Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
280500515 | Suspension stiffness for ride comfort (e.g., damping coefficient, spring rate) | 40 |
20080217873 | Vehicle Chassis - A vehicle chassis comprises a spring support for supporting a bodywork spring that is braced between two spring plates, and a vibration damper which is provided with a piston rod and a damper pipe and in which an area of the piston rod and/or the damper pipe is arranged inside the bodywork spring. At least one spring plate can be axially displaced by means of a drive unit encompassing a driving mechanism and a gear mechanism. The objective is to operate the vehicle chassis such that the energy consumption is low. In particular, the objective is not to use any energy to retain the adjustable spring plate in the mounted position when the vehicle chassis is in the neutral position. This objective is achieved by providing at least one energy store which is effective between the vehicle body and the spring plate and absorbs the weight of the vehicle. | 09-11-2008 |
20090079145 | DAMPING FORCE GENERATION SYSTEM AND VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CONSTRUCTED BY INCLUDING THE SAME - It is an object of the invention to improve the utility of an electromagnetic absorber system which is disposed in a suspension system of a vehicle and which generates a damping force by a generation force of a motor. The electromagnetic absorber system | 03-26-2009 |
20090302558 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A bicycle suspension system is provided with a damping unit and a damping control unit to control movement of upper and lower telescopically connected tubes. A damping force adjustment valve selectively adjusts a fluid flow rate of fluid passed a damping piston. The damping piston has a fluid flow port that is axially spaced with respect to a fluid flow passage of a damping lockout mechanism such that a flow path is formed in an axial direction by the fluid flow port of the damping piston and the fluid flow passage of the damping lockout mechanism when the damping lockout mechanism is in a non-lockout mode. A first actuating member operates the damping force adjustment valve and a second actuating member operates the damping lockout mechanism such that the damping force adjustment valve remains in a set position when the second actuating member is being operated. | 12-10-2009 |
20100096817 | ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A suspension system is coupled between a front wheel and a vehicle frame of an all-terrain vehicle, including an inverted A-shaped connection rack and two shock absorbers. The connection rack has an end coupled to the vehicle frame and an opposite end coupled to the wheel. The shock absorbers are coupled to the connection rack in such a way to be set respectively frontward and rearward with respect to each other. An opposite end of each shock absorber is coupled to the vehicle frame. Each shock absorber includes a spring composed of upper, intermediate, and lower sections each having helical turns arranged in such a way that the turns of the upper and lower sections of the spring are sparsely arranged, while the turns of the intermediate section is densely arranged. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096818 | MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL DAMPERS FOR SEMI-ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - A magneto-rheological fluid damper includes a damper body having a reservoir for a magneto-rheological fluid, a piston rod, a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, where the piston rod guide has a passage therein for receiving the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a fluid chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod, the fluid chamber being in communication with the reservoir. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a piston rod guide filter arranged in a communication path between the fluid chamber and the reservoir to filter particulates out of the magneto-rheological fluid entering the fluid chamber. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes an accumulator arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body. | 04-22-2010 |
20100320705 | DAMPER ASSEMBLIES AND VEHICLES INCORPORATING THE SAME - A damper assembly includes damper body, a piston assembly and a pulser. The damper body is operable to maintain a fluid. The piston assembly may include a piston rod and a piston plunger. The piston plunger and at least a portion of piston rod is slidably positioned within the damper body. The pulser is operable to generate hydraulic waves within the fluid toward the piston assembly to alter the damping force of the damper assembly. | 12-23-2010 |
20110001296 | SUSPENSION DEVICE - A suspension device (S) comprises: an actuator (A) including a motion conversion mechanism (T) for converting rotational motion of a screw nut ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110018214 | SUSPENSION DEVICE - A suspension device (S) comprises: an actuator (A) including a motion conversion mechanism (T) for converting a linear motion to a rotational motion and a motor (M) connected to a rotary member ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110025001 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A suspension system for a vehicle, including: (a) a suspension spring; (b) a hydraulic damper; (c) a displacement force generator disposed in parallel with the suspension spring and the damper; and (d) a controller including a damping-force controlling portion for controlling a damping force of the damper and a displacement-force controlling portion for controlling a displacement force of the displacement force generator. The displacement-force controlling portion is configured to execute a sprung-portion vibration damping control for controlling the displacement force, such that the generated displacement force acts as a damping force against sprung-portion vibration. The damping-force controlling portion is configured, upon execution of the sprung-portion vibration damping control, to execute a damping force reducing control for reducing the damping force that is to be generated by the damper, depending on an intensity of unsprung-portion resonance frequency vibration which occurs in the vehicle and which has a resonance frequency of the unsprung portion. | 02-03-2011 |
20110121525 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION-SETTING ADJUSTOR ASSEMBLY - A bicycle suspension-setting adjustor assembly is provided with a suspension tube attachment structure, a first actuator, a second actuator and a suspension-setting adjustment unit. The first actuator is rotatably mounted to the suspension tube attachment structure. The second actuator is rotatably mounted to the suspension tube attachment structure to rotate independent of rotation of the first actuator. The suspension-setting adjustment unit is operatively coupled to the first and second actuators. The suspension-setting adjustment unit adjusts a first suspension setting in response to rotation of the first actuator by using rotational movement of the suspension-setting adjustment unit. The suspension-setting adjustment unit adjusts a second suspension setting in response to rotation of the second actuator by using axial movement of the suspension-setting adjustment unit. | 05-26-2011 |
20110233881 | Method and System for Operating a Motor Vehicle - A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems. | 09-29-2011 |
20120181757 | Counter-Rotating Motors with Linear Output - An active suspension for a vehicle includes an actuator which incorporates a first rotary motor, a second rotary motor, and a transmission coupled to the first and second rotary motors to convert rotary motion to linear motion. A compensation force is determined to compensate for the rotary inertia of the system. A force feedback loop can be employed to reduce the error between the output force of the actuator and a force command supplied by an active suspension system controller. | 07-19-2012 |
20130154208 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VARYING A STIFFNESS OF A SUSPENSION OF A VEHICLE - A suspension assembly for a vehicle is provided. The suspension system includes a suspension knuckle, a guide, and a spring. The guide is operatively attached to the suspension knuckle and extends longitudinally along a lateral axis. The spring extends between a first end and a second end. The first end of the spring is configured for operative attachment to the vehicle. The second end of the spring is movably attached to the guide and is configured for movement along the lateral axis to vary a stiffness of a suspension. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154209 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION LOCK OUT AND SIGNAL GENERATION - Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond. | 06-20-2013 |
20130256997 | BICYCLE DAMPING ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM - A bicycle shock absorber and methods for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces. | 10-03-2013 |
20140027988 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE DAMPING OF A VEHICLE THAT IS ABLE TO BE PROPELLED BY THE DRIVER - A method and a control unit, using which the damping of one or more damping elements on a vehicle that is able to be propelled by the driver, particularly a bicycle, is able to be varied. The propelling power of the driver or his behavior during the operation of the vehicle is recorded, in order to control or regulate the damping of the damping element as a function thereof. This is achieved by the setting of the damping taking place as a function of a power variable, which represents the propelling power of the driver or his behavior. | 01-30-2014 |
20140183830 | Vehicle Wheel Suspension with Wheel Load Variation via a Deflection Lever - A vehicle wheel suspension has a suspension spring, by which the vehicle body is proportionally supported on a supporting bracket of the wheel suspension. The wheel load acting upon a pertaining wheel as a result of this support is changeable in that the transmission ratio at a shift lever provided in the load path of the support and swivelably disposed at the vehicle body with respect to the latter can be changed by an actuator. Parallel to the load path containing the shift lever and a first suspension spring element, an additional load path with a second suspension spring element effective between the vehicle body and the pertaining wheel is provided. The transmission ratio at the shift lever may be changed over a wide range by displacement of the supporting point of the first suspension spring element or a transmission rod supported with its other end at the supporting bracket of the wheel suspension. This supporting point may be displaced closely into the surroundings of the bearing point of the shift lever at the vehicle body or axle carrier. | 07-03-2014 |
20140239602 | AUTONOMOUS CONTROL DAMPER - A damper system for a vehicle comprises an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber and a damper control module. The damper control module is disposed with and coupled to with the shock absorber. The damper control module determines a target damping state of the shock absorber based on data received from a plurality of sensors. Furthermore, the damper control module controls the shock absorber, such that the shock absorber operates at the target damping state. | 08-28-2014 |
20140339782 | WHEEL STABILIZATION MECHANISM AND METHOD - A wheel stabilization mechanism includes an actuator configured to be coupled to a vehicle body and a wheel stabilizer configured to be movably coupled to the vehicle body such that the wheel stabilizer is configured to move with respect to a wheel. The actuator is configured to move the wheel stabilizer with respect to the wheel from a disengaged position toward an engaged position in response to a force applied to the vehicle body. In the engaged position, the wheel stabilizer is configured to inhibit at least a portion of the wheel from moving with respect to the vehicle body to minimize movement of the wheel with respect to the vehicle body. | 11-20-2014 |
20140353934 | VEHICLE - A spring constant of each of four suspension springs and a shared load on each of four wheels are adjusted so that a sprung resonance frequency corresponding to two front wheels and a sprung resonance frequency corresponding to two rear wheels are mutually different. From among the four shock absorbers, only two shock absorbers provided corresponding to two wheels of lowered sprung resonance frequency, from among the two front wheels and the two rear wheels have respectively damping coefficient modification mechanisms that modify a damping coefficient serving as a reference of the magnitude of the damping force generated by the two shock absorbers. The behavior of the entire vehicle body can be effectively curbed by controlling the damping force exerted on the comparatively large movement of sprung sections corresponding to the two wheels. Thus a vehicle having both enhanced steering stability and enhanced ride quality can be configured comparatively inexpensively. | 12-04-2014 |
20140361502 | STRADDLE-TYPE VEHICLE - A straddle-type vehicle including left and right front wheels effectively prevents deterioration of a travel feeling caused by vibrations occurring in the left and right front wheels. The straddle-type vehicle includes a body frame, left and right front wheels, a link mechanism configured to connect the left and right front wheels with the body frame, a shock absorber configured to damp vibrations in the same phase occurring in the left and right front wheels, and a damper configured to damp vibrations in opposite phases occurring in the left and right front wheels. The damper is configured such that its damping force increases at least in a certain frequency range as the frequency of the vibrations in the opposite phases increases. | 12-11-2014 |
20150061244 | METHOD FOR TUNING THE SUSPENSION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND SUSPENSION STRUT - The invention relates to a method for tuning the suspension of a motor vehicle. A linear motor ( | 03-05-2015 |
20150084290 | RIDE PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION IN AN ACTIVE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. | 03-26-2015 |
20150343875 | SUSPENSION SUB-ASSEMBLY - A suspension sub-assembly includes a fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) thermoplastic composite upper control arm/spring assembly having a control arm portion and a spring member portion. The suspension sub-assembly can tune roll stiffness of a vehicle during cornering. The FRP thermoplastic composite upper control arm/spring assembly comprises a thermoplastic matrix material reinforced with fibers embedded and aligned in the matrix of the assembly. | 12-03-2015 |
20150360531 | ACTIVE SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND PUMP APPLIED THERETO - An active suspension apparatus for a vehicle includes a pump configured to adjust movements of a fluid and actuators configured to receive the fluid from the pump and to compensate displacements of coil springs connected to wheels of the vehicle, in which the pump supplies the fluid contained in a cylinder to one of the actuators of left wheels of the vehicle and the actuators of right wheels of the vehicle based on the driving of a motor. | 12-17-2015 |
