Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, Inc.

Rockwell International Corporation

Zf Meritor, LLC

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Limited

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (uk) Limited

Arvin Technologies, Inc.

Zf Meritor Automotive

Shan Shih

Mark Smith

Daniel E Whitney

Robert P Carlstedt

Richard M Clisch

Steven M Foster

Juan Jose Marcos Munoz

Eric Stephen Geib

Edward G Trachman

John Arzoian

Paul Roberts

Marco Bassi

Paul Antony Thomas

Clive Harrup

Gregg Speer

Corrado Conti

Jonathon Leslie Christopher Jackson

Roberto Conti

Egon Hassel

Markus Engelbertz

Jose-Luis Eguizabal

Claus Gellermann

Winfried Willeke

Johannes Hartick

Gary Ganaway

Paul Hadley

Martin Roche

Alessandro Mortali

Roberti Conti

A caliper for a fixed twin rotor disc brake includes a relatively fixed body, two yokes movable axially with respect to the body, formations defined on the yokes for receiving four brake pads for respective application to rotor sides, and an actuator adapted to urge the yokes relatively axially. One of the yokes is operable to urge two of the four brake pads in a first axial direction, the other of the yokes is operable to urge the other two of the four brake pads in a second, opposite axial direction. The four brake pads are positioned on a first side of the actuator in the first axial direction.

Twin rotor disc brake

An exhaust gas system of a vehicular internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of exhaust gas catalytic converters having different working temperature ranges. Depending on the temperature of the exhaust gas the latter is directed to the one or those converters into whose working temperature range the exhaust gas temperature falls.

Exhaust gas system and method of directing a flow of exhaust gas of a vehicular internal combustion engine

A laminated bushing is formed from a metal sheet having resilient material disposed on one side by spirally winding the metal sheet about a longitudinal axis to form a spirally shaped cavity. The resilient material is disposed within the spirally shaped cavity and the metal sheet forming the spiral shaped cavity either mechanically compresses the resilient material disposed within the cavities, or the resilient material is vulcanized once the laminated bushing is formed. The spirally wound laminated bushing includes inner and outer sleeves concentric about the longitudinal axis that are movable relative to one another in direct proportion to the material deformation properties of the resilient material.

Spiral rolled laminated bushing

An intervehicle network provides for communicating information regarding driving conditions experienced by one vehicle to another remotely located vehicle. By receiving information regarding oncoming driving conditions, the vehicle driver may take action to anticipate the driving condition and avoid potential hazards or inconveniences. Additionally, for vehicles having onboard dynamically adjustable systems, an electronic controller may adjust the performance of the adjustable system responsive to the driving condition information received before the vehicle reaches the location of the driving condition. Another feature of a system designed according to this invention is to have onboard diagnostics where the controller monitors one or more variables to detect when one or more vehicle components are showing signs of aging or wear. Communications between vehicles in a system designed according to this invention may be directly between the vehicles or through a central information communication module.

Intervehicle network communication system

A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes upper and lower control arms pivotally attached to a frame member of the vehicle. A knuckle arm pivotally attaches to the upper and lower control arms moves along a substantially vertical axis in response to wheel movement caused by an uneven road surface. An actuation link is attached to one of the control arms at one end and to a damper assembly at another end. The damper assembly is disposed substantially within the frame member along a second axis transverse to vertical movement of the wheel and is actuated along the transverse axis in response movement of the control arm along the substantially vertical axis.

Integral spring damper and cross member

A connecting component connecting two members, such as a suspension component and a vehicle component, dampens vibrations and produces springing forces. The connecting component is formed by a steel strip including a plurality of holes. A sealing strip is secured to the upper surface of the steel strip to contain fluid for damping, and springing strips are secured to the upper surface of the steel strip to provide for springing forces. The steel strip is rolled to form the connecting component, trapping the fluid between the sealing strips. As the connecting component is a linking element with several degrees of freedom, different springing and damping rates are possible at each degree of freedom.

Connecting component

A suspension assembly is provided for a vehicle including a frame. A lower control arm having first and second opposing portions is pivotally connected to the frame at the first portion. A knuckle is supported on the second portion of the lower control arm with a wheel supported on the knuckle. A strut having a lower end is connected to the knuckle and an upper end of the strut is connected to the frame at an upper connection. The upper connection generally constrains the upper end of the strut against vertical movement while permitting limited lateral movement of the upper end relative to the frame. In one embodiment, a linkage assembly including a first link is operatively connected between the lower control arm and the frame. A second link interconnects the upper end of the strut and the first link portion for moving the upper end laterally in the upper connection in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm. In a second embodiment, an adjustable linkage assembly including a first adjustable linkage is interconnected between the upper end and the frame. A second adjustable linkage is interconnected between the lower control arm and the frame and changes length in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm. A link interconnects the first and second adjustable linkages for communicating the change in length of the second adjustable linkage to the first adjustable linkage for moving the upper end laterally in the upper connection in response to vertical movement of the lower control arm.

