Vehicle stability control system

• US 20050184475A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Original Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Inventors: Hamm, Alton B.
• Application Number:
  US11/065,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184475A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.502
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0556 including a releasable coupling B60G21/0555 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1224 End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/419 Gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/422 Links for mounting suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4232 Sliding mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45 Stops limiting travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4504 using cable or band to prevent extension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/46 Means for locking the suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4604 mechanically, e.g. using a hook as anticreep mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0122 Roll rigidity ratio; Warping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/006 Attaching arms to sprung or unsprung part of vehicle, characterised by comprising attachment means controlled by an external actuator, e.g. a fluid or electrical motor B62D7/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 : Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle stability control system is provided, which includes a movable tongue member and a ratchet mechanism. The movable tongue member is adapted to move between a first tongue position and a second tongue position. The ratchet mechanism is adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle. The ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet tooth, such that the ratchet mechanism, is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is moved toward the second tongue position and into the ratchet tooth, and wherein the tongue member does not restrict the movement of the unsprung mass portion relative to the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is in the first tongue position.

Claims

1. A method of limiting a movement of a sprung mass portion of a vehicle relative to an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, the method comprising:

moving a tongue member of a vehicle stability control system from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position;

engaging a tooth of a ratchet mechanism with the tongue member, the ratchet mechanism being part of the vehicle stability control system, and the ratchet mechanism being mechanically coupled to the unsprung mass portion and to the sprung mass portion of the vehicle; and

when the tongue member engages the tooth, restricting a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion, wherein the tongue member does not restrict the movement of the unsprung mass portion relative to the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is in the first tongue position.

2. A method of limiting expansion of a spring member on a vehicle, wherein the spring member is biased between a sprung mass portion of the vehicle and an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, the method comprising:

moving a tongue member from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position;

engaging a set of ratchet teeth with the tongue member as the tongue member is moved toward a second tongue position, wherein the ratchet teeth are part of a ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism being mechanically coupled to the sprung mass portion and to the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle; and

restricting a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is moved toward the second tongue position and into the set of ratchet teeth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the moving of the tongue member from the first tongue position toward the second tongue position is performed after steps comprising:

receiving an output signal from a signal generating device;

determining whether the output signal meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold level; and

if the output signal meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level, activating an electro-mechanical actuator, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator is used for the moving of the tongue member.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal generating device is an accelerometer, and wherein the method further comprises measuring a lateral acceleration of the vehicle with the accelerometer, wherein the output signal corresponds to the lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises measuring a velocity of the vehicle with a sensor, wherein the activating of the electro-mechanical actuator is only performed if the velocity is above a predetermined velocity level.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises measuring a movement of a steering wheel on the vehicle with a sensor, wherein the output signal corresponds to the movement of the steering wheel as a function of time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises measuring a velocity of the vehicle with a sensor, wherein the output signal corresponds to the movement of the steering wheel as a function of time.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises measuring a tilt angle of a body of the vehicle relative to a ground surface with one or more sensors, wherein the output signal corresponds to the tilt angle of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises measuring a tilt angle of a body of the vehicle relative to one or more vehicle wheels with one or more sensors, wherein the output signal corresponds to the tilt angle of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an electric motor, a solenoid, an electrically-switchable hydraulic valve, a hydraulic actuator, an electrically-switchable pneumatic valve, a pneumatic actuator, an electrically-switchable vacuum valve, a vacuum-driven actuator, an electrically-switchable pyrotechnic-driven actuator, an electrically-switchable explosive-charged actuator, an electrically-switchable compressed-gas-driven actuator, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining whether the output signal meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold level is performed by an electrical circuit comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a capacitor, a resistor, a transistor, an analog electrical circuit, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, an amplifier, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein at least some of the ratchet teeth are formed along a curved path.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein at least some of the ratchet teeth are formed along a linear path.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:

a first slider portion; and

a second slider portion slidably coupled to the first slider portion.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism is attached to and part of a shock absorber device.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a ratchet gear extending from a suspension arm and extending circumferentially at least partially around a pivot axis of the suspension arm, wherein the ratchet gear is fixed relative to the suspension arm and adapted to pivot with the suspension arm about the pivot axis.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the tongue member is part of a movable tongue system, and wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:

a first arm;

a second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm, at least part of the movable tongue system being attached to the second arm; and

a tooth arm extending from the first arm, the tooth arm having the set of ratchet teeth thereon, and the tooth arm extending across at least part of the movable tongue system.

18. A method of limiting expansion of a spring member on a vehicle, wherein the spring member is biased between a sprung mass portion of the vehicle and an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, the method comprising:

measuring lateral acceleration of the vehicle;

determining whether the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold level; and

if the lateral acceleration exceeds the predetermined threshold level, then for a predetermined period of time, allowing the spring member to be compressed when the unsprung mass portion moves toward the sprung mass portion, but not allowing the spring member to expand.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the measuring lateral acceleration is performed by an accelerometer.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining whether the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold level is performed by a microprocessor.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining whether the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold level is performed by analog electrical circuitry.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the analog electrical circuitry comprises a resistor, a capacitor, and a transistor.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the method is performed only if the vehicle is moving at a speed greater than a predetermined speed level, and wherein the method further comprises measuring and monitoring the speed of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined threshold level for lateral acceleration is about 6.4 ft/sec² and the predetermined speed level is about 30 miles per hour.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined period of time is about 1 second.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the allowing the spring member to be compressed when the unsprung mass portion moves toward the sprung mass portion, but not allowing the spring member to expand, comprises:

activating an electro-mechanical actuator of a movable tongue system; and

using the electro-mechanical actuator, moving a tongue member of the movable tongue system toward a first slider portion of a first slider mechanism and into a series of teeth formed along the first slider portion, wherein the first slider portion is slidably coupled to a second slider portion of the first slider mechanism, and wherein the movable tongue system is attached to the second slider portion.

27. A method of improving vehicle stability during abrupt turning maneuvers, comprising:

obtaining a lateral acceleration measurement of a vehicle;

if the lateral acceleration measurement exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration level, then for a predetermined period of time, activating an electro-mechanical actuator, the electro-mechanical actuator being part of a moveable tongue system, wherein the moveable tongue system further comprises a tongue member;

using the electro-mechanical actuator when activated, driving the tongue member against a first slider portion of a first slider mechanism at a location upon a path of movement for a series of teeth formed along the first slider portion, wherein the first slider portion is slidably coupled to a second slider portion of the first slider mechanism, wherein the movable tongue system is attached to the second slider portion, wherein the first slider mechanism is mechanically coupled between a sprung mass portion and an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, wherein a vehicle wheel is rotatably coupled to the unsprung mass portion, wherein a spring member is biased between the sprung mass portion and the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle; and

when the tongue member is driven against the first slider portion and when the tongue member engages into the series of teeth, preventing the spring member from expanding.

28. The method of claim 27, when the tongue member is driven against the first slider portion and when the tongue member engages into the series of teeth, allowing the spring member to be compressed.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the obtaining the lateral acceleration measurement is performed by an acceleration measuring device comprising an accelerometer.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the determining if the lateral acceleration measurement exceeds the predetermined lateral acceleration level is performed by a triggering device comprising a microprocessor.