Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Michael James Lynch

Colin Jeffrey Young

Benjamin J Saltsman

Colm Peter Boran

Mark Freeland

William McMurray Stewart

Dennis W Rhee

David J Bauch

Method of stabilizing valve lift-off movement in an automotive hydraulic shock absorber having compression and expansion chambers filled with a hydraulic shock-absorber fluid is diclosed. The chamber are divided by a valve body which has one or more orifices that have fluid flow therethrough controlled by a spring biased valve that lifts off from the valve body when the fluid pressure differential between chambers is above a predetermined amount. The steps of the method comprise (a) stationing the spring biased valve with respect to the orifices so that the fluid forcing the valve to lift off and overcome the spring bias will exit from the orifices in a manner that creates a velocity gradient in the expansion chamber resulting in pressure differences that disturb a smooth lift-off of the valves; and (b) modifying the hydraulic shock absorber fluid to form a mixture containing fumed amorphous silica whereby the fluid mixture will possess a viscosity inversely proportional to the velocity of the fluid mixture regions, the mixture will achieve the needed hydraulic attenuation.

Method of stabilizing valve lift-off in hydraulic shock absorbers

A watertight and airtight seal is useful for use between two structures having relative movement therebetween. The seal apparatus includes a first adhesive bead (38) disposed on a first structural member (12) and a second adhesive bead (44) disposed on a second structural member (22). An elastomeric member (30) includes a first flange (34) portion bonded to the first adhesive bead and a second flange portion (36) bonded to the second adhesive bead (44). The elastomeric member also includes a flexible portion disposed between the first and second flange portions, this flexible portion being operative to freely flex during relative motion between the first and second structural members. This flexibility substantially reduces stress otherwise imparted on the first and second adhesive beads during such movements in the absence of the flexible portion, thereby improving the durability of the seal.

Fixed window seal apparatus

A plurality of first accelerometers are positioned forward of the passenger compartment and interconnected between vehicular ground and an airbag ignitor. At least one second accelerometer is positioned with the passenger compartment and electrically connected in series between the airbag ignitor and a reserve source of electrical power thereby providing a first firing path. Electronic circuitry positioned within the passenger compartment and connected to the airbag ignitor provides a second firing path through the ignitor to a passenger compartment ground independent of the vehicular ground which the first accelerometers are connected. This second conductive path is provided for a predetermined or dwell time in response to actuation by any of the first accelerometers. The electrical circuitry also includes prefiltering circuitry.

Airbag triggering system

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Michael James Lynch