Selectively releasable anti-sway bar

• US 6,345,831 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edmond Demarcellus
• Original Assignee: Edmond Demarcellus
• Inventors: deMarcellus, Edmond
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/502,703
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.103, 280/124.106, 280/124.13, 280/124.152, 280/124.166
• US Class Current: 280/124.106
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0556 including a releasable coupling B60G21/0555 takes precedence

Abstract

A selectively releasable anti-sway bar for a vehicle having a frame and at least one pair of opposed wheels attached to the frame by a spring-type suspension system. The apparatus includes a torsional bar assembly and control arm connectors is attached to the suspension system adjacent to each of the opposed wheels. A releasable scissors linkage is located between one end of the torsional bar assembly and one end of at least one of the control arm connectors. The scissors linkage includes a first arm rigidly connected to one end of the torsional bar assembly. A second arm is pivotally connected to the same end of the torsional bar assembly adjacent to the first arm and connected at the its other end to one end of at least one of the control arm connectors. In the preferred embodiment, a key-and-slot arrangement selectively rigidly connects the second arm to the first arm. Thus, the anti-sway bar may be selectively released by disengaging the scissors linkage and selectively engaged by engaging the scissors linkage. In the preferred embodiment, the key is biased towards the slot during engagement thereby self-tightening the scissors linkage to substantially reduce play and improve performance of the anti-sway bar.

Claims

1. A selectively releasable anti-sway bar for a vehicle having a frame and at least one pair of opposed wheels attached to said frame by a spring-type suspension system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a torsional bar assembly;

(b) control arm connectors attached to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels;

(c) a releasable scissors linkage between one end of said torsional bar assembly and one end of at least one of said control arm connectors, whereby said anti-sway bar may be selectively released by disengaging said scissors linkage and selectively engaged by engaging said scissors linkage; and

(d) an actuator attached to said scissors linkage for selectively engaging and disengaging said scissors linkage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said linear actuator is a fluid cylinder.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said cylinder is a bi-directional pneumatic cylinder.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further including a pressurized fluid supply.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pressurized fluid supply includes an air compressor and a supply line connected to said fluid cylinder.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pressurized fluid supply provides a locking pressure of about 50 psi.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pressurized fluid supply provides an unlocking pressure of about 150 psi.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torsional bar assembly includes an elongated shaft and means for mounting said shaft to said frame of said vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said elongated shaft is formed from spring steel.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said spring steel has a R_c value of between about 22 and 25.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for mounting said shaft to said frame of said vehicle includes a “

D”

bushing for receiving said shaft and a clamp and fasteners for attaching said “

D”

bushing and shaft to said frame.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said “

D”

bushing is formed from an elastomeric material.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness of greater than about 70.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness of between about 70 and 90.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said elastomeric material is a polyurethane.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said elastomeric material is a one-component, injected molded polyurethane.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control arm connectors include an elongated shaft and eyelets attached to each end of said shaft for mounting said shaft to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said eyelets include eyelet bushings formed from an elastomeric material.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, further including a moment arm rigidly attached at one end to one end of said torsional bar assembly and connected at the other end to one of said control arm connectors attached to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels.

21. A selectively releasable scissors linkage for an anti-sway bar for a vehicle having a frame and at least one pair of opposed wheels attached to the frame by a spring-type suspension system, said anti-sway bar including a torsional bar assembly, including a torsional bar shaft, and control arm connectors attached to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first arm rigidly connected to one end of said torsional bar shaft;

(b) a second arm pivotally connected at a first end to the same end of said torsional bar shaft adjacent to said first arm and connected at a distal end to one end of at least one of said control arm connectors;

(c) means for selectively rigidly connecting said second arm to said first arm, whereby said anti-sway bar may be selectively released by disengaging said scissors linkage and selectively engaged by said scissors linkage; and

