Suspension height adjustment mechanism

• US 20090261542A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Joseph Mcintyre
• Original Assignee: Kevin Joseph Mcintyre
• Inventors: McIntyre, Kevin Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/6.157
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/419 Gears

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a suspension height adjustment mechanism comprising a main body, a rotatable assembly being rotatably mounted to the main body and having a first threaded portion, a tool engagement portion for rotating the rotatable assembly, a spring support having a second threaded portion engaging the first threaded portion, an anti-rotation means on the spring support adapted to cooperate with a corresponding anti-rotation means on the main body to prevent rotation of the spring support with respect to the main body, such that, in use, rotation of the tool engagement portion causes the spring support to axially translate along the rotatable assembly, thus adjusting the height of the suspension. This disclosure also relates to a vehicle suspension system comprising the suspension height adjustment mechanism and to a vehicle comprising the vehicle suspension system.

Claims

1. A suspension height adjustment mechanism comprising:

a main body,

a rotatable assembly being rotatably mounted to the main body and having a first threaded portion,

a tool engagement portion for rotating the rotatable assembly,

a spring support having a second threaded portion engaging the first threaded portion,

an anti-rotation means on the spring support adapted to cooperate with a corresponding anti-rotation means on the main body to prevent rotation of the spring support with respect to the main body,

such that, in use, rotation of the tool engagement portion causes the spring support to axially translate along the rotatable assembly, thus adjusting the height of the suspension.

2. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein an end of the rotatable assembly proximal to the main body comprises a shaft aligned with the axis of the rotatable assembly and adapted to extend through an aperture in the main body to terminate at the tool engagement portion.

3. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary body comprising an auxiliary assembly rotatably mounted thereto, the auxiliary assembly comprising a first gear portion and the tool engagement portion, wherein an end of the rotatable assembly proximal to the main body comprises a second gear portion meshing with the first gear portion, such that rotation of the tool engagement portion causes the first gear portion to rotate the second gear portion and thus rotate the rotatable assembly.

4. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of rotation of the first gear portion is non-parallel with the axis of rotation of the second gear portion.

5. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of the first gear portion is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second gear portion.

6. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of rotation of the first gear portion is substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the second gear portion.

7. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the first and second gear portions are peripherally disposed around the auxiliary assembly and rotatable assembly, respectively.

8. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the diameter of the second gear portion is larger than the diameter of the first gear portion.

9. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation means is one or more tongues, the corresponding anti-rotation means is one or more grooves and the one or more tongues are adapted for sliding engagement in the one of more grooves.

10. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation means is one or more grooves and the corresponding anti-rotation means is one or more tongues adapted for sliding engagement in the one or more grooves.

11. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the first threaded portion is externally disposed on the rotatable assembly and the spring support comprises a tube and a circumferential flange extending from the outer surface thereof, the second threaded portion being disposed on an inner surface of the tube.

12. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation means is integral with the spring support.

13. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the corresponding anti-rotation means is provided by the main body.

14. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 13, wherein the corresponding anti-rotation means is integral with the main body.

15. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the rotatable assembly is in the form of a tube and is adapted to house a damper or portion thereof.

16. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the main body and the auxiliary body are integral.

17. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the main body forms part of a suspension lower mount.

18. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the main body forms part of a suspension upper mount.

19. A suspension height adjustment mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the tool engagement portion is adapted for rotation by a hand tool, an electric drill tool or a pneumatic drill tool.

20. A vehicle suspension system comprising the suspension height adjustment mechanism of claim 1.

21. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 20 of coil spring, hydraulic spring, pneumatic spring or magnetic spring type.

22. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 20, wherein the spring support is adapted to support a coil, hydraulic, pneumatic or magnetic spring.

23. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 22, wherein the spring is a conventionally wound compression coil spring.

24. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 22, wherein the spring is a progressively wound compression coil spring having a region of reduced coil pitch at one end of the spring.

25. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 20, wherein the tool engagement portion is located and orientated in such a way that it can be turned by a tool from the side of the vehicle adjacent the suspension system.

26. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 20, wherein the tool engagement portion is adapted for rotation by either a power tool or a hand tool.

27. A vehicle suspension system as defined in claim 26, wherein the tool engagement portion is adapted for rotation by a power tool only.

28. A vehicle comprising the suspension height adjustment mechanism of claim 1.

29. A vehicle comprising the vehicle suspension system of claim 20.