20160046168 | AXLE SUSPENSION - An axle suspension supports an axle housing on a vehicle frame. The suspension includes left and right pivot rods attached to left and right frame members. A suspension arm has a first end fixed to a rear end of the axle housing and has a second end pivotally coupled to the left and right pivot rods. A variable length left hydraulic cylinder has an upper end pivotally coupled to the left frame member and has a lower end pivotally coupled to a front end of the axle housing. A variable length right hydraulic cylinder has an upper end pivotally coupled to the right frame member and has a lower end pivotally coupled to the front end of the axle housing. The left and right hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected in parallel. | 02-18-2016 |
20160051425 | FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR - A front suspension system for an electric wheelchair includes front pivot shaft, a front wheel retainer, an elasticity resistance member, and a front shock absorber. The front shock absorber is disposed on a horizontal first section of the front wheel retainer so as to improve climbing capability of the wheelchair. The elasticity resistance member is disposed between the frame and the front wheel retainer and has two ends connected to the front wheel retainer and the abutting member of the frame, respectively. When the front wheels encounters bumpy road and makes the front wheel retainer pivot, the elasticity resistance member will be compressed to produce a reaction force toward the front wheel retainer and the abutting member of the frame, respectively, so that the front wheel retainer is pressed down to keep pressing against the flat bearing surface, and the frame is also pressed downward to prevent tipping backward. | 02-25-2016 |
20160172956 | ELECTRIC DAMPER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | 06-16-2016 |
20160185415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC MOTORCYCLE FRAME - A motorcycle having a motorcycle frame that includes one or more frame members with an adjustable mechanism for increasing or decreasing the stiffness of the frame member. By adjusting the stiffness of one or more frame members, the overall stiffness of the motorcycle frame may be increased or decreased. The adjustable mechanism may be controlled by an actuator, such as a hydraulic pump, that is, in turn, controlled by a computer control system. The control system may include sensors for determining performance parameters while the motorcycle is in use. For example, a speedometer may sense motorcycle speed and a gyrometer may sense the orientation of the motorcycle when in turns. Thus, in one example, the stiffness of the motorcycle frame may be increased if the motorcycle speed reaches a threshold speed. Further, the stiffness may be increased if the gyrometer senses that the motorcycle is engaged in a power slide. | 06-30-2016 |
20180022178 | COMBINED SPRING COMPENSATION SUSPENSION DEVICE | 01-25-2018 |
20220134828 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A fluid suspension system for a land vehicle is provided with an actuator connected to a chassis and an axle of a land vehicle spaced apart from a pivotal connection of the axle. A fluid pressure circuit is in cooperation with the at least one actuator. A controller is in operable communication with the fluid pressure circuit and is programmed to receive input indicative of a travel speed of the land vehicle. The fluid pressure circuit is adjusted to limit fluid flow rate or reduce fluid pressure at a low speed travel range to permit the axle to pivot in response to variations in an underlying support surface. The fluid pressure circuit is adjusted at a higher speed travel range for selective actuation of the at least one actuator or for a higher fluid pressure actuation of the at least one actuator, in response to variations in the underlying surface. | 05-05-2022 |
280500516 | Bushing compliance | 2 |
20100314842 | Active Magneto-Rheological Spring Assemblies and Vehicle Suspension Systems Incorporating the Same - A Magneto-Rheological Elastomer (MRE) spring system includes a spring, an MRE unit in cooperation with the spring, and an electromagnet. The electromagnet may be configured to produce an adjustable magnetic field, wherein when the electromagnet produces a magnetic field, the MRE unit stiffens such that the MRE spring system stiffens. | 12-16-2010 |
20140375001 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION DEVICE - A vehicle suspension device includes a suspension device main body configured to support a wheel of a vehicle to a vehicle body of the vehicle; a varying device configured to cause an upper connecting portion stiffness and a lower connecting portion stiffness to be variable, the upper connecting portion stiffness being a stiffness between a vertically upper portion of the suspension device main body and the vehicle body, and the lower connecting portion stiffness being a stiffness between a vertically lower portion of the suspension device main body and the vehicle body; and a control device configured to control the varying device at a time of braking of the vehicle to perform control which causes the upper connecting portion stiffness to be relatively decreased and causes the lower connecting portion stiffness to be relatively increased, compared to at a time of non-braking of the vehicle. | 12-25-2014 |
