Height averaging means for use with a motor vehicle suspension control system

• US 7,806,417 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HWH Corporation
• Original Assignee: HWH Corporation
• Inventors: Hanser, Paul Edmund, Frerichs, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/206,008
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.502, 280/5.507, 280/5.508, 280/5.509, 280/5.514, 280/6.15, 280/6.153, 280/6.154, 280/6.157, 280/6.159, 280/6.16, 280/124.134, 280/124.135, 280/124.157
• US Class Current: 280/5.514
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/116 Sensors coupled to the suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/14 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical

Abstract

A means to average the left and right tire height positions relative to the chassis of a vehicle having an independent suspension system. The averaging means uses a rigid member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is combined with the driver'"'"'s side independent suspension and the second end is combined with the passenger'"'"'s side independent suspension. As each side of the vehicle'"'"'s suspension moves up and down, the ends of the rigid member also move up and down. A sensor determines the average height of the rigid member and communicates that information to the ride-height control system.

Claims

1. An assembly used with a vehicle having a chassis, a ride-height control system, a driver'"'"'s side independent suspension system, and a passenger'"'"'s side independent suspension system, said assembly for averaging the height of the driver'"'"'s side suspension system and the passenger'"'"'s side suspension system relative to the chassis, said assembly comprising:

a first movable member with the driver'"'"'s side independent suspension system relative to the chassis;

a second movable member with the passenger'"'"'s side independent suspension system relative to the chassis;

a rigid member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is combined with the first movable member and the second end is combined with the second movable member; and

a sensor for sensing the average height of the rigid member and communicating that information to the vehicle'"'"'s ride-height control system.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second movable members are lower control arms.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a height control sensor.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first pin having a first end and a second end and a second pin having a first end and a second end, wherein the first pin is combined with the rigid member at its first end and the first movable member at its second end and the second pin is combined with the rigid member at its first end and the second movable member at its second end.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the pins have an upper pivot point at their first ends and a lower pivot point at their second ends.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the first pin has an upper pivot point at its first end and a lower pivot point at its second end and the second pin has an upper pivot point at its first end and is rigidly fixed to the second movable member at its second end.

8. An assembly used with a vehicle having a chassis, a ride-height control system, a driver'"'"'s side independent suspension system, and a passenger'"'"'s side independent suspension system, said assembly for averaging the height of the driver'"'"'s side suspension system and the passenger'"'"'s side suspension system relative to the chassis, said assembly comprising:

a first movable member with the driver'"'"'s side independent suspension system relative to the chassis;

a second movable member with the passenger'"'"'s side independent suspension system relative to the chassis;

a rigid member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is combined with the first movable member and the second end is combined with the second movable member;

a sensor combined with the vehicle'"'"'s chassis for sensing the average height of the rigid member and communicating that information to the vehicle'"'"'s ride-height control system;

an attachment member having a first end and a second end, wherein the attachment member is combined with the rigid member at its first end and combined with the sensor at its second end.