Patents by Inventor Eric A. Smay

Eric A. Smay has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7494132
    Abstract: A roll control actuator for a stabilizer bar includes an outer housing that is fixed to a first bar portion and a shaft that is fixed to a second bar portion. The shaft is helically connected to a piston that is received within an interior chamber formed inside the outer housing. The piston separates the interior chamber into first and second fluid chambers. An anti-rotation mechanism is fixed to the outer housing and cooperates with the piston to restrict the piston to axial movement relative to the outer housing. The first and second fluid chambers are selectively pressurized to control roll stiffness by moving the piston within the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Eric A. Smay
  • Patent number: 7360771
    Abstract: A roll control actuator for a stabilizer bar includes an outer housing that is fixed to a first bar portion and a paddle member that is fixed to a second bar portion. The roll control actuator includes multiple fluid chambers with different fluid volumes. A control is used to selectively adjust roll stiffness of the stabilizer bar and includes a control valve in fluid communication with an accumulator. The first and second stabilizer bars can rotate relative to each other when the control valve is open to decrease roll stiffness and provide good ride quality. When the control valve is open, fluid flows freely between the fluid chambers. The first and second bar portions are hydraulically locked together when the control valve is closed to increase roll stiffness during cornering maneuvers. When the control valve is closed, the accumulator is isolated from the roll control actuator and fluid flow through the fluid chambers cannot occur due to differing fluid volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Eric A. Smay, Simon Dean