Abstract: A laminated bushing is formed from a metal sheet having resilient material disposed on one side by spirally winding the metal sheet about a longitudinal axis to form a spirally shaped cavity. The resilient material is disposed within the spirally shaped cavity and the metal sheet forming the spiral shaped cavity either mechanically compresses the resilient material disposed within the cavities, or the resilient material is vulcanized once the laminated bushing is formed. The spirally wound laminated bushing includes inner and outer sleeves concentric about the longitudinal axis that are movable relative to one another in direct proportion to the material deformation properties of the resilient material.

Abstract: An intervehicle network provides for communicating information regarding driving conditions experienced by one vehicle to another remotely located vehicle. By receiving information regarding oncoming driving conditions, the vehicle driver may take action to anticipate the driving condition and avoid potential hazards or inconveniences. Additionally, for vehicles having onboard dynamically adjustable systems, an electronic controller may adjust the performance of the adjustable system responsive to the driving condition information received before the vehicle reaches the location of the driving condition. Another feature of a system designed according to this invention is to have onboard diagnostics where the controller monitors one or more variables to detect when one or more vehicle components are showing signs of aging or wear. Communications between vehicles in a system designed according to this invention may be directly between the vehicles or through a central information communication module.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes upper and lower control arms pivotally attached to a frame member of the vehicle. A knuckle arm pivotally attaches to the upper and lower control arms moves along a substantially vertical axis in response to wheel movement caused by an uneven road surface. An actuation link is attached to one of the control arms at one end and to a damper assembly at another end. The damper assembly is disposed substantially within the frame member along a second axis transverse to vertical movement of the wheel and is actuated along the transverse axis in response movement of the control arm along the substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: Several embodiments are disclosed for incorporating suspension components into vehicle frame structures. Most preferably, the resulting structure is a modular combination of a frame and a suspension. Most preferably, the frame component extends along the lateral width of the vehicle and between the two wheels for the vehicle. The suspension components mounted within the frame may be mechanical springs or fluid springs. Moreover, various types of controls can be incorporated into this structure.

Abstract: A system and method for selling vehicles includes an adjustable suspension module on a test drive vehicle. The suspension module preferably is adjusted so that it performs as each of a plurality of available suspension options for the vehicle. The customer is presented with the various options. The suspension module is adjusted to perform as each of the suspension options in which the customer is interested. Once the customer makes the selection, the dealer or seller is able to place an order for the vehicle containing the suspension option chosen by the customer.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes upper and lower control arms pivotally attached to a frame member of the vehicle. A knuckle arm pivotally attaches to the upper and lower control arms moves along a substantially vertical axis in response to wheel movement caused by an uneven road surface. An actuation link is attached to one of the control arms at one end and to a damper assembly at another end. The damper assembly is disposed substantially within the frame member along a second axis transverse to vertical movement of the wheel and is actuated along the transverse axis in response movement of the control arm along the substantially vertical axis.

Abstract: An intervehicle network provides for communicating information regarding driving conditions experienced by one vehicle to another remotely located vehicle. By receiving information regarding oncoming driving conditions, the vehicle driver may take action to anticipate the driving condition and avoid potential hazards or inconveniences. Additionally, for vehicles having onboard dynamically adjustable systems, an electronic controller may adjust the performance of the adjustable system responsive to the driving condition information received before the vehicle reaches the location of the driving condition. Another feature of a system designed according to this invention is to have onboard diagnostics where the controller monitors one or more variables to detect when one or more vehicle components are showing signs of aging or wear. Communications between vehicles in a system designed according to this invention may be directly between the vehicles or through a central information communication module.

Abstract: A laminated bushing is formed from a metal sheet having resilient material disposed on one side by spirally winding the metal sheet about a longitudinal axis to form a spirally shaped cavity. The resilient material is disposed within the spirally shaped cavity and the metal sheet forming the spiral shaped cavity either mechanically compresses the resilient material disposed within the cavities, or the resilient material is vulcanized once the laminated bushing is formed. The spirally wound laminated bushing includes inner and outer sleeves concentric about the longitudinal axis that are movable relative to one another in direct proportion to the material deformation properties of the resilient material.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel assembly attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for movement in response to uneven roadway surfaces. A first inductive coil attached to the frame is mounted along an axis, and a second inductive coil is mounted co-axially with the first inductive coil and for movement with the wheel assembly. The inductive coils are movable relative to one another along the axis. An electromagnetic force generated by the inductive coils provides spring and dampening forces for the motor vehicle. Further, variation in the inductance between the coils is measurement to determine the relative position between the coils in order to monitor motor vehicle ride height.

Abstract: A positioning technique for grinding a conical tip on a fiber optic element includes rotatably mounting an end of the fiber optic element to be conically ground; detecting orbital motion of the optical axis of the fiber optic element about the mechanical axis of rotation; and adjusting the optical axis relative to the axis of rotation to minimize the orbital motion of the optical axis.

Abstract: An automatic grinding system and method for grinding a surface having a predetermined pattern of raised and lower regions includes sensing the width of at least one of those regions; determining the height of the raised region above the lower region in response to the sensed width; and selecting the grinding speed and force and the velocity of the grinder over the surface in response to the determined height of the raised region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating elbow conduit including constructing a conduit development having a set of sequential segments, each segment having a lateral axis parallel to corresponding lateral axes of the other segments and a longitudinal axis skewed at least in part with respect to the lateral axis and having the same orientation as the corresponding longitudinal axes of the other segments in the set. The segments are joined end-to-end and the dimensions of the joined segments are transferred to a continuous length of material to generate a continuous blank havng periodically varying opposing boundaries. At least one outer alignment mark is defined on each segments of the blank to establish an outer ridge line on the outside circumference of the elbow and at least one inner alignment mark is defined on each segment to establish an inner ridge line on the inner circumference of the elbow.

Abstract: A limp material handling system includes a manipulating apparatus for selectively manipulating one or more layers of limp material on a support table. Folding is accomplished by lifting a curvilinear region of the material, reshaping that lifted region as desired, and lowering that lifted region to a curvilinear region on the support table. A seamed article assembly system incorporates the manipulating apparatus, a seam joining apparatus and a multiple parallel endless belt system for tactile presentation of the limp material to the seam joining apparatus. An optical sensing system provides information representative of the position of the limp material being handled. A programmable computer, or controller, coordinates and controls the operation of the manipulating apparatus, seam joining apparatus, belt assembly, and optical sensing system to provide automatic assembly of seamed articles.

Abstract: A connector device including plug and socket components, one of the components being an elastic engagement element of length L and the other of the components including a chamfered surface including: a nose portion having a first slope; a root portion having a second positive slope; and a convex fair curve interconnecting the nose and root portions.

Abstract: An improved remote center compliance device is disclosed including: a first support member and a second support member spaced from the first support member. There is a first set of at least three shear pad flexures interconnecting the support members and disposed along conical radii from a first center. An operator member extends from the first support member and the flexures are prestressed into compression in the rest condition or arranged in juxtaposition to another set of flexures, so that in operation there are flexures in compression and flexures in tension.

Abstract: A remote center compliance (RCC) gripper system including: an erectable RCC device including a compliance unit having a plurality of compliance members; an articulated gripper mechanism interconnected with one end of the compliance unit and including a base having a generally centrally disposed joint and having a plurality of fingers extending therefrom; and apparatus for applying a force to the centrally disposed joint to fix the joint and erect the RCC device.

Abstract: An adjustable RCC device having an adjustable remote center of compliance including: a support member; an operator member interconnected with the support member; a mounting member spaced from the support member; a plurality of radial members extending between and attached to the support member and the mounting member and having a focus at, near or beyond the free end of the operator member; and either means for adjusting radial member geometry or means for adjusting radial member stiffness or means for adjusting stiffness of a deformable portion of the support member or operator member or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A self-teaching RCC device robot feedback system including: a robot mechanism; an RCC device carried by the robot mechanism; a robot driver unit for directing motion of the RCC device in an environment; means for determining the displacement of an RCC device with respect to the robot; and an adaptive learning system, responsive to the means for determining displacement, for detecting a pattern of displacements of the RCC device relative to its environment and generating commands to the robot driver unit to direct motion of the RCC device.

Abstract: A transferrable-center compliance system including a remote center compliance (RCC) device being erectable by an axial load in a first range, for establishing a remote center of compliance at, near, or beyond the free end of an operator member; and pliant support means for supporting the RCC device when the RCC device is collapsed by an axial load outside the first range, and for yielding to the RCC device when it is erected with the first remote center of compliance at, near, or beyond the free end of the operator member.

Abstract: A damped RCC device including support means; operator means interconnected with the support means; mounting means spaced from the support means; a plurality of radial members extending between and attached to the support means at one end and the mounting means at the other end and having a focus at, near or beyond the free end of the operator member; and damping means disposed between the mounting means and at least one of the operator means and support means for suppressing vibrations in the RCC device.