Link Mfg., Ltd.

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Link Manufacturing Ltd

Tye B Davis

William E Ott

David C Jiles

Joel D Van Den Brink

Gregory Wayne Hulstein

Michael D Bartlett

Craig A Jungjohan

Arlin Gene Sandbulte

Winnie M Kiarie

Craig Jungjohan

W Charles Boden

Edward J Barron

Greg Hulstein

An isolator designed through the inclusion of a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) along and at or near an electromagnetic coil. A variety of factors can be balanced to produce an isolator that takes advantage of the radially axial coil. One non-limiting embodiment of the design uses a two-part coil bobbin geometry; wherein the axial center of the bobbin is a nonmagnetic material which allows passage of the magnetic field, while the end pieces are made of a high permeability material that limits the stray magnetic field and improves the magnetic flux density through the MRE by providing a pathway of least magnetic reluctance. The MRE changes stiffness and damping properties in response to the strength of the magnetic field, which can be controlled by changing the current through the electromagnetic coil. Feedback and feedforward control systems can allow for real time adaptation by the isolator in response to changing external stimuli. The isolator is useful for a variety of uses. Non-limiting examples are for reducing whole body vibrations for operators of trucks and heavy machinery, as well as for creating greater comfort for patients in ambulance gurneys and passengers in airplane seats.

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) apparatuses, methods, and systems, including bushings for vibrational damping or isolation

Driven lift axles and associated systems and components are provided for use on heavy duty trucks, trailers, and/or other vehicles. Driven lift axle systems may include one or more motors mounted to the lift axle to provide torque to drive one or more wheels of the lift axle. Various mounting configurations of such motors are possible, such as arranging a motor on the axle to provide torque at a conventional driveshaft input by interfacing with a differential drive gear, positioning a motor at each of the wheel ends of the axle to provide torque directly to the wheels, etc. Each wheel can be driven by a separate motor, allowing for independent control of the torque applied to each wheel. Lift axles described herein can be suitable for use with various motors capable of applying torque to the axle and/or wheels, such as electric motors, hydraulic motors, internal combustion engines, etc.

Driven lift axles and associated systems and methods

Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.

Cab suspension systems and associated methods of manufacture and use

Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass ('load springs') and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle ('lift springs'). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature. In operation, the air damping feature dampens the flow of air between the load springs and the lift springs to provide damping of the vehicle suspension without the additional costs or disadvantages often associated with conventional hydraulic shock absorbers.

Auxiliary suspension air damping systems and associated methods of manufacture and use

An air suspension control system for a vehicle such as an ambulance, a bus or a semi-truck. The control system includes an air supply, such as a compressor, which is configured to pneumatically communicate with a lift mechanism for moving the lift mechanism between a ride height position and a kneeling position and vice versa. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position during the time the lift mechanism is moving from its ride height position to its kneeling position by only deactivating the kneel input. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position after the lift mechanism has reached kneeling position by both deactivating the kneel input and activating the recover trigger input by pressing the brake pedal. The control system also has a transmission park feature and an ignition timer feature.

Air suspension control system for a vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Grand Meadow, MN, United States of America

Tye B Davis