Vertically Extending Telescopic Strut Patents (Class 280/124.154)
  • Patent number: 6814363
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system wherein the main attachment to the chassis of the steering and suspension components is by the king pin mounting. The suspension system includes a first member attached directly to a shaft rotating with the chassis attachment; a second member attached to the first member by a swivel joint or a bush, allowing vertical movement of a stub axle attached solidly to the second member; and a third member attached to the first member which acts as the steering arm connection and load transference support for the forth member, a telescopic shock absorber and spring unit. The stub axle being at right angles to the king pin. Use of the suspension system allows a lessening or elimination of the toeing in or out of the wheels which commonly occurs with the vertical movement of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: T.M.E. Limited
    Inventor: Ian James Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6811167
    Abstract: Suspension system (10) includes a compressible fluid (12), a suspension strut (14), a hydraulic cavity (16), a reservoir (18), and a volume modulator (20). The hydraulic cavity (16) is at least partially defined by the suspension strut (14) and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid (12). The hydraulic cavity (16) and the compressible fluid (12) supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel (22) of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator (20) selectively pushes the compressible fluid (12) into the hydraulic cavity (16) and vents the compressible fluid (12) from the hydraulic cavity (16), thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Coombs, Jeremy Edmondson
  • Patent number: 6808193
    Abstract: A wheel suspension with a wheel-guiding strut in provided which includes a helical compression spring, a shock absorber, and a suspension arm, and which is connected to a body and to a wheel. The helical compression spring is preferably made such that it at least partially compensates for transverse forces on the shock absorber or on the piston rod of the shock absorber. Provisions are made for reducing or minimizing or eliminating the force which is delivered to the steering mechanism and which results from the difference between the components of the helical compression spring forces FF acting in the direction of travel, and thus the reaction forces RF, on the left and right sides of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender
    Inventors: Robert Brandt, Vladimir Kobelev, Michael Lebioda, Jorg Neubrand
  • Patent number: 6789810
    Abstract: A wheel suspension system for a vehicle includes a vehicle wheel having a wheel rim and a tire secured to the wheel rim. The wheel is secured to a frame portion of the vehicle by a spindle assembly. The spindle assembly includes a wheel carrier arm pivotally secured thereto at a pivot point, such that the wheel and the wheel carrier arm rotate together about an axis of rotation defined by pivot point. The wheel carrier arm is in communication with a shock absorption device. The shock absorption device is located within a space defined by the wheel, such that the shock absorption spring device is hidden when the vehicle wheel is viewed from a side direction. The shock absorption spring device compresses upon an impact force contacting the vehicle wheel. In the most compact form, the wheel carrier arm and the shock absorbing spring device is packaged within the wheel rim volume such that both are hidden when the vehicle wheel is viewed from a front direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Russell W. Strong
  • Patent number: 6776428
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a support structure of a wheel having a forward rolling axis. The suspension system includes a first link rotatably secured at an inner end to the vehicle and in communication with the support structure of wheel at an outer end. The suspension system includes a second link rotatably secured at an inner end to the vehicle and in communication with the support structure of the wheel at an outer end. The system also includes a shock absorber having a first end in communication with one of the first link or the second link and a second end rotatably secured to the vehicle. The shock absorber is compressible to allow the support structure of the wheel to absorb impact forces imparted thereto during travel. The shock absorber is located along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Russell W. Strong
  • Patent number: 6752408
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle suspension where bump stoppers are installed in an upper end of a strut and on an upper end of a lower arm respectively so that the bump stoppers can operate separately or simultaneously, depending on the size of a load, to absorb or reduce vibration or shocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: KIA Motors Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Hwan La
  • Patent number: 6739788
    Abstract: A ball pivot (1) of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles with a joint ball (2) and with a pivot (3) connected to the joint ball (2) is presented, in which a substantial part (3.1) of the pivot (3) is made nonround for preventing the ball pivot from rotating. A wheel suspension is also disclosed in which a nonround ball pivot is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Jörg Hagemes, Martina Beyer
  • Patent number: 6715777
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for land vehicles that is provided with a spring resting against at least one seat, with a dashpot, and with an attachment for a stabilizing rod, whereby one seat can be adjusted axially parallel to the spring. The object of the invention is to allow the stabilizing rod's attachment to be situated in the vicinity of the seat. An attachment (10 or 20) for the stabilizing rod is accordingly directly mounted on or indirectly attached to the spring seat (8). The attachment can also be mounted on or attached to the mechanism that adjusts it, at a variable distance from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Krupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Sasse
  • Patent number: 6692012
    Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle damper assembly and method of assembling the same. The vehicle damper assembly includes a damper including a reservoir tube and a stabilizer bracket operably attached to the reservoir tube. The vehicle damper assembly further includes a lower spring seat press-fit to the reservoir tube and stabilizer bracket. The vehicle damper assembly method includes providing a reservoir tube, attaching a stabilizer bracket to the reservoir tube, and press-fitting a lower spring seat to the reservoir tube and the stabilizer bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick H. Fullenkamp, Sebastian Kaffanke, Piotr A. Kos, Miroslaw Pajak
  • Publication number: 20030168828
    Abstract: Suspension system (10) includes a compressible fluid (12), a suspension strut (14), a hydraulic cavity (16), a reservoir (18), and a volume modulator (20). The hydraulic cavity (16) is at least partially defined by the suspension strut (14) and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid (12). The hydraulic cavity (16) and the compressible fluid (12) supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel (22) of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator (20) selectively pushes the compressible fluid (12) into the hydraulic cavity (16) and vents the compressible fluid (12) from the hydraulic cavity (16), thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Joshua D. Coombs, Jeremy Edmondson
  • Publication number: 20020125623
    Abstract: A spring includes intermediate coils of larger and smaller diameter so that upon compression of the spring the smaller diameter coil may nest within one of the large diameter coils, thereby reducing the overall length of the spring without causing the coils to come in contact with one another. The spring may be used in automotive vehicle suspension assemblies and other applications. The axis of the smaller coil may be offset from the axes of the other coils, thereby providing a spring in which one side is softer and the other is stiffer, so that upon compression the spring bows or deflects along a curved line. In addition to the small diameter coil being offset from the remaining coils, the wire diameter of one or more of the coils may be changed to affect the local stiffness of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
  • Patent number: 6398201
    Abstract: The restoring coil spring of a vehicle shock absorber can be seated on an annular elastomeric pad that is equipped with a reinforced peripheral flange adapted to maintain the lowermost convolution of the spring on the elastomeric pad should the spring break during service. An annular steel band is incorporated into the elastomeric flange to provide a reinforced flange structure resistant to radial deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Solomond, James J. Johnson, Michael S. Weaver
  • Patent number: 6367830
    Abstract: A module (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a suspension strut (12) including an outer tubular housing (16) for a hydraulic damper (24) and a spring seat (18); and a steering knuckle (14); wherein the housing, the spring seat and the steering knuckle are formed as an integral one-piece assembly. Reduces assembly complexity, time and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Annequin, Mustaphe Benotmane, Olivier M. Derollepot, Thierry Frouin, Andrew Herbert, Nicholas Jones
  • Patent number: 6343804
    Abstract: A shock absorber strut is provided including a tubular body, a clamping member, a steering knuckle, a fastening member and a positioning member. The tubular body is arranged at a lower region of the strut. The clamping member clamps the steering knuckle to the tubular body and includes a continuous slot along the steering knuckle and a fastening member which fastens the steering knuckle tubular body. The positioning member is a one piece component for positioning the clamping member with respect to the tubular body and includes a stop for positioning in the longitudinal direction and a projection for positioning in a circumferential direction. Optionally, a further positioning connection may be provided including a bead on the positioning member and a corresponding recess in the tubular body which engages the bead and allows the clamping member to be exactly aligned in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Frank von den Bergen
  • Patent number: 6267397
    Abstract: In a torsion beam type rear suspension, a joint seat (12c) with a torsion beam (4) is formed on each lower spring seat (12) to define an upward slope from the outer side to the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body to suppress separation of the spring seats and cracking of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hamada, Katsuyuki Komiya, Toshihide Koyama
  • Patent number: 6193251
    Abstract: An improved automotive suspension system is provided which is capable of moving the center of a junction thereof in accordance with shock and swing applied to an automotive frame. The improved automotive suspension system exert both shock absorption and anti-swing functions against slight external shock and swing by the resultant forces between the components connected to the center of the junction, to thereby facilitate the running and turning of a vehicle in a stable manner. The automotive suspension system has a new mechanical structure which operates against a slight shock or swing, by using a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and a rigid suspension rod in a conventional MacPherson strut type suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Tae Hwan Jung
  • Patent number: 6186488
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for blocking a spring in a spring strut of a motor vehicle. A spacer element for transporting a vehicle consists of at least one segment which can be snapped into the spring and is supported by a lower free end on a stationary spring plate of the spring strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Juergen Lauer
  • Patent number: 6179309
    Abstract: In order to reduce a partially concentrated load affecting a spring seat by repulsion of the coil spring, an edge of the upper end of the coil spring is disposed against a portion of the spring seat having a relatively low solidity. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the coils of the coil spring interfere with each other if a mid-portion of the coil spring in vertical direction is offset to the side to provide a partially concentrated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Satou, Yutaka Hozumi