Patent classifications
B60G21/0556
Invertible Stabilizer Bar and System Incorporating the Same
A suspension assembly for a vehicle may include a first stabilizer bar operably coupled to a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle, a second stabilizer bar operably coupled to a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle, and an chassis coupler comprising an inverter housing and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly may be operable to arrange the first stabilizer bar and the second stabilizer bar in a selected one of a connected state, a disconnected state, and an inverted state. The inverter housing may be alternately constrained to one of the first stabilizer bar or the chassis coupler based on a position of the actuator assembly to define each of the connected state, the disconnected state and the inverted state.
Vehicular holding device
Provided is a vehicular holding device that, in an ON state, holds a vehicle component in a state where displacement of the vehicle component in an axial direction is restrained, and that, in an OFF state, holds the vehicle component in a state where displacement of the vehicle component in the axial direction is possible. The vehicular holding device includes at least one engagement part, a cam mechanism, and an axial direction restraining part. The at least one engagement part is at a position where the engagement part engages with an engaged part in the ON state, and is at a position where the engagement part is separated from the engaged part in the OFF state. The cam mechanism displaces the at least one engagement part from the OFF-state position to the ON-state position. The axial direction restraining part receives axial-direction force acting on the at least one engagement part.
STABILIZER BAR DISCONNECT
A stabilizer bar has a first connected position and a second disconnected position. One side-bar is fixed to a housing while the other side-bar is fixed to a tulip within the housing. The housing has a plurality of axial grooves. The tulip defines a plurality of slots which are aligned with the grooves when the vehicle is level. A nut has a plurality of pins that extend radially such that the nut is torsionally coupled to the housing. In a first connected position, the pins fit within the slots of the tulip to torsionally couple the nut and the housing to the tulip. To facilitate a second disconnected position, a motor driven actuator moves the nut axially such that the pins no longer engage the slots. When motor power is withdrawn, a spring pushes the nut back to the first connected position.
ANTI-ROLL BAR LINK
An anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension may be positioned between an anti-roll bar and an articulating arm. The link selectively transfers movement of the arm to the anti-roll bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state. The link includes a body interfacing a slidable shaft. A physical feature selectively locks or unlocks the slidable shaft with respect to the body. The physical feature may include a locking pin, interference with a locking ball, etc. In the locked state, translation of the slidable shaft is restricted, and movement of the arm is transferred through the link to the bar. In the unlocked state, translation of the slidable shaft is permitted, and movement of the arm causes the shaft to translate with respect to the body such that at least a portion of the movement is not transferred to the bar.
Automated control system for an electronically controlled sway bar link
A sway bar system is described. The sway bar system includes a sway bar having a first end and a second end. An electronically controlled connector to provide a remotely controllable physical connection and disconnection capability between a first location on a vehicle and the first end of the sway bar; and the second end of the sway bar coupled to a second location on the vehicle.
Invertible Stabilizer Bar and System Incorporating the Same
A suspension assembly for a vehicle may include a first stabilizer bar operably coupled to a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle, a second stabilizer bar operably coupled to a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle, and an chassis coupler comprising an inverter housing and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly may be operable to arrange the first stabilizer bar and the second stabilizer bar in a selected one of a connected state, a disconnected state, and an inverted state. The inverter housing may be alternately constrained to one of the first stabilizer bar or the chassis coupler based on a position of the actuator assembly to define each of the connected state, the disconnected state and the inverted state.
Actuator for vehicle sway bar engagement and disengagement
A sway-bar actuator for a vehicle includes a motor that rotationally operates a lead rod to axially operates a push rod. Operation of the push rod axially operates an attachment fork between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position is characterized by a unified operation of opposing stabilizing bars. The disengaged position is characterized by independent rotational operation of the opposing stabilizing bars. A sensor rod is coupled to and operates axially with the attachment fork. A sensor assembly has a rotator and a sensor magnet. Axial operation of the sensor rod produces a rotational operation of the sensor magnet. The sway-bar actuator includes an encoder, where a rotational position of the sensor magnet relative to the encoder corresponds to an axial position of the attachment fork and the push rod relative to the engaged and disengaged positions.
Stabilizer bar control apparatus and method
An apparatus for controlling a stabilizer bar including: a steering angular velocity detection unit configured to detect a steering angular velocity of a vehicle in operation; a steering angle detection unit configured to detect a steering angle of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to determine whether the vehicle is turning, based on the steering angular velocity information and the steering angle information of the vehicle, and perform clutch coupling by driving a clutch of a stabilizer bar having the clutch applied thereto, when it is determined that the vehicle is turning. The control unit decides a clutch coupling time period in response to an instantaneous turning velocity of the vehicle, and performs the clutch coupling in response to the decided clutch coupling time period.
VEHICLE ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACTION MANAGEMENT
A vehicle includes a chassis, an axle, and a sway bar assembly coupled between the chassis and the axle. At least one actuator is configured to move the sway bar assembly relative to the axle to thereby move at least a portion of the chassis toward or away from the axle to adjust an attitude of the vehicle.
CLUTCH APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS FOR USE WITH VEHICLE STABILIZER BARS
Clutch apparatus, systems, and related methods for use with vehicle stabilizer bars are disclosed. A disclosed stabilizer bar disconnect system includes a fluidic clutch configured to control torque transferred between first and second bar members during a driving event to control a roll stiffness of a vehicle. The fluidic clutch includes: a housing, a fluid chamber in the housing; a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid chamber; first and second fluid control members in the fluid chamber and connected to the first and second bar members, and fluid valves configured to control a flow of a fluid through the fluid chamber and the fluid reservoir. The fluidic clutch is changeable between a connected state in which the fluidic clutch couples the first bar member to the second bar member and a disconnected state in which the fluidic clutch decouples the first bar member from the second bar member.