Movable upper suspension mount

A steering assembly is provided for a vehicle including an upper connection, typically provided by an upper control arm. A knuckle includes an upper and lower portions with the upper portion supported by the upper connection. A lower assembly of the present invention includes a control arm with legs extending from a spring portion at spaced apart ends. The legs extend from its ends and converge to a lower connection for supporting the lower portion of the knuckle with the upper and lower connections defining a wheel camber and a wheel caster. Preferably, each of the legs of the control arm has a different spring rate to provide a change in wheel camber under the deflection of the control arm during wheel travel. The different spring rates of the legs permits the lower connection to twist thereby enabling the wheel caster to change slightly during the upward and downward motion of the wheel.

Composite spring and control arm

A damping structure for providing damping and vibration attenuation includes an intermediate steel sheet positioned between an upper steel sheet and a lower steel sheet. The structure is incorporated as a part of a suspension component. The intermediate sheet is perforated with a plurality of holes, and a plurality of elastic strips are positioned between each of the sheets when assembled. The edges of the sheets are welded, sealing viscous fluid within the structure. Alternatively, the structure can be secured by rivets. Compression on the damping structure moves the fluid through the holes, providing a damping effect.

Damping structure

A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel assembly attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for movement in response to uneven roadway surfaces. A first inductive coil attached to the frame is mounted along an axis, and a second inductive coil is mounted co-axially with the first inductive coil and for movement with the wheel assembly. The inductive coils are movable relative to one another along the axis. An electromagnetic force generated by the inductive coils provides spring and dampening forces for the motor vehicle. Further, variation in the inductance between the coils is measurement to determine the relative position between the coils in order to monitor motor vehicle ride height.

Electromagnetic suspension system

A torsional vibration damper is used for reducing or eliminating torsional vibrations in a vehicle driveline. A hub portion includes an elongated body with a first axial dimension. A disk portion is supported by the hub portion and has a second axial dimension that is smaller than the first axial dimension of the hub portion. The hub portion preferably is secured to rotate with an engine flywheel and the disk portion preferably is adapted to rotate with a transmission input shaft. The disk portion preferably supports a plurality of damping members, which can be positioned at different radial or axial locations depending on the needs of a particular situation.

Torsional vibration damper

A vehicle transmission system includes a planetary gear arrangement that replaces the conventional clutch and range gear box. The planetary gear arrangement integrates the functions of a clutch and a range gear box while automating portions of the necessary operation of a manual transmission. The planetary gear arrangement preferably includes an automated actuator that selectively engages different portions of the planetary gear arrangement to provide at least two gear reduction ratios between an engine output member and the transmission main gear box. The automated actuator preferably moves the planetary gear arrangement between a first operative position for a first gear reduction ratio is provided, a second operative position where a second gear reduction ratio is provided and third operative position where the transmission input shaft, which preferably rotates in unison with a rotating engine output member, is uncoupled from the transmission output shaft. The first and second operative positions provide high and low range operation, respectively. The third operative position is used whenever a driver desires to shift gears or place the transmission into neutral.

Integrated vehicle manual transmission and clutch with planetary gear arrangement

A vehicle driveline system includes a planetary gear arrangement that cooperates with a flywheel member to provide a dual mass variable inertia flywheel assembly. The planetary gear arrangement preferably includes an automated actuator that selectively engages different portions of the planetary gear arrangement to provide at least two operating positions that each have an associated effective mass and a corresponding moment of inertia. Choosing an operating position selectively controls the inertia of the flywheel assembly and greatly reduces or eliminates torsional vibrations that may otherwise occur. The first and second operating positions also provide high and low range transmission operation, respectively.

Dual mass variable inertia flywheel assembly

A vehicle transmission system includes an automated clutch operator. An electronic controller determines when the transmission is in a neutral condition and controls the automated clutch operator to move the clutch into a non-engaged condition. The electronic controller also determines when the vehicle engine is operating at an idle speed and causes the automated clutch operator to move the clutch into a non-engaged condition only when the engine is idling and the transmission is in a neutral condition, which eliminates neutral idle gear rattle.

Vehicle transmission system including clutch control to eliminate

A transmission has torque converter with an impeller, primary and secondary turbines and a stator. In a first planetary gear set the carrier is connected to the primary turbine, the sun gear is connected to the secondary turbine and the ring gear is connected to a friction clutch. This friction clutch is used in the first and last forward driving phases and in reverse. A second planetary gear set has a second carrier connected to the output shaft and a second ring gear connected to the first carrier. A brake is connected to the friction clutch and to the second sun gear for low forward speed range. A second friction clutch locks up the second planetary gear in high speed. A one-way clutch connected to the stator provides phase differentiation in all forward speed ranges. A third friction clutch between the impeller and second turbine is required in conjunction with the first and second clutches to provide the final driving phase. Another brake brakes the primary turbine, the first carrier, and the second ring gear in reverse operation, causing the secondary turbine to drive the first sun gear and the first ring gear to drive the second sun gear through the first clutch to turn the output shaft slowly in reverse.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Shan Shih