Controlling Lateral Vehicle Attitude (e.g., Antiroll, Antisway) Patents (Class 280/5.506)
  • Patent number: 11964527
    Abstract: A vehicle stabilizer system, including: a stabilizer device and a switching mechanism to switch a roll suppressing function by a stabilizer bar between an effective state in which the roll suppressing function is rendered effective and an ineffective state in which the roll suppressing function is rendered ineffective; and a controller configured to determine whether a lateral acceleration of a vehicle body is greater than a threshold lateral acceleration and control the switching mechanism to render the roll suppressing function effective when the lateral acceleration is greater than the threshold lateral acceleration and ineffective when the lateral acceleration is not greater than the threshold lateral acceleration, wherein the controller employs, as a determination lateral acceleration for determining whether the lateral acceleration is greater than the threshold lateral acceleration, a smaller one of an actual lateral acceleration and an estimated lateral acceleration estimated based on a turning degree
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Kazuyuki Murata, Masashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11945557
    Abstract: A suspension system for supporting a body relative to at least four points, including: a respective front left, front right, back left and back right support arrangement between the respective point and the body, each respective support arrangement including a respective resilience arrangement and a respective control ram, each respective control ram including a respective compression chamber forming at least part of a respective compression control volume; a control arrangement including a first and a second diagonal reversible pump for displacing fluid between diagonally opposite compression control volumes. Each respective resilience arrangement can include a respective damping arrangement to restrict and/or selectively prevent compression and/or expansion of at least a portion of the respective resilience arrangement. Each respective control ram can further include a respective rebound chamber, the front control rams being cross connected and the back control rams being cross connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Nauti-Craft Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Laurence John Walker, Michael James Longman, Richard Monk, Ross McNab
  • Patent number: 11858497
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a vehicle in a stable drift are provided. With the goal of enhancing the driver experience, the disclosed drift control systems provide an interactive drift driving experience for the driver of a vehicle. In some embodiments, a driver is allowed to take manual control of a vehicle after a stable drift is initiated. For safety reasons, an assisted driving system may provide corrective assistance to prevent the vehicle from entering an unstable/unsafe drift. In other embodiments, an autonomous driving system retains control of the vehicle throughout the drift. However, the driver may perform “simulated drift maneuvers” such as counter-steering, and clutch kicking in order to communicate their desire to drift more or less aggressively. Accordingly, the autonomous driving system will effectuate the driver's communicated desire in a manner that keeps the vehicle in a safe/stable drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Avinash Balachandran, Yan Ming Jonathan Goh, John Subosits, Michael Thompson, Alexander R. Green
  • Patent number: 11858568
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling rear wheel steering is provided. The apparatus includes a turning state estimator that acquires steering angle information from a steering angle sensor and estimates a turning state by calculating a required steering speed from the steering angle information. A normal state lateral acceleration predictor predicts a normal state lateral acceleration to match the required steering speed in response to determining that the required steering speed is equal to or greater than a speed threshold value. A rear wheel steering angle calculator calculates a rear wheel steering angle based on the steering angle and the lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11807298
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a warning vibration of a steering wheel includes, a reservoir disposed within the steering wheel and filled with a non-conductive fluid, a connection tube connected to the reservoir and configured to form a hydraulic line of the non-conductive fluid, an actuator disposed within the steering wheel, connected to the connection tube, and configured to vibrate according to inflow and outflow of the non-conductive fluid from the connection tube, a positive electrode and a negative electrode disposed on opposite sides of the reservoir, a high voltage power supplier configured to supply a high voltage to be applied to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a vibration generation controller configured to selectively apply an output voltage of the high voltage power supplier to the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoung-Jin Chang
  • Patent number: 11787255
    Abstract: A machine includes a first cylinder coupled to a first wheel and a second cylinder coupled to a second wheel. A first proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional dampening valve fluidly connects to the second cylinder. First accumulators are fluidly connected to the first cylinder and the first proportional dampening valve, and second accumulator(s) are fluidly connected to the second cylinder and the second proportional dampening valve. Additionally, a first proportional flow control valve fluidly connects to the first cylinder and a second proportional flow control valve fluidly connected to the second cylinder. An electronic control module (ECM) communicatively couples to the first proportional flow control valve and the second proportional flow control valve to adjust a ride height of the first wheel via the first cylinder and a ride height of the second wheel via the second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Johnson, Edward William Mate, Kalpeshkumar N. Patel
  • Patent number: 11718141
    Abstract: In each of a first stabilizer device and a second stabilizer device, a stabilizer bar is supported by one or more cylinders, a communication passage via which two fluid chambers of each cylinder are connected is provided, and an opening-closing valve is disposed in the communication passage such that an inter-fluid-chamber communication state where the two fluid chambers communicate with each other and an inter-fluid-chamber shutoff state where the two fluid chambers are shut off from each other are selectively established. Hereby, a vehicle body roll restraining effect is achieved in the inter-fluid-chamber shutoff state while the vehicle body roll restraining effect is cancelled in the inter-fluid-chamber communication state. A linkage mechanism by which those two states of each of the stabilizer devices are changed in conjunction with each other is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Kazuyuki Murata, Masashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11657439
    Abstract: A system for providing a vehicle part change service is provