer bar links

A variable rate bushing passively controls the stiffness of a stabilizer bar. During normal vehicle operation, the stabilizer bar is compliant. As twist increase, the resistance increases. In one embodiment, the variable rate bushing includes at least one void which compresses as the vehicle turns. As the stabilizer bar axially twists, the void compresses and the rate of the bushing increases, reducing axial twist and increasing stiffness of the stabilizer bar. In one embodiment, the voids are teardrop shaped, arc shaped, or bone shaped. Alternatively, the bushing includes an inner layer of softer material and an outer layer of harder material to control stabilizer bar stiffness. Also, the bushing may include a molded insert made of a hard material inserted into a softer material to control the stiffness of the stabilizer bar.

Variable rate bushing for stabilizer bar

An adaptive suspension system for a motor vehicle varies suspension parameters in response to steering input. The system includes a sensor to measure changes in the power assist steering mechanism that indicate a change in vehicle direction and a shock variable suspension member changed in response to a change in vehicle direction. The sensor measures pressure changes in the power assist steering system such that the suspension system is optimized to accommodate specific vehicle maneuvering. In another embodiment, the variable suspension member is in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic circuit of the power assist steering mechanism such that pressure changes caused by steering input triggers changes in the suspension system to accommodate vehicle maneuvering.

Simplifed adaptive suspension

A clutch device for use with a vehicle suspension system to vary the stiffness of a stabilizer bar. A plurality of dampers connected to the clutch body alternate with a plurality of dampers connected to the stabilizer bar. The dampers are coated with a friction material and surrounded by a fluid. When a load is applied on the walls of clutch body, the friction material comes into contact, dampening the rotation action of the stabilizer bar. A sensor senses the parameters of the ride and generates a signal based on these parameters. The signal activates a power source controller which applies the load to the walls.

Clutched stabilizer bar

A steering system comprises a steering wheel and a feedback mechanism in communication with the steering wheel. A control unit communicates with a sensor and controls the feedback mechanism based on the signal from the sensor. The feedback mechanism may cause tactile feedback in the steering wheel. The feedback mechanism is most preferably incorporated by controlling a solenoid valve in a power steering circuit for the vehicle. By repeatedly actuating the solenoid valve, vibration can be caused in the steering wheel.

Steering wheel feedback mechanism

A pair of tension cables are positioned around cams attached to the lower control arms of a vehicle suspension. Each tension cable includes a tension damper responsive to tension in the tension cables. Each tension damper includes a cylinder containing a fluid and a piston including at least one orifice attached to a rod. The piston divides the cylinder into a first and second compartment. The rod in connected to the tension cable. When the tension cable pulls on one end of the rod, the piston is pulled towards the tension cable. The fluid creates resistance in the tension damper as the fluid moves through the orifice from one compartment to the other compartment, damping vehicle roll. Control of the tension dampers can be passive, semi-active, or active.

Vehicle suspension system using viscous tension dampers

A housing attaches a stabilizer bar to the body of a vehicle and includes pin stops which actively control the stiffness of the stabilizer bar. A spring positioned about each of the pins provide a retaining spring force on the head of the pin, preventing the pins from moving into an aperture in the housing. When a sensor detects that lateral acceleration or yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, an actuator drives pins to overcome the spring force, pushing the pins into the aperture. When the pins are actuated, a protrusion on the stabilizer bar is trapped between the pins. When the vehicle turns and the stabilizer bar axially twists, the protrusion eventually contacts one the pins, preventing further rotation and stiffening the stabilizer bar.

Active anti-roll stop for stabilizer bar

An assembly for use as part of a vehicle suspension system includes an adjustable roll rate that is automatically adjusted responsive to maneuvers of the vehicle. A stiffener element is coupled with a stabilizer bar. The stiffener element increases the roll rate responsive to the vehicle wheels being turned. In one example, the stiffener element is a metallic plate that rotates into various positions responsive to the vehicle wheel being turned. The further the wheel turns, the further the plate rotates and the greater the increase in the roll rate.

