Vehicle stability control system
First Claim
1. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:
- a movable tongue member adapted to move between a first tongue position and a second tongue position; and
a ratchet mechanism adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle, the ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet tooth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is moved toward the second tongue position and into the ratchet tooth, and wherein the tongue member does not restrict the movement of the unsprung mass portion relative to the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is in the first tongue position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle stability control system is provided, which includes a movable tongue member and a ratchet mechanism. The movable tongue member is adapted to move between a first tongue position and a second tongue position. The ratchet mechanism is adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle. The ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet tooth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is moved toward the second tongue position and into the ratchet tooth, and wherein the tongue member does not restrict the movement of the unsprung mass portion relative to the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is in the first tongue position.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:
-
a movable tongue member adapted to move between a first tongue position and a second tongue position; and a ratchet mechanism adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle, the ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet tooth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is moved toward the second tongue position and into the ratchet tooth, and wherein the tongue member does not restrict the movement of the unsprung mass portion relative to the sprung mass portion when the tongue member is in the first tongue position. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:
-
a movable tongue system comprising an electro-mechanical actuator and a movable tongue member, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator is mechanically coupled to the tongue member to provide movement of the tongue member from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position; an electrical triggering device adapted to be electrically coupled to a signal generating device, the triggering device also being electrically coupled to the electro-mechanical actuator, the triggering device being adapted to activate the electro-mechanical actuator based, at least in part, on an output signal received from the signal generating device; and a ratchet mechanism adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle, the ratchet mechanism comprising a set of ratchet teeth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the electro-mechanical actuator moves the tongue member toward the second tongue position and into the set of ratchet teeth. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:
-
an acceleration measuring device adapted to measure at least a lateral acceleration of a vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle; a movable tongue system comprising an electro-mechanical actuator and a movable tongue member, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator is mechanically coupled to the tongue member to provide movement of the tongue member from a first tongue position toward a second tongue position; an electrical triggering device electrically coupled to the acceleration measuring device, the triggering device also being electrically coupled to the electro-mechanical actuator, the triggering device being adapted to activate the electro-mechanical actuator based, at least in part, on an output signal received from the acceleration measuring device; and a ratchet mechanism adapted to be mechanically coupled to a movable unsprung mass portion and to a sprung mass portion of the vehicle when the vehicle stability control system is operably installed on the vehicle, the ratchet mechanism comprising a set of ratchet teeth, such that the ratchet mechanism is adapted to restrict a movement of the unsprung mass portion away from the sprung mass portion when the electro-mechanical actuator moves the tongue member toward the second tongue position and into the set of ratchet teeth. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
-
-
34. A vehicle stability control system, comprising:
-
a first slider mechanism comprising a first slider portion, a second slider portion slidably coupled to the first slider portion, a first connector member extending from the first slider portion, the first connector member being adapted to be mechanically coupled to at least one of a sprung mass portion of a vehicle and an unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, wherein a vehicle spring is biased between the sprung mass portion and the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle, a second connector member extending from the second slider portion, the second connector member being adapted to be mechanically coupled to at least one of the unsprung mass portion of the vehicle and the sprung mass portion of the vehicle, a series of teeth formed along the first slider portion, and a movable tongue system comprising a moveable tongue member, the movable tongue system being attached to the second slider portion, the movable tongue system being adapted to position the tongue member in a first tongue position and a second tongue position, in the first tongue position, the tongue member being adapted to be located between at least some adjacent teeth of the series of teeth, such that the first slider portion may slide relative to the second slider portion as the unsprung mass portion moves toward the sprung mass portion of the vehicle, but such that the first slider portion is prevented from sliding relative to the second slider portion as the unsprung mass portion moves away the sprung mass portion of the vehicle, and in the second tongue position, the tongue member does not prevent sliding of the first slider portion relative to the second slider portion; an acceleration measuring device adapted to output a first electrical signal corresponding to an acceleration measurement; and a triggering device electrically connected to the acceleration measuring device and the movable tongue system, the triggering device being adapted to send a second electrical signal to the movable tongue system based upon the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
Specification