Self-leveling vehicle suspension system
First Claim
1. In a self-levelling suspension system of an automotive vehicle with at least one set of cooperative road wheels and including suspension members respectively connected to said road wheels, a lateral stabilizer bar connected between said suspension members and rotatable about its axis as the road wheels are caused to vertically move relative to the body structure of the vehicle and a hydropneumatically-operated self-levelling strut connected between the vehicle body structure and each of said suspension members, a vehicle body position control device for locking said stabilizer bar relative to the vehicle body structure during acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, said device comprising a suspension control unit comprising a cylinder axially movable relative to the vehicle body structure, a piston axially movable in said cylinder, an elongated connecting member fixedly connected at one end to said piston and pivotally connected at the other end to said stabilizer bar, biasing means urging said piston into a predetermined equilibrium position in said cylinder and locking means having a first condition allowing said cylinder to axially move relative to the vehicle body structure and a second condition holding the cylinder locked relative to the vehicle body structure, and control means responsive to the rate of change of the cruising velocity of the vehicle and operative to hold said locking means in said first condition thereof when the rate of change of the vehicle velocity is within a predetermined range and to actuate said locking means into said second condition thereof when the rate of change of the vehicle velocity is outside said predetermined range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-levelling vehicle suspension system is provided with a vehicle body position control device which restrains a stabilizer bar of the suspension system from turning and twisting about its axis during acceleration or deceleration in which the vehicle body tends to pitch due to rearward or forward weight transfer that causes the front end of the body to lower or lift, the device comprising a suspension control unit connected to the stabilizer bar and arranged to operate in a hydromechanical, electromechanical or hydroelectrical fashion responsive to acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. In a self-levelling suspension system of an automotive vehicle with at least one set of cooperative road wheels and including suspension members respectively connected to said road wheels, a lateral stabilizer bar connected between said suspension members and rotatable about its axis as the road wheels are caused to vertically move relative to the body structure of the vehicle and a hydropneumatically-operated self-levelling strut connected between the vehicle body structure and each of said suspension members, a vehicle body position control device for locking said stabilizer bar relative to the vehicle body structure during acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, said device comprising a suspension control unit comprising a cylinder axially movable relative to the vehicle body structure, a piston axially movable in said cylinder, an elongated connecting member fixedly connected at one end to said piston and pivotally connected at the other end to said stabilizer bar, biasing means urging said piston into a predetermined equilibrium position in said cylinder and locking means having a first condition allowing said cylinder to axially move relative to the vehicle body structure and a second condition holding the cylinder locked relative to the vehicle body structure, and control means responsive to the rate of change of the cruising velocity of the vehicle and operative to hold said locking means in said first condition thereof when the rate of change of the vehicle velocity is within a predetermined range and to actuate said locking means into said second condition thereof when the rate of change of the vehicle velocity is outside said predetermined range.
Specification