644 results about "Suspension spring" patented technology

A self-pressurized damper, for example, a pressure-sensitive damper is described. At least one suspension spring is used to pressurize the damping fluid, a task typically carried out by a sealed moveable barrier, such as an internal floating piston (IFP) and a pressurized gas. Thus, stroke length may be maximized. Furthermore, the amount of compression damping force produced by the damper may be a function of the force generated by the at least one suspension spring.

A vehicle suspension spring system for a vehicle wheel station includes a hydraulic cylinder or strut having a piston which divides the cylinder volume into a main oil volume and an annular oil volume. The main oil volume communicates via a first oil passage with a first accumulator having a main gas volume. The annular oil volume communicates via a second oil passage with a second accumulator having an auxiliary gas volume. The oil in each accumulator is separated from the gas by a separator piston or diaphragm. A third oil passage with an isolating valve interconnects said first and second oil passages. Operation of the isolating valve is regulated by a controller. At least one sensor for sensing a parameter associated with vehicle attitude is connected to the controller. The controller is operable for switching the isolating valve between open and closed positions for altering spring stiffness of the strut in response to said sensed vehicle attitude parameter when the vehicle is in motion.

The invention is a suspension spring apparatus for a vehicle wherein the suspension spring maintains a linear alignment irrespective of the position of the articulating strut, where the articulating strut is selected from the group consisting of: control arms, axle arms, solid axles, adjustable spring tensioning devices, and longitudinal struts. The apparatus is comprised of a compression spring mounted between a pivoting lower seat and a pivoting upper seat, where the pivoting lower seat is coupled to the articulating strut and the pivoting upper seat is coupled to a support element. The support element is static, and serves to support the suspension system, and to distribute the forces generated by the suspension system. The pivoting lower seat and the pivoting upper seat can, in combination, pivot through substantially the same plane as the articulating strut, such that when there is a change in angle of the articulating strut with respect to the support element there is a commensurate change in the pivoting lower seat and the pivoting upper seat. The compensation maintains the compression spring aligned linearly between the pivoting lower seat and the pivoting upper seat. Compression and expansion occurs along the centerline of the spring, and there is no transverse curvature, or other deformation of the spring.

A first rotor (24; 124) and a second rotor (25; 125) are arranged in a coaxial and mutually rotatable relationship and are provided with a first driven gear (41; 141) and a second driven gear (42; 142), respectively. A drive shaft (31; 131) is also provided with a first drive gear (43; 143) and a second drive gear (44; 144) which are commonly connected to an output shaft of an electric motor (32; 132), and mesh with the first and second driven gears, respectively, at slightly different gear ratios. The first and second rotors are connected via a thread feed mechanism (36; 136) that converts a relative rotation between the first and second rotors into an axial linear movement between the first and second rotors that is used for changing a distance between a vehicle body part and a corresponding end of a suspension spring in a vehicle height adjusting system (9; 109). Owing to a differential rotation of a high gear ratio between the first and second rotors, a significant torque amplification is possible with a compact arrangement. The use of spur gears instead of a worm gear mechanism minimizes torque loss.

A spring is to be supported on an axle with a housing. The housing surrounds a portion of the spring and has a housing inner portion positioned between first and second housing end portions. A lining secures the spring to the housing. A portion of the lining at the first and second housing end portions is thicker than a portion of the lining at the housing inner portion.

A vehicle suspension system including: (a) a suspension spring interconnecting a vehicle body and a wheel; (b) an actuator having an electric motor, such that the actuator is capable of generating, based on a force of the electric motor, an actuator force forcing the body and the wheel toward and away from each other, and causing the generated actuator force to act as a damping force against displacement of the body and the wheel; and (c) a control device for controlling the actuator force generated by the actuator, by controlling operation of the electric motor. The control device is capable of establishing a constant-force generating state in which the actuator force is constantly generated as a constant actuator force by the actuator with supply of an electric power thereto from a battery as an electric power source of the electric motor such that the generated constant actuator force acts in a rebound direction or a bound direction. The control device controls the constant-force generating state, based on a charge state of the battery.

A vehicular suspension device comprises a wheel carrier which is articulated relative to the suspension elements. This connection is provided by rigid connection rods. This additional degree of freedom permits variation of the camber angle independently of the suspension spring movement and of the deformations of its elements. The variation of the camber is preferably controlled by the forces sustained by the wheel in the ground contact area of the tire. This is obtained by a configuration in which the movements of the wheel relative to the body of the vehicle allow an instantaneous center of rotation which is situated beneath the plane of the ground.