B60G17/021

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to control a motor operatively coupled to a suspension system to raise or lower a vehicle. The vehicle controller is to also determine a first parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is unloaded. The vehicle controller is to also determine a second parameter of the motor while controlling the motor to raise or lower the vehicle when the vehicle is at least partially loaded. The vehicle controller is to also calculate a weight of the vehicle based on the first and second parameters of the motor.

Motion control system

A motion control system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.

Adjustable shock absorber system and device
20230127131 · 2023-04-27 ·

An adjustable shock absorber system includes: a coil over shock absorber with a spring and a lockable adjustment ring; a protective cover assembly, optionally including top and bottom cover portions; a shock adjuster tool with a lever arm and a tool grip portion, including a band assembly, and a tool attachment assembly, including a connector member and a tool member; such that the tool grip portion detachably connects to the peripheral mounting surface of the lockable adjustment ring; whereby the shock adjuster tool can be used to adjust a preload of the coil-over shock absorber. Alternatively, an adjustable shock absorber system includes: a coil-over shock absorber with a spring and an adjustment ring; an adjustment ring assembly, which detachably interlocks with the adjustment ring; and a shock adjuster tool with a lever arm and a tool grip portion, which detachably connects with the adjustment ring assembly.

Suspension strut and vehicle

A suspension strut for a wheel suspension of a vehicle may have a vibration damper, a supporting spring that partially surrounds an outer tube of the vibration damper and is supported by a spring collar, and a lifting device for height adjustment of the vehicle. The lifting device may comprise a hollow piston and a cylinder that are arranged concentrically around the outer tube. The hollow piston may be guided axially between the outer tube and the cylinder and is connected to the spring collar to adjust a base point of the supporting spring. The hollow piston may comprise a stripping and sealing element that lies against the vibration damper.

Mobile platform with retractable drive wheels and steerable wheels

A mobile platform includes a base having a first surface and at least one drive wheel coupled to the base so as to movable with respect to the base first surface. A drive wheel retention mechanism is coupled to the at least one drive wheel and is structured to retain the at least one drive wheel in a first position in which the at least one drive wheel extends to a first distance from the first surface along a first side of the first surface. A plurality of roller elements is also coupled to the base and is structured to extend to a distance from the first surface along the first side of the first surface. The distance of the plurality of roller elements from the first surface is less than the first distance of the at least one drive wheel from the first surface.

Vehicle wheel suspension having a suspension spring and having an additional spring element connectable in series with said suspension spring

A vehicle wheel suspension includes a suspension spring and an additional spring element. The additional spring element is disposed in a working chamber of a hydraulic cylinder. The working chamber, in hydraulic terms, is configured to be completely shut off by a check valve and the volume thereof with an opened check valve while activating a vehicle drive apparatus with braked vehicle wheels being variable by the anti-dive angle and/or the anti-squat angle. For such a volumetric variation of the working chamber, a hydraulic medium is flowable through the opened check valve.

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE VEHICLE WEIGHT

Methods and apparatus to determine vehicle weight are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a suspension airbag, a pump fluidly coupled to the suspension airbag, the pump to control a fluid pressure in the suspension airbag to cause ride height adjustments for a vehicle, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and processor circuitry to calculate a weight of the vehicle based on an offset between (a) a first motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is unloaded and (b) a second motor input that causes the vehicle to rise or lower when the vehicle is carrying a load.

Two-piece adjustable strut spacer

Strut spacers are described that include at least a male component comprising an externally threaded surface and a female component comprising an internally threaded surface. Rotation of the male component or the female component adjusts the height of the strut spacer prior to installation within the motor vehicle. The strut spacer can optionally include a locking ring to lock the height of the strut spacer before installation.

Suspension strut for a motor vehicle with a height-adjustment device
09834059 · 2017-12-05 · ·

The damper and spring unit comprises a damper, a spring member extending coaxially to the damper, a bottom spring plate and a vehicle height adjustment device for adjusting the height of the vehicle from the ground. A first damper element is connected to a wheel carrier of the suspension and a second damper element is slidable relative to the first damper element along the longitudinal axis (z). The adjustment device is interposed between the first damper element and the spring member to change the linear position of the bottom spring plate, and a bottom end of the spring member, relative to the first damper element. A hydraulic linear actuator comprising a cylinder is secured to the first damper element and a piston drivingly connected for translation with the bottom spring plate along the longitudinal axis (z) of the damper between a bottom end-of-travel position and a top end-of-travel position.

Pneumatically actuated adjusting device for acting on a spring device of a spring damper comprising a tubular body
11673446 · 2023-06-13 · ·

A pneumatically operable adjusting device (1) is provided for acting on a spring device (5) of a spring damper device (3) having a tubular body (2), with a tubular piece-shaped housing (4) which is designed to surround the tubular body (2) and has a passage (6) passing through a peripheral wall of the housing (4), and the adjusting device (1) has an adjusting nut (9) with an internal thread (10) which is attached to an external thread (11) of a tubular body (2), 37) of the spring damper device (3) can be brought into screw engagement, the housing (4) being designed for releasable abutment against the adjusting nut (9) and having an inner recess (7) for forming a pressure chamber (8) which is in fluid connection with the passage (6) and the inner recess (7) forming a pressure wall (24), the fluid admission of which causes a force acting on the housing (4) in the axial longitudinal direction and the housing (4) has an abutment surface (54) designed for spring force admission by the spring device.