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:
Jan. 14, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1994
Douglas C Campbell, Dearborn, MI (US);
Gary J Gloceri, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Daniel M McCoy, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Thomas G Reichenbach, Livonia, MI (US);
Lenard J Duchnowski, Saline, MI (US);
Jerome C Ivan, Troy, MI (US);
Joseph M Raad, Southgate, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
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.