280500517 | Look ahead | 1 |
280500518 | Traveling surface inspection | 1 |
20140001717 | Anti-causal vehicle suspension | 01-02-2014 |
280500519 | Plural distinct modes (i.e., HARD-SOFT) | 6 |
20090189360 | Spring Strut with Adjustable Spring Plate - The invention relates to a spring strut for wheel suspension systems of vehicles, having a vibration damper ( | 07-30-2009 |
20090302559 | Spring Assembly With an Adjustable Spring Rate and a Spring Strut - A spring assembly has a master spring, a slide, a stop and at least one auxiliary spring connected in series with the master spring. The auxiliary spring has a first end to which the stop is fastened, and a second end facing away from the first end, with respect to which the slide can be fastened. The position of the slide is adjustable such that, when, during the compression of the spring assembly, the auxiliary spring has overcome a predetermined compression path, the stop strikes against the slide, and a further compression of the auxiliary spring is thereby prevented. A spring strut for a motor vehicle has the spring assembly. An alternative spring assembly arranges the auxiliary spring parallel to the master spring with a first end in the compression direction of the spring assembly being freely displaceable. The position of the slide is adjustable such that when, during the compression of the spring assembly, the first end has overcome a predetermined compression path, the stop strikes against the slide and, as a result, the auxiliary spring is connected parallel to the master spring. | 12-10-2009 |
20100044978 | SEAMLESS CONTROL OF SPRING STIFFNESS IN A LIQUID SPRING SYSTEM - A vibration control system for a structure having a first structural member and a second structural member. The vibration control system having a liquid spring operably interposed between the first structural member and the second structural member. The liquid spring uses a compressible liquid to seamlessly generate spring and/or damping forces in the suspension system in response to relative displacement between the first structural member and the second structural member. A second volume of compressible liquid is located in a second chamber. The second volume is removably connected to the liquid spring by a fluid passage. A valve is coupled to the fluid passage, the valve selectively operable to place the second volume in communication with the liquid spring. A controller is electrically coupled to the valve. The controller emitting a control signal to control the valve. | 02-25-2010 |
20110012317 | BICYCLE SUSPENSION HAVING STROKE AND DAMPER ADJUSTMENT - A bicycle suspension includes a stroke adjustment unit, a suspension damper, a damper adjustment unit, and an electronic controller. The stroke adjustment unit is configured to adjust a stroke of the bicycle suspension, which is configured to expand and contract within the stroke. The suspension damper is configured to apply damping force to the bicycle suspension. The damper adjustment unit is configured to adjust the damping force applied by the suspension damper. The electronic controller is configured to control the stroke adjustment unit and the damper adjustment unit. | 01-20-2011 |
20130328277 | ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTABLE DAMPER AND SYSTEM - An electronically adjustable damper system includes at least one electronically adjustable damper. The electronically adjustable damper includes at least one electronically controlled valve, whereby, the damper is electronically adjustable. The electronically adjustable damper system also includes a controller for adjusting each of the electronically adjustable dampers independently via the electronically controlled valves, and a remote electronic device. The electronically adjustable damper system allows a user to tune the dampers by allowing a user to adjust the electronically adjustable damper system to different applications and functions for various users, conditions, or both. | 12-12-2013 |
20140125018 | VEHICLE HAVING SUSPENSION WITH CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL - A damping control system for a vehicle having a suspension located between a plurality of ground engaging members and a vehicle frame includes at least one adjustable shock absorber having an adjustable damping characteristic. The system also includes a controller coupled to each adjustable shock absorber to adjust the damping characteristic of each adjustable shock absorber, and a user interface coupled to the controller and accessible to a driver of the vehicle. The user interface includes at least one user input to permit manual adjustment of the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber during operation of the vehicle. Vehicle sensors may also be coupled to the controller to adjust the damping characteristic of the at least one adjustable shock absorber based on sensor output signals. | 05-08-2014 |