Failsafe actuator

• US 6,994,357 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc. (Stoneridge Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc. (Stoneridge Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fort, William H., Heller, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/770,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.501, 280/5.502, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 280/5.508, 280/5.509, 280/124.106, 280/124.137, 280/124.149, 280/124.107
• US Class Current: 280/5.502
• 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 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0555 including an actuator inducing vehicle roll
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/0556 including a releasable coupling B60G21/0555 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/135 Stabiliser bar and/or tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/413 Hydraulic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/42 Electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/442 Rotary actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/46 Means for locking the suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/82 Ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/26 Electromagnets; Solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/73 Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/24 Steering, cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/80 Detection or control after a system or component failure

Abstract

A failsafe actuator for returning an actuator driven element to a failsafe position in case of a failure condition is provided. The failsafe actuator may include mechanical or electrical means to provide a failsafe function. Such a failsafe actuator may be used in a stabilizer bar system of a vehicle to ensure that at least one stabilizer bar is returned to a failsafe or engaged condition should a failure condition occur when the stabilizer bar is disengaged. Various failure conditions can include loss of electrical power to the actuator or some internal actuator failures.

Claims

1. A vehicle stabilizer bar system comprising:

at least one vehicle stabilizer bar; and

an actuator comprising;

an output member;

an electric motor operatively coupled to said output member for moving said output member from a first position to a second position upon energization of said electric motor by a power source, said vehicle stabilizer bar being responsive to said output member such that vehicle stabilizer bar is in a first stabilizer bar state when said output member is in said first position and is in a second stabilizer bar state when said output member is in said second position; and

at least one electrical energy storage element coupled to said electric motor, said electrical energy storage element being configured for energizing said motor to move said output member from said second position to said first position upon interruption of power from said power source to said motor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said output member comprises a plunger.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said electric motor comprises a drive shaft, and wherein said electric motor is operatively coupled to said output member through a gear train coupled to said drive shaft.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrical energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said capacitor has a value of at least one Farad.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first stabilizer bar state is an engaged state of said stabilizer bar and said second stabilizer bar state is a disengaged state of said stabilizer bar.