Ford Motor Company Limited

Raytheon Company

Shunso F Watanabe

Gerald H Engelman

Steven J Eckert

Steven D Bernstein

Steven R Collins

David Sol

Elmer T Heiney, Iii

Thomas G Reichenbach

Theodore W Daykin

Neil T Dionesotes

Gary M Klinger

A piezoelectric fluid control valve (10) and fluid control method using a polymorph (48) with a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, the polymorph is deflected. The valve includes a supply port (14) for introducing fluid and a chamber (16) defined within the valve body. An outlet port (18) is in fluid communication with the chamber and a device controlled thereby, such as an anti-lock brake system. A relief port (78) returns fluid to a source thereof. Upper and lower metering elements (100, 116) are supported within the chamber. A cantilevered spring valve (128, 130) is positionable within metering orifices defined within the metering elements (100, 110). The polymorph is positioned between and in operative communication therewith. An electrical circuit (56) is connected to the polymorph, the circuit providing the potential difference thereto, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit. An input signal generator (58) operates in response to a sensed condition such as brake pressure and wheel deceleration, the fluid flow in the outlet port being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.

Fluid control valve

Piezoelectric fluid control valve

A piezoelectric pressure control valve (10) comprising a bimorph (48) with a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, one surface expands and the other contracts, thereby deflecting the bimorph. The valve includes a supply port (14) for introducing fluid and a chamber (16) defined within the valve body. An outlet port (18) is in communication with the chamber. A top valve plate (22) and a contiguous bottom valve plate (24) are supported within the chamber, each valve plate having an anchored end (26, 28) affixed to a wall of the chamber, the anchored end of the top valve plate being provided with an inlet channel (30) in communication with the supply port, and a metering orifice (40, 42) disposed within each valve plate. A double poppet valve head (44) is seatable within the associated metering orifice, the poppet valve head being continuously displaceable between an open position and a normally closed position. The bimorph (48) cooperates with a spring (54) affixed to each valve plate, the spring (54) reverting the poppet valve head to the normally closed, seated position against fluid pressure and registering the poppet valve head within the metering orifice. An electrical circuit (56) is connected to the bimorph, the circuit providing the potential difference to the bimorph, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit. An input signal generator (58) operates in response to a sensed condition, the fluid flow in the outlet port being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.

Piezoelectric pressure control valve

An integral anti-lock brake and traction control system for a vehicle which may be operated in either of two modes is provided. A pressure control valve, which includes a first pressure feedback valve and a second pressure feedback valve, regulates brake pressure of the vehicle with the first pressure feedback valve and controls traction of the vehicle with the second pressure feedback valve. A linear motor acts on the pressure feedback valves to provide a brake pressure proportional or inversely proportional to an analog or pulse width modulated voltage. In the braking control mode, brake fluid pressure to a brake cylinder is reduced through operation of the first pressure feedback valve in response to the sensing of the approach of wheel lock-up. In the traction control mode, the second pressure feedback valve is shifted by the linear motor to provide pressure proportional to the linear motor force to the brake cylinder to slow the wheel rotation speed and control wheel spin.

Integral anti-lock brake/traction control system

A reversible proportioning valve allows pressure to the rear brake cylinder of a vehicle to follow pressure to the front brake cylinder in a ratioed relationship, when pressure to the front brake cylinder is decreasing. The reversible proportioning valve of the present invention accomplishes this by enabling ratioed pressure between the front and the rear brakes for both increasing and decreasing pressures, resulting in driver controlled modulation of pressure. The reversible proportioning valve uses a stepped piston/cylinder to control pressure without the use of external power.

Reversible proportioning valve

A vehicle inertia and center of gravity estimator uses averaged displacement measurements to estimate changes in vehicle body mass, vehicle center of gravity location, and vehicle pitch moment of inertia, due to variations in fuel load, passenger load, and cargo load. The system is responsive to the acceleration of the vehicle for providing displacement readings, the mass of the vehicle, and the rotation of the vehicle to optimally adjust vehicle parameters. Variables used in estimating vehicle conditions include vehicle vertical displacement, vehicle ride height, vehicle mass, vehicle pitch moment of inertia, vehicle center of gravity location, and vehicle wheel base.

Vehicle inertia and center of gravity estimator

A throttle valve actuator is provided for connecting a throttle valve of a motor vehicle to the accelerator pedal in either a direct or remote drive mode. A coupling mechanism is provided for coupling and uncoupling a throttle valve to the accelerator pedal linkage and a specified relative orientation in response to a control signal. The coupling mechanism includes a drive element coupled to the accelerator pedal, a driven element coupled to the throttle valve and a control element cooperating with the drive and driven elements. A remotely operable stop is provided to fix the control element in a specified position directly coupling the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve when in the direct drive mode and releasing the control element, when in the remote drive mode. The remote drive mechanism automatically positions the throttle valve when the control element is free when in the remote drive mode.

Throttle valve actuator

An operating system for an adjustable suspension unit having adjustable damping capability includes a suspension control unit which modulates the force imposed upon the body of the motor vehicle by adjusting the force developed by the suspension unit according to the particular stroke of the cycle in which the suspension unit is operating so that the suspension unit will exert a net force upon the body in a desired direction.

Control system for motor vehicle suspension unit

An air spring suspension for a vehicle includes a remote air inlet connected to an inlet duct, and an inlet duct purge system which allow the air compressor of the system to be mounted under the floor of the vehicle in an environmentally hostile location.

Air suspension with remote air inlet and inlet duct purge system

A vehicle suspension damper with remote control includes a fluid controller operatively connected to the damper. The piston assembly of the damper includes a valve driven by a fluid motor receiving pressure signals from the controller.

Vehicle suspension damper with remote control

An automotive type carburetor throttle valve actuator is automatically moved within two ranges to provide an idle speed control and a vehicle speed control; the moving mechanism including a compound planetary gear set operatively conditioned for a reduction drive to establish a slowly changing idle speed drive range, and conditioned for a direct drive to establish a faster changing vehicle speed level control range; a microprocessor sensing engine operating conditions for determining the operation of a reversible electric motor and a gear reaction member and clutching mechanism to determine the operating range as well as the speed level change.

Carburetor throttle valve actuator

An anti-jamming mechanism for a device providing linear rotary movements consisting of a simple one-piece collar having split end portions with one of the portions anchoring the collar to a rotatable and axially movable sleeve driven by a screw mechanism, the other end portion acting as a spring-like flexible finger reacting against a stepped stationary housing portion to stop rotation of the sleeve while permitting its axial movement upon continued rotation of the screw until the finger clears the end of the step, whereupon the sleeve is permitted to rotate freely with the screw without further axial movement.

Anti-jamming mechanism for linear translatory device

An air or air/fuel throttling body contains a main air or air/fuel induction passage with a main rotatable throttle plate movable across the passage to variably control the flow through it. Additionally, a shuttle type slide valve is mounted on the main throttle plate and provided with openings that are adapted to be aligned or misaligned at times with apertures in the main throttle plate to control the flow of an additional volume of air or air/fuel through the throttle valve into the engine regardless of the attitude or position of the main throttle plate and supplementing the flow normally passing around the throttle plate; the shuttle valve being moved by power means energized by an electrical signal from a microprocessor having inputs sensing operating conditions of the engine to position the slide valve to maintain an idle speed schedule.

Engine idle speed control device

A motor vehicle throttle valve positioner consisting of an elongated screw means moving the throttle valve and providing two ranges of movement, one being an engine idle speed mode of operation to maintain the engine at the correct idling speed level as determined by a microprocessor or similar electronic control, the other being a speed control mode of operation wherein a chosen engine off-idle speed level is maintained, and a failsafe operation returning the throttle valve to the idle speed range in the event of electrical failure or termination of the speed control mode of operation.

An actively controlled vehicular suspension system is disclosed. The system has at least one gas filled distensible suspension member to which is attached a distensible belt that changes curvature in relation to the curvature of the suspension member. The belt has V-shaped grooves spaced longitudinally along the belt each groove carrying metallic contacts which close a conductor path when a change in curvature of the belt closes the associated groove. The distensible suspension member is changed in pressure in response to the closing of the conductor path to adjust the suspension system.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Shunso F Watanabe