(d) an actuator attached to said scissors linkage for selectively engaging and disengaging said scissors linkage.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, further including a compression collar attached to said torsional bar shaft on the side of said second arm opposite from said first arm for maintaining said second arm adjacent to said first arm.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means for selectively rigidly connecting said second arm to said first arm includes an elongated slot extending lengthwise along a portion of one of said arms and a movable elongated key extending lengthwise along a portion of the other of said arms, whereby engaging and disengaging said slot and said key is operable to selectively engaging and disengaging said anti-sway bar.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said key is biased towards said slot and said slot is tapered outwardly, thereby forming a self-tightening fit between said key and said slot.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said slot is tapered outwardly at greater than about 2 degrees.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said slot is tapered outwardly at about 3 degrees.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said slot has a depth of greater than about ¾

inches.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said slot is about 1 inch deep.

29. A selectively releasable anti-sway bar for a vehicle having a frame and at least one pair of opposed wheels attached to said frame by a spring-type suspension system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a torsional bar assembly, including a torsional bar shaft;

(b) control arm connectors attached to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels;

(c) a releasable scissors linkage between one end of said torsional bar assembly and one end of at least one of said control arm connectors, said scissors linkage including;

(i) a first arm rigidly connected to one end of said torsional bar shaft;

(ii) a second arm pivotally connected at a first end to the same end of said torsional bar shaft adjacent to said first arm and connected at a distal end to one end of at least one of said control arm connectors; and

(iii) means for selectively rigidly connecting said second arm to said first arm; and

(d) an actuator attached to said-scissors linkage for selectively engaging and disengaging said means for selectively rigidly connecting said second arm to said first arm of said scissors linkage, whereby said anti-sway bar may be selectively released by disengaging said scissors linkage and selectively engaged by engaging said scissors linkage.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said linear actuator is a fluid cylinder.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said cylinder is a bi-directional pneumatic cylinder.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, further including a pressurized fluid supply.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said pressurized fluid supply includes an air compressor and a supply line connected to said fluid cylinder.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said pressurized fluid supply provides a locking pressure of about 50 psi.

36. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said pressurized fluid supply provides an unlocking pressure of about 150 psi.

37. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said torsional bar assembly includes an elongated shaft and means for mounting said shaft to said frame of said vehicle.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said elongated shaft is formed from spring a steel.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said spring steel has a R_c value of between about 22 and 25.

40. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said means for mounting said shaft to said frame of said vehicle includes a “

D”

bushing for receiving said shaft and a clamp and fasteners for attaching said “

D”

bushing and shaft to said frame.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said “

D”

bushing is formed from an elastomeric material.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness of greater than about 70.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness of between about 70 and 90.

44. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said elastomeric material is a polyuirethane.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said elastomeric material is a one-component, injected molded polyurethane.

46. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said control arm connectors include an elongated shaft and eyelets attached to each end of said shaft for mounting said shaft to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said eyelets include eyelet bushings formed from an elastomeric material.

48. The apparatus according to claim 46, further including a moment arm rigidly attached at one end to one end of said torsional bar assembly and connected at the other end to one of said control arm connectors attached to said suspension system adjacent to each of said opposed wheels.

49. The apparatus according to claim 29, further including a compression collar attached to said torsional bar shaft on the side of said second arm opposite from said first arm for maintaining said second arm adjacent to said first arm.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said means for selectively rigidly connecting said second arm to said first arm includes an elongated slot extending lengthwise along a portion of one of said arms and a movable elongated key extending lengthwise along a portion of the other of said arms, whereby engaging and disengaging said slot and said key is operable to selectively engaging and disengaging said anti-sway bar.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said key is biased towards said slot and said slot is tapered outwardly, thereby forming a self-tightening fit between said key and said slot.

52. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said slot is tapered outwardly at greater than about 2 degrees.

53. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said slot is tapered outwardly at about 3 degrees.

54. The apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said slot has a depth of greater than about ¾

inches.

55. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said slot is about 1 inch deep.