Vehicle stability control system

• US 20050184476A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Original Assignee: Alton B. Hamm
• Inventors: Hamm, Alton B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,014 B2
• 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 vehicle stability control system, comprising:

a movable tongue member adapted to move between a first tongue position and a second tongue position; and

a ratchet mechanism 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.

2. A vehicle having the vehicle stability control system of claim 1 installed thereon.

3. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:

a movable tongue system comprising an electromechanical actuator and a movable tongue member, wherein the electromechanical actuator is mechanically coupled to the tongue member to provide movement of the tongue member from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position;

an electrical triggering device adapted to be electrically coupled to a signal generating device, the triggering device also being electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator, the triggering device being adapted to activate the electromechanical actuator based, at least in part, on an output signal received from the signal generating device; and

a ratchet mechanism 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 set of ratchet teeth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the electromechanical actuator moves the tongue member toward the second tongue position and into the set of ratchet teeth.

4. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the signal generating device is an acceleration measuring device.

5. The vehicle stability control system of claim 4, wherein the output signal corresponds to a lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the output signal corresponds to a movement of a steering wheel on the vehicle.

7. The vehicle stability control system of claim 6, wherein the signal generating device comprises a sensor adapted to measure movement of the steering wheel.

8. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the output signal corresponds to a velocity of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle stability control system of claim 8, wherein the signal generating device comprises a sensor adapted to measure the velocity of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the output signal corresponds to a vehicle body position relative to a ground surface.

11. The vehicle stability control system of claim 10, wherein the signal generating device comprises one or more sensors adapted to measure a tilt angle of a vehicle body relative to the ground surface.

12. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the output signal corresponds to a vehicle body position relative to at least one vehicle wheel.

13. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the signal generating device comprises one or more sensors adapted to measure a tilt angle of a vehicle body relative to one or more vehicle wheels.

14. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises a solenoid.

15. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the electromechanical 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.

16. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the electrical triggering device comprises an analog electrical circuit, wherein the analog electrical circuit comprising a capacitor, a resistor, and a transistor.

17. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the electrical triggering device comprises a microprocessor and an amplifier.

18. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the tongue member has an end profile comprising a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, partially rounded, notched, pawl shaped, partially beveled, beveled, hook shaped, lip shaped, flat, curved, concave, convex, and combinations thereof.

19. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein at least some of the ratchet teeth comprise a tooth shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, partially rounded, notched, pawl shaped, partially beveled, beveled, hook shaped, lip shaped, flat, curved, concave, convex, and combinations thereof.

20. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein at least some of the ratchet teeth are formed along a curved path.

21. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein at least some of the ratchet teeth are formed along a linear path.

22. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:

a first slider portion; and

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

23. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the ratchet mechanism is attached to and part of a shock absorber device.

24. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, 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.

25. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, 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 when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle.

26. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, further comprising:

a roller member attached about a portion of the ratchet mechanism, the roller member being adapted to rotate about the ratchet mechanism.

27. A vehicle having the vehicle stability control system of claim 3 installed thereon.

28. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises:

a pulley member adapted to be rotatably coupled to the sprung mass portion of the vehicle;

a cable having a first end attached to the pulley member, the cable extending from the pulley member, where the pulley member is adapted to spool the cable at least partially around the pulley member as the pulley member pivots, and the cable being adapted to attach to the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle to extend between the unsprung mass portion and the pulley member;

a pulley spring biasing the pulley member to pivot in a direction that will spool the cable onto the pulley member to keep tension on the cable; and

a ratchet gear extending from the pulley member, the ratchet gear having the set of ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet gear pivots with the pulley member.

29. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the movable tongue member is adapted to pivot about a tongue member axis as it moves from the first tongue position toward the second tongue position.

30. The vehicle stability control system of claim 3, wherein the movable tongue member is adapted to slide as it moves from the first tongue position toward the second tongue position.

31. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:

an acceleration measuring device adapted to measure at least a lateral acceleration of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle;

a movable tongue system comprising an electromechanical actuator and a movable tongue member, wherein the electromechanical actuator is mechanically coupled to the tongue member to provide movement of the tongue member from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position;

an electrical triggering device electrically coupled to the acceleration measuring device, the triggering device also being electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator, the triggering device being adapted to activate the electromechanical actuator based, at least in part, on an output signal received from the acceleration measuring device; and

a ratchet mechanism adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of the vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle, the ratchet mechanism comprising a set of ratchet teeth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the electromechanical actuator moves the tongue member toward the second tongue position and into the set of ratchet teeth.

32. The vehicle stability control system of claim 31, wherein the acceleration measuring device comprises a semiconductor accelerometer adapted to provide a voltage output proportional to a measured acceleration.

