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:
Nov. 25, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2001
Robert P. Carlstedt, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
James B. Chamberlin, Charlotte, NC (US);
Ragnar H. Ledesma, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Nancy L. Saxon, Oakland Township, MI (US);
Dennis A. Kramer, Troy, MI (US);
Doyle R. Downey, Beverly Hills, MI (US);
Joseph Cubalchini, Jr., St. Charles, IL (US);
Monte G. Williams, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A housing attaches a stabilizer bar to the body of a vehicle and includes pin stops which actively control the stiffness of the stabilizer bar. A spring positioned about each of the pins provide a retaining spring force on the head of the pin, preventing the pins from moving into an aperture in the housing. When a sensor detects that lateral acceleration or yaw rate exceeds a threshold value, an actuator drives pins to overcome the spring force, pushing the pins into the aperture. When the pins are actuated, a protrusion on the stabilizer bar is trapped between the pins. When the vehicle turns and the stabilizer bar axially twists, the protrusion eventually contacts one the pins, preventing further rotation and stiffening the stabilizer bar.