Stabilizer bar unit the torsion to the wheels of which is capable of being automatically adjusted

• US 4,962,943 A
• Filed: 10/30/1989
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lin, Chien-Hung
• Original Assignee: Lin, Chien-Hung
• Inventors: Lin, Chien-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/429,080
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 280/707, 280/723, 280/721
• US Class Current: 280/5.511
• 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 21/0558 including means varying the stiffness of the stabiliser B60G21/0556 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/25 Stroke; Height; Displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/40 Steering conditions

Abstract

A stabilizer bar unit for an automobile includes a stabilizer bar connected to the control arms of two aligned wheels of the automobile at two ends thereof. A cylindrical sleeve coaxially surrounds the intermediate portion of the bar in such a manner that two sealed annular chambers are formed in two end portions of the sleeve. Two movable rings are received movably within the chambers and have splined inner surfaces engaged with the splined outer surface of the intermediate portion of the bar, and splined outer surfaces engaged with the splined inner surface of the sleeve. The piston rod of a pivotally mounted hydraulic cylinder is connected rotatably to the sleeve. A hydraulic liquid is supplied from a reservoir to the cylinder through a conduit unit. An automatically controlled switch is disposed on the conduit unit so as to stop the intercommunication between the reservoir and the cylinder when the automobile is steered, accelerated or braked. An automatic control system moves the rings outward in response to the increase in the rotational speed of the wheels and moves the rings inward in response to the reduction of the rotational speed of the wheels. The portion of the bar between the rings cannot be twisted.

Claims

1. An automobile having a frame, two aligned wheels and a stabilizer bar unit associated with said wheels, each of said wheels including a control arm secured thereto, said stabilizer bar unit comprising:

a generally U-shaped stabilizer bar having a horizontal intermediate portion journalled on said frame, and two inclined end portions respectively connected to said control arms, said intermediate portion of said stabilizer bar having a splined outer surface;

a cylindrical sleeve having a splined inner surface, coaxially surrounding said intermediate portion of said stabilizer bar in such a manner that two sealed annular chambers are formed in two end portions of said sleeve;

two movable rings respectively and movably received within said two sealed annular chambers, each of said movable rings having a splined inner surface engaged with said splined outer surface of said intermediate portion of said stabilizer bar so as to prevent relative rotation between said movable ring and said intermediate portion of said stabilizer bar, and a splined outer surface engaged with said splined inner surface of said sleeve so as to prevent relative rotation between said movable ring and said sleeve;

a hydraulic cylinder, mounted pivotally on said frame at one end thereof, rotatable about a horizontal axis, having a piston rod extending through the other end of said hydraulic cylinder, said piston rod being connected pivotally to said cylindrical sleeve;

a hydraulic liquid reservoir disposed on said frame containing an amount of said liquid therein;

a conduit unit intercommunicating said hydraulic cylinder and said reservoir;

an automatically controlled switch, disposed on said conduit unit, capable of being automatically turned on to allow intercommunication between said reservoir and said hydraulic cylinder when said automobile advances at a constant speed along a generally straight path, capable of being automatically turned off to stop the intercommunication between said reservoir and said hydraulic cylinder when said automobile is steered, accelerated or braked; and

an automatic control system, capable of moving said movable rings outward when rotational speed of said wheels increases, and capable of moving said movable rings inward when said rotational speed of said wheels reduces;

whereby, the greater the distance between said movable rings, the greater the potential torsion of said stabilizer bar to said wheels.