Fluid Handling Details Patents (Class 280/124.16)
  • Patent number: 6189903
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension gas supply system comprises valve means having a central chamber to which pressurised gas may be admitted and from which pressurised gas may be exhausted, gas communication paths for extending from said central chamber each to communicate with a respective gas suspension unit, and interposed in each gas communication path a valve unit operable to lie either in a closed condition in which an associated gas spring is isolated from the central chamber or to lie in an open position in which the gas spring communicates with said central chamber, a compressor for supply of pressurised gas, a gas dryer interposed between said compressor and central chamber, a remotely operable supply valve operable to allow pressurised gas to be admitted to said central chamber, and a remotely operable exhaust control valve operable to control a pair of slave valves thereby to cause pressurised gas to be exhausted from the central chamber via said dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: BTR Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: David John Bloxham
  • Patent number: 6189897
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock system adapter apparatus for use in combination with a pre-existing shock system and pre-existing steering arm which are typically installed on a vehicle. With the apparatus being actuated by the steering arm and automatically increases dampening compression on the outside shock and decreases dampening compression on the inside shock when the vehicle is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Thomas E. Dines, Michael F. Gyorfi
  • Patent number: 6179310
    Abstract: A vehicle roll stabilizing system uses front and rear stabilizer assemblies (23, 24) which each use a stabilizer bar (24) and a hydraulic ram (33, 35) to resist vehicle roll. Selector valves (43, 44) select pressure from a pump (36) or return hydraulic oil to a reservoir (37) according to 4 modes, two of which the selector valve is in an on and an off condition, respectively. A diverter valve (73) operates to control the pump pressure in proportion to lateral acceleration to provide an actuator effort which resists roll during vehicle cornering. This effort is provided up to a limit equivalent to a lateral acceleration of approximately 0.4 g after which roll is allowed to increase, either by keeping the pump pressure (and hence effort) constant or by increasing the pump pressure at a reduced rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Rover Group Limited
    Inventors: David Andrew Clare, Phillip James Green, William Burdock, Mark Pask