Assembly for adjusting roll rate responsive to changing steering angle

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring (and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications) and that minimizes leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring. The generally annular seal body includes a radially inwardly facing surface, force directing lobes and either a plastic wiper insert or a wiper lobe that are designed for minimizing the leakage of oil between the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body and the adjacent, radially outwardly facing surface of the gas spring's piston rod, and that include a corner edge that projects radially inwardly beyond the plane of the seal body's radially inwardly facing surface. When the seal body is compressed for use in a gas spring and is thus subjected to the high-pressure gas, the induced stresses in the seal body result in the corner edge being forced against the adjacent surface of the piston rod to effectively prevent the leaking of oil therebetween. The permeation of gas axially through the seal body is minimized by the inclusion of a co-molded metal plate in the seal body adjacent to the rod end of the seal body.

Seal

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or the other applications. The generally annular seal body includes radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces and non-concave axial facing surfaces. Lobes for sealing, wiping and directing enhanced forces project radially beyond the planes of the radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. The seal also includes a wiper insert that has a parabolic shaped radially outwardly facing surface and a radially inwardly facing surface, and that is secured in a recess adjacent to the front corner of the seal body's radially inwardly facing surface. When the seal body is compressed for use, the compression induced stresses in the seal body result in the formation of an effective gas and oil seal because, in part, one of the corners of the insert's radially inwardly facing surface is forced against the adjacent surface of the piston rod.

Seal for gas springs and the like

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or other application. The generally annular seal body includes a number of convex sealing lobes on its radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. All of the sealing lobes have a predetermined radius and project radially beyond the plane of their respective surfaces. The axial facing surfaces of the seal body are generally flat or non-concave. The seal also includes a wiper insert secured in a recess in one corner of the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body. When the seal body is compressed between the relatively movable, annularly spaced piston rod and cylinder of a gas spring or application, the compression induced stress in the seal causes the seal body and insert to form an effective gas and oil seal.

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or other applications. The generally annular seal body includes a number of convex sealing lobes on its radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. All of the sealing lobes have a predetermined radius and project radially beyond the plane of their respective surfaces. The axial facing surfaces of the seal body are generally flat or non-concave. The seal also includes a wiper insert secured in a recess in one corner of the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body. When the seal body is compressed between the relatively movable, annularly spaced piston rod and cylinder, the compression induced stress in the seal causes the seal body and insert to form an effective gas and oil seal.

A gas spring includes a piston assembly or pack having an additional seal, pressure relief valve, and check valve that increases the output force of the gas spring. Various temperature compensation structures, also added to the piston pack, permits this increase to vary from zero at higher ambient temperatures to a maximum value at very cold temperatures thus achieving a temperature compensation, which varies, in an analog manner, inversely in response to the temperature changes.

Temperature compensated safety gas spring

A connector assembly with a connector body molded directly about a captive ball formed on a separate shaft, where the shaft and connector are attached to separate bodies which move relative to each other. This assembly retains an essentially zero clearance fit between the ball and the connector so as to prevent rattling between the parts from vibrations. This zero clearance fit is achieved at a much lower cost than comparable quality connectors due to higher diametric tolerances for the ball component. Higher diametric tolerances do not affect the final fit because the connector is molded directly about the ball.

Connector with insert molded captive ball

A pneumatic counterbalance spring includes a hollow cylinder defining a first internal chamber divided into a compression compartment and an extension compartment by a piston movably mounted in the chamber. The compression compartment contains pressurized gas and a seal assembly mounted on the piston prevents the gas from escaping into the extension compartmint. A piston rod is slibably mounted in the open end of the cylinder and has its inner end connected to the piston. The piston rod includes a hollow portion defining a second internal chamber which is fluidly connected to the compression compartment by a flow passage. As a result, the compression compartment has an effective volume of A+B, where A represents the volume of the compression compartment and B represents the volume of the piston rod internal chamber. This design is advantageous in applications where a low spring rate is desired and where the length of the spring needs to be minimized. A gas permeable insert may be positioned in the flow passage to provide restricted rate flow of gas through the flow passage. Alternatively, a check valve may be provided for providing restricted rate flow of gas through the flow passage during the extension stroke and a tree, by-pass flow of gas through the flow passage during the compression stroke.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

James B Chamberlin