A method for the active roll stabilization of a vehicle (50) by way of a roll stabilizer (30). The roll stabilizer (30) includes a stabilizer rod (32), a stabilizer housing (34) and a stabilizer motor (36), arranged inside the stabilizer housing (34), so that a first end of the stabilizer rod (32) is connected at to a wheel (52) of the vehicle and at a second end thereof is mounted to be rotated by way of the stabilizer motor (36). The method including the steps of obtaining a first set-point value of a rod torque of the stabilizer rod (32); obtaining a second set-point value of a motor rotation angle of the stabilizer motor (36); limiting the second set-point value based on an absolute value and/or a gradient of the first set-point value; and inputting the second set-point value into a control sequence (20) as a guide magnitude.

A wheel suspension arrangement is provided for a vehicle having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction. The wheel suspension arrangement includes a wheel holder for supporting a vehicle wheel. A first vertical end region of the wheel holder is pivotally attached to a vehicle support structure by a rigid control arm and a second vertical end region of the wheel holder is attached to the vehicle support structure by a leaf spring. A longitudinal direction of the leaf spring is arranged substantially in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The leaf spring is pivotally attached to the vehicle support structure at a transverse centre region of the vehicle, and a centre of the leaf spring in the transverse direction is located vertically offset from a pivotal attachment location of the leaf spring. The pivotal attachment location of the leaf spring is vertically offset towards the side of the rigid control arm.

An active roll stabilizer includes a divided torsion bar (1) having torsion bar parts (2, 3) which are arranged one behind the other along a torsion bar axis. An actuator (4) for transmitting torsional torques to the torsion bar (1) is provided. An electric motor (7) and a transmission (6) connected to the electric motor (7) are arranged in an actuator housing (5). The actuator housing (5) is connected to the one torsion bar part (2) for conjoint rotation and the transmission (6) is connected, on the output side, to the other torsion bar part (3) for conjoint rotation. A motor housing (11) of the electric motor (7) is connected, by means of only one of the two axial ends of said motor housing, to the actuator housing (5) for conjoint rotation.

The ECU of the stabilizer control apparatus determines, based on a high frequency component of a wheel acceleration and a low frequency component of a wheel speed difference, whether a road surface state is a rough road state or a smooth road state. When the road surface state is determined to be the rough road state, the ECU sets a turning determination threshold to a rough road threshold. When the road surface state is determined to be the smooth road state, the ECU sets the threshold to a smooth road threshold. When a turning determination parameter is greater than the threshold, the ECU sets each of first, second, and third cylinders to a lock state to increase rigidity of stabilizers. When the turning determination parameter is smaller than the turning determination threshold, the ECU sets each of the cylinders to a free state to decrease the rigidity of the stabilizers.

The ECU of the stabilizer control apparatus determines, based on a high frequency component of a wheel acceleration and a low frequency component of a wheel speed difference, whether a road surface state is a rough road state or a smooth road state. When the road surface state is determined to be the rough road state, the ECU sets a turning determination threshold to a rough road threshold. When the road surface state is determined to be the smooth road state, the ECU sets the threshold to a smooth road threshold. When a turning determination parameter is greater than the threshold, the ECU sets each of first, second, and third cylinders to a lock state to increase rigidity of stabilizers. When the turning determination parameter is smaller than the turning determination threshold, the ECU sets each of the cylinders to a free state to decrease the rigidity of the stabilizers.

Cross-linked vehicle suspension systems. A first wheel is mechanically linked to a second wheel by a cross tie, so that motion from an impact with an obstacle by the first wheel is transmitted to the second wheel. A shock absorber may be coupled to each wheel, the cross tie, or both, to distribute absorption of the impact. In some embodiments, a second pair of wheels may be coupled by a second cross tie and configured diagonally to the first pair of wheels. A shock absorber may be coupled to both cross ties to link all wheels together, for full distribution of all loads across all wheels.

A stabilizer bar assembly having a pair of bar members and a clutch assembly with a first and second couplers, which are fixedly coupled to the bar members, a coupling sleeve and a rotary lock. The coupling sleeve matingly engages the first coupler. The coupling sleeve is movable along an axis between a first position, in which the coupling sleeve is disengaged from the second coupler to permit relative rotation between the stabilizer bar members about the axis, and a second position in which the coupling sleeve is engaged to the first and second couplers. The rotary lock has lock members that are fixedly coupled to the coupling sleeve and the second coupler. The lock members engage one another when the coupling sleeve is in the second position to inhibit relative movement about the rotational axis between the coupling sleeve and the second coupler.

A suspension apparatus includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders and a valve device provided between an upper chamber and a lower chamber of each of the hydraulic cylinders and configured to establish and block communication between these chambers. The valve device includes a first passage and an extension-side damping force generation mechanism. Hydraulic oil flows out from the upper chamber into the first passage due to movement of a piston in a cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder. The extension-side damping force generation mechanism includes a damping valve and a back-pressure chamber. The damping valve is disposed in the first passage and generates a damping force by restricting a flow of the hydraulic oil generated due to a sliding movement of the piston. The back-pressure chamber applies an inner pressure thereof to the damping valve in a valve-closing direction.

A suspension apparatus includes a valve device provided between an upper chamber and a lower chamber of each of hydraulic cylinders and configured to establish and block communication between these chambers. The valve device includes a first passage and an extension-side damping force generation mechanism. Hydraulic oil flows out from the upper chamber into the first passage due to a movement of a piston in a cylinder of each of the hydraulic cylinders. The extension-side damping force generation mechanism includes a damping valve and a back-pressure chamber. The damping valve is disposed in the first passage, and generates a damping force by restricting a flow of the hydraulic oil generated due to a sliding movement of the piston. The back-pressure chamber applies an inner pressure thereof to this damping valve in a valve-closing direction.

A stabilizer bar assembly having a pair of bar members and a clutch assembly with a first and second couplers, which are fixedly coupled to the bar members, a coupling sleeve and a rotary lock. The coupling sleeve matingly engages the first coupler. The coupling sleeve is movable along an axis between a first position, in which the coupling sleeve is disengaged from the second coupler to permit relative rotation between the stabilizer bar members about the axis, and a second position in which the coupling sleeve is engaged to the first and second couplers. The rotary lock has lock members that are fixedly coupled to the coupling sleeve and the second coupler. The lock members engage one another when the coupling sleeve is in the second position to inhibit relative movement about the rotational axis between the coupling sleeve and the second coupler.