Automatic suspension system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for changing the height and suspension characteristics of a vehicle depending on vehicle speed and/or the rate of change thereof comprising:
- means for continuously sensing the speed of said vehicle;
suspension means for said vehicle, said suspension means being selectively adjustable, by addition or removal of fluid, from a first position wherein said vehicle is in a first lower position to a second raised position, the spring rate of said suspension means being different in said second position;
control means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to the means for sensing the speed of said vehicle;
fluid regulating means for said suspension means; and
means coupling said control means to said fluid regulating means and means coupling said fluid regulating means to said suspension means, whereby said suspension system is caused to be in its first position when said vehicle is at rest or is moving below a preselected speed and/or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and is caused to be in said second position when said vehicle is moving above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic suspension system for a vehicle lowers the vehicle ride height when the vehicle is operated below a predetermined speed and when the vehicle is at rest so that the vehicle has a lower center of gravity for better balance and easier passenger boarding characteristics. The vehicle is elevated when it is operated above the predetermined speed to increase suspension travel and ground clearance. The raising and lowering of the suspension can also be varied depending on acceleration or deceleration characteristics or the combination thereof with vehicle speed. The correct ride height can be maintained for different loadings and is not affected by road irregularities. The system also responds quickly and adjusts ride height in a short period of time. While the present invention is adaptable to a wide variety of vehicles, it is particularly well suited for motorcycles.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for changing the height and suspension characteristics of a vehicle depending on vehicle speed and/or the rate of change thereof comprising:
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means for continuously sensing the speed of said vehicle; suspension means for said vehicle, said suspension means being selectively adjustable, by addition or removal of fluid, from a first position wherein said vehicle is in a first lower position to a second raised position, the spring rate of said suspension means being different in said second position; control means coupled to said sensing means and responsive to the means for sensing the speed of said vehicle; fluid regulating means for said suspension means; and means coupling said control means to said fluid regulating means and means coupling said fluid regulating means to said suspension means, whereby said suspension system is caused to be in its first position when said vehicle is at rest or is moving below a preselected speed and/or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and is caused to be in said second position when said vehicle is moving above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A motorcycle having front and rear suspension systems, the improvement comprising an apparatus for causing said motorcycle to be placed in a first lower position when said motorcycle is at rest or is being operated below a preselected speed and/or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and for causing said motorcycle to be elevated from said first position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate, said apparatus comprising:
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means for continuously sensing the speed of said motorcycle and for generating a signal responsive thereto; means for selectively extending the length and increasing the spring rate and/or preload of said front and rear suspension systems to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said extending means, said control means being responsive to said signal from said sensing means and said control means including means for causing said extension means to elevate said motorcycle from said first lower position when said motorcycle is being operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a preselected rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A motorcycle including a fluid adjustable front fork suspension system and fluid adjustable rear shock absorbers, said motorcycle further comprising:
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fluid regulating means to selectively alter the front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers from a first position wherein said front fork suspension system and rear shock absorbers have a first length and first spring rate to a second position wherein said front fork suspension system and said rear shock absorbers have an increased length and increased spring rate; means for sensing motorcycle speed, said sensing means generating a first signal means indicative thereof; control means coupled to said sensing means and to said fluid regulating means, said control means including means to generate a second signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said first signal, measuring means coupled to said control means and to said front fork suspension system and to said rear shock absorbers for measuring the length or spring rate thereof, said measuring means including means to generate a third signal to said control means and said control means including means for generating a fourth signal to said fluid regulating means in response to said third signal; whereby said motorcycle is at a first lower height when said motorcycle is at rest or is moving below a preselected speed or is decelerating at or above a predetermined rate and is elevated and maintained at an elevated height when said motorcycle is operated above said preselected speed or is accelerating at or above a predetermined rate.
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Specification