33. A vehicle having the vehicle stability control system of claim 31 installed thereon.

34. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:

a first slider mechanism comprising

a first slider portion,

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

a first connector member extending from the first slider portion, the first connector member being adapted to be mechanically coupled to at least one of a sprung mass portion of a vehicle and an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, wherein a vehicle spring is biased between the sprung mass portion and the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle,

a second connector member extending from the second slider portion, the second connector member being adapted to be mechanically coupled to at least one of the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle and the sprung mass portion of the vehicle,

a series of teeth formed along the first slider portion, and

a movable tongue system comprising a moveable tongue member, the movable tongue system being attached to the second slider portion, the movable tongue system being adapted to position the tongue member in a first tongue position and a second tongue position,

in the first tongue position, the tongue member being adapted to be located between at least some adjacent teeth of the series of teeth, such that the first slider portion may slide relative to the second slider portion as the unsprung mass portion moves toward the sprung mass portion of the vehicle, but such that the first slider portion is prevented from sliding relative to the second slider portion as the unsprung mass portion moves away the sprung mass portion of the vehicle, and

in the second tongue position, the tongue member does not prevent sliding of the first slider portion relative to the second slider portion;

an acceleration measuring device adapted to output a first electrical signal corresponding to an acceleration measurement; and

a triggering device electrically connected to the acceleration measuring device and the movable tongue system, the triggering device being adapted to send a second electrical signal to the movable tongue system based upon the first electrical signal.

35. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, further comprising a second slider mechanism, wherein the second slider mechanism is essentially the same as the first slider mechanism.

36. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein the acceleration measuring device and the triggering device are part of a same electrical component.

37. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein the triggering device is part of the movable tongue system.

38. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein:

the first connector member is adapted to be mechanically coupled to the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle,

the second connector member is adapted to be mechanically coupled to the sprung mass portion of the vehicle,

the first slider portion has an elongated body,

the second slider portion has a hollow elongated body, and

the first slider portion slidably mates with the second slider portion and slides at least partially into the second slider portion when the unsprung mass portion moves toward the sprung mass portion of the vehicle.

39. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein at least some of the series of teeth comprise a top side and a bottom side, the top side being beveled at an angle relative to an axis of sliding for the first slider portion, and the bottom side being substantially perpendicular to the axis of sliding for the first slider portion.

40. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein at least some of the series of teeth comprise a top side and a bottom side, the top side having a curved profile, and the bottom side being substantially perpendicular to an axis of sliding for the first slider portion.

41. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein at least some of the series of teeth have a rectangular profile.

42. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein a distal end of the tongue member has a bottom side that is beveled at an angle relative to an axis of sliding for the first slider portion.

43. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein a distal end of the tongue member has a bottom side that has a curved profile.

44. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein the tongue member has a rectangular distal end profile.

45. The vehicle stability control system of claim 34, wherein the movable tongue system comprises a solenoid for driving movement of the tongue member between the first and second tongue positions.

46. A vehicle having the vehicle stability control system of claim 34 installed thereon.

47. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:

an elongated hollow member having a first hole formed in a side thereof and having an open end;

an elongated shaft member slidably engaged into the open end of the hollow member;

a series of teeth formed along the shaft member;

an electromechanical actuator attached to the hollow member;

a tongue member extending from the electromechanical actuator at the first hole; and

an electrical circuit comprising an acceleration measuring device, the electrical circuit being electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator.

48. The vehicle stability control system of claim 47, wherein the series of teeth comprise a series of recesses formed in the elongated shaft member comprising a profile shape selected from the group consisting of a triangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a right angle, a convex curve, and a concave curve.

49. The vehicle stability control system of claim 47, wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises a solenoid.

50. The vehicle stability control system of claim 47, wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises an electrically-controlled hydraulic actuator.

51. The vehicle stability control system of claim 47, wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises an electrically-controlled pneumatic actuator.

52. A vehicle having a vehicle stability control system installed thereon, comprising:

a vehicle wheel;

a vehicle suspension component, the vehicle wheel being rotatably coupled to the vehicle at least partially by the vehicle suspension component;

a spring extending between the vehicle suspension component and a sprung mass portion of the vehicle;

an elongated hollow member having a first hole formed in a side thereof and having an open end, the elongated hollow member being mechanically coupled to the sprung mass portion or the vehicle suspension component;

an elongated shaft member slidably engaged into the open end of the hollow member, the elongated shaft member being mechanically coupled to the vehicle suspension component or the sprung mass portion, wherein the elongated shaft member is mechanically coupled to the vehicle suspension component if the elongated hollow member is mechanically coupled to the sprung mass portion, and wherein the elongated shaft member is mechanically coupled to the sprung mass portion if the elongated hollow member is mechanically coupled to the vehicle suspension component;

a series of teeth formed along the shaft member;

an electromechanical actuator attached to the hollow member;

a tongue member extending from the electromechanical actuator at the first hole; and

an electrical circuit comprising an accelerometer device, a microprocessor, and an amplifier, the electrical circuit being electrically coupled to the electromechanical actuator, the accelerometer being electrically coupled to an input pin of the microprocessor, and the amplifier being electrically coupled to an output pin of the microprocessor.

53. The vehicle of claim 52, wherein the vehicle suspension component is part of a rear transaxle assembly.

54. The vehicle of claim 52, wherein the vehicle suspension component comprises a lower control arm of an independent suspension system.

55. The vehicle of claim 52, wherein the sprung mass portion comprises a vehicle frame.

56. The vehicle of claim 52, wherein the sprung mass portion comprises a vehicle body.

57. The vehicle of claim 52, wherein the sprung mass portion comprises a shock tower.