Bifurcated Spring System With Strain Control Cams
First Claim
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1. A spring system with a strain control device, comprising:
- a substantially flat plate spring having first and second ends, the flat plate spring being rigidly mounted to a first base at the first end and rigidly mounted to a second base at the second end, wherein the second base is configured to move relative the first base;
a first adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring near the first end; and
a second adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring near the second end, wherein the first adjustable cam member and the second adjustable cam members are disposed about opposing sides of the plate spring.
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Abstract
A spring system comprising flat plate-springs with one end mounted rigidly to an un-spring first base and the opposite end mounted rigidly to a sprung second base. The spring system is fitted with cams as strain-control surfaces, mounted tangent to the plate springs and spaced progressively from the said plate-springs beginning at the tangency. The strain-control cams are movable to provide for adjustable spring rates, actively repositioned upon demand therein providing an adaptive active spring-rate system or suspension.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A spring system with a strain control device, comprising:
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a substantially flat plate spring having first and second ends, the flat plate spring being rigidly mounted to a first base at the first end and rigidly mounted to a second base at the second end, wherein the second base is configured to move relative the first base; a first adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring near the first end; and a second adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring near the second end, wherein the first adjustable cam member and the second adjustable cam members are disposed about opposing sides of the plate spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A spring system with a strain control device, comprising:
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a plate spring having first and second ends, the plate spring being mounted to a first base at the first end and mounted to a second base at the second end, wherein the second base is configured to move relative the first base; an adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring; a control module adapted to adjust the position of the cam member in response to strain put on the plate spring; and a sensor in communication with a control module, the sensor adapted to measure strain on the plate spring and communicate said strain to the control module. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A strain controlled spring system, comprising:
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a plate spring having first and second ends, the plate spring being mounted to a base at the first end, wherein the second end is configured to move relative the first end; an adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring; means for measuring the strain of the plate spring and sending a signal corresponding to the measured strain; and means for adjusting the position of the cam member in response to the signal corresponding to the measured strain.
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16. A strain controlled spring system, comprising:
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at least two plate springs having first and second ends, the plate springs being mounted to a first base at the first end and mounted to a second base at the second end, wherein the second base is configured to move relative the first base, wherein the at least two plate springs are oriented parallel to one another; and a first set of cam members disposed about the plate springs adapted to control the strain induced on the at least two plate springs when the second base is moved in a first direction; a second set of cam members disposed about the plate springs adapted to control the strain induced on the at least two plate spring members when the second base is moved in a second direction, wherein the first and second set of cam members comprise a curved contact surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling strain on a spring system, comprising:
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(a) providing a spring system comprising; a plate spring having first and second ends, wherein the second end is configured to move relative the first end; an adjustable cam member disposed about the plate spring; and a sensor adapted to measure strain on the plate spring; a cam member adjustment device; (b) measuring the strain of the plate spring; (c) adjusting the position of the cam member in response to said strain. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification