Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

James Leroy Swayze

Evgeny I Rivin

Ronald Louis Quaglia

Vijayarumar A Tipnis

Fang Frank Chen

Alexander Petniunas

Shane Edward Foley

Jared Shroyer

Yitzong Chern

Melanie Rodriguez Russell

Christopher Lawrence Kolarik

Frank Chen

Harini Guduguntla

The suspension system may include an axle operably coupled to a frame of the vehicle, an electric motor operably coupled to the axle to propel the vehicle, one or more wheels operably coupled to the axle, at least one vertical damper extending substantially perpendicular to a driving surface and operably coupled to the frame and the axle, and a horizontal damper extending substantially parallel to the driving surface. A first distal end of the horizontal damper may operably couple to the frame, and a second distal end of the horizontal damper may operably couple to the electric motor.

Horizontal damper for a suspension assembly of an electrified vehicle

A tuned mass damper for sound-dampening brake squeal noise is located within a hole formed in a brake component such as a backplate supporting a brake pad. The location of the hole and the weight and geometry of the tuned mass damper are tailored to provide effective damping for the particular frequencies that are to be eliminated in the brake system. Locating the tuned mass damper inside of a hole in the component has packaging and manufacturing advantages, and results in a tuned mass damper that is less susceptible to damage when in use. The hole may be blind, the bottom of the hole being thin enough to serve as a spring member to which a vibration damping mass is attached. In one embodiment, the tuned mass damper is a module adapted for insertion into the hole in the brake backplate. Contact between the module and inner surfaces of the hole transfers mechanical vibration of the backplate to the tuned mass damper.

Brake assembly with tuned mass damper

A method and apparatus for determining the vibration damping characteristics of an automotive brake structure measures the vibration response of a brake structure during application of random-frequency wide spectrum excitation, followed by measuring vibration of the structure at particularly noted modal frequencies, using a confined bandwidth random-frequency vibratory excitation. The method and apparatus may be used also to assess the bonding or attachment characteristics of damping materials.

Method for determining automotive brake structure vibration damping and friction material bonding

A cab-to-box damper assembly is provided for a vehicle having a cab and bed. The cab-to-box damper assembly includes at least one damping and/or spring element having a first end and a second end, a first bracket member operatively connecting the first end to a rear of the cab, and a second bracket member operatively connecting the second end to a front of the bed, whereby the damping element reduces relative movement between the bed and the cab.

Cab-to-box damper assembly for vehicles

A vibration absorbing apparatus for a steering wheel (10) having an airbag assembly (16) attached to the steering wheel (10). The air bag assembly (16) is attached to a reaction plate (18) which is resiliently attached to an absorber plate (22) with elastomeric members (26). Attachment by the elastomeric members (26) is such that a predetermined resiliency of the elastomeric members (26) is not affected. This provides a consistent and repeatable apparatus for attachment, ensuring proper and efficient operation of the airbag as a mass damper.

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S. Rockwood, MI, United States of America

James Leroy Swayze