Ford Motor Company Limited

Thomas G Reichenbach

Lenard J Duchnowski

Joseph M Raad

Shunso F Watanabe

Michael K Liubakka

Daniel M McCoy

Jerome Charles Ivan

Gary J Gloceri

Douglas C Campbell

Gary M Klinger

In vehicles having drive wheel selections, accessed for example through a transfer case, drive wheel settings are used to determine a desired vehicle ride height at which the vehicle is maintained by a vehicle suspension control system. Preferably, both vehicle speed and transfer case setting are combined to determine the desired vehicle ride height. With two wheel drive selected, the desired vehicle ride height is set to a low ride height which provides the most aerodynamic airflow for the vehicle. However, if four wheel drive is selected, the speed is checked to determine the desired vehicle ride height. If four wheel drive (automatic four wheel drive) is selected, low ride height is still selected for speeds in excess of a first defined speed. For speeds at or below the first defined speed, a high ride height approximately 1 inch above the low ride height is set for the desired ride height. If four wheel drive low is selected, typically in contemplation of off-road operation, a higher still ride height or off-road ride height approximately 1 inch above high ride height is set for the desired ride height.

Ride height setting based on transfer case setting

A method and system is provided for improving vehicle handling during vehicle operation in the nonlinear region of the front tires for use with a vehicle (10) having manually operable front steerable wheels (12) and electronically controlled rear steerable wheels (14). The method includes the step of calculating a desired rear steer angle based on vehicle parameters, such as vehicle speed and front wheel angle. Preferably, the method also includes the steps of determining if the vehicle is operating in the nonlinear region of the front tires, calculating a handling term if the vehicle is operating in the nonlinear region of the front tires and modifying the desired rear steer angle based on the handling term. The rear steerable wheels are then steered toward the modified desired rear steer angle.

Method and apparatus for four wheel steering control utilizing tire

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

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a suspension component pivoted to the chassis of the vehicle, a torsion bar attached at its first end to the suspension component and rotatably mounted at its second end to the chassis of the vehicle, and means for selectively restraining the rotation of the second end of the torsion bar relative to the chassis so as to urge the vehicle to maintain a level attitude.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Thomas G Reichenbach