The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 03, 1988
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1986
Leo W Davis, Dallas, TX (US);
LiquidSpring Investors, Ltd., Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A vehicle with a suspension system having a compressible liquid confined in a cylinder and compressed to a predetermined static pressure. A damping piston is disposed on a double ended rod where the rod ends have different cross sectional areas to provide a differential area which is acted on by the liquid to spring support the weight of the vehicle. The end of the larger rod is connected to the vehicle chassis and bearings in each end of the cylinder transfer high bending moments due to wheel loads. Friction is reduced by eliminating contact between the large diameter piston and cylinder, and limiting frictional contact to the relatively small diameter of the bearings and seals. Total fluid volume is increased to provide a lower spring rate by a fluid chamber within the rod, and an apparatus is provided to control ride height by changes in liquid pressure and/or volume which also changes spring rate. An apparatus is also provided for adjusting damping and thus effective spring rate from the fixed end of the rod.