Abstract: The invention comprises a vehicle strut assembly. A strut has a first seat mounted to the strut and a second seat mounted to a vehicle body. A spring is mounted between the first seat and the second seat and is disposed around the strut. The spring has a compressed state and an uncompressed state. In the compressed state, the spring has a middle portion that defines a spring centerline. In the uncompressed state, the spring has ends portions extending towards opposite sides of the spring centerline.

Abstract: A suspension assembly comprises a strut mounted on a vehicle body for supporting a wheel. A first seat is mounted on the vehicle body. A first spring is mounted between the first seat and a second seat and has a coil wherein the coil extends a long a first axis. A second spring applies a biasing force to the strut along a second axis transverse to the first axis. The second spring is operatively connected to the vehicle body and the strut.

Abstract: A MacPherson strut assembly is provided that has a hydraulic cylinder with a fluid chamber. A piston is arranged in the chamber, and a rod extends from the piston. A lower spring seat is supported on the hydraulic cylinder, and an upper spring seat is supported on the rod. A coil spring is arranged between the spring seats to produce a desired spring loading. In one embodiment, a compliant isolator having a sloped profile is arranged on the lower spring seat to produce an uneven spring loading. In another embodiment, a spring seat isolator may include materials of a different stiffness to produce uneven spring loading. An isolator may also be used between coils of the spring so that the compression on one side of the spring is limited more that the opposite side to produce uneven loading.

Abstract: A suspension assembly is provided that includes a strut connected between a lower control arm and a portion of the vehicle frame or body. This strut includes a hydraulic cylinder and rod disposed therein. A first spring seat is arranged on the hydraulic cylinder, and a second spring seat is arranged on the rod spaced from the other spring seat. A spring is arranged between the spring seats to provide a desired suspension load characteristic. At least one of the spring seats extends circumferentially about its connection to either the rod or hydraulic cylinder less than 360°. Since the spring engages the spring seat less than 360°, a non-uniform force is produced that generates a moment in a direction opposite the moment created by the suspension geometry. In this manner, the friction force at the bearing surface is minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: The invention comprises a vehicle strut assembly. A strut has a first seat mounted to the strut and a second seat mounted to a vehicle body. A spring is mounted between the first seat and the second seat and is disposed around the strut. The spring has a compressed state and an uncompressed state. In the compressed state, the spring has a middle portion that defines a spring centerline. In the uncompressed state, the spring has ends portions extending towards opposite sides of the spring centerline.

Abstract: A coil spring forming system includes a mandrel having at least a portion that is selectively expandable so that a central portion of a resulting coil spring has a larger dimension than reduced diameter end sections of the spring. In one example, a plurality of coil shaping surfaces are supported relative to a central portion of the mandrel using a plurality of linkages. The coil shaping surfaces are moved using an actuator (i.e., hydraulic or pneumatic) between expanded and contracted positions to selectively vary the largest outside dimension of the mandrel. In one example, the coil shaping surfaces are spaced apart from each other in the expanded position. In another example, the coil shaping surfaces are arranged such that the mandrel has a generally continuous outer periphery when the surfaces are in the expanded position.

Abstract: A coil spring forming system allows for forming reduced diameter ends at both ends of a coil spring in a single forming process. A rotating member supports one end of the coil spring and preferably includes a die portion that establishes a configuration of that end of the coil spring. A pitch controlling device guides the coil stock longitudinally along the axis of the spring as the rotating member rotates to establish the desired pitch of the coil spring. A moving mandrel member is guided along an axis of the coil spring so that the mandrel member and the pitch controlling member establish the desired diameter of the spring at the corresponding portion of the spring. The mandrel member preferably has a forming surface with a varying outside dimension so that, depending on the placement of the mandrel relative to the coil stock and the pitch controlling member, the diameter of the resulting coil spring can be varied along the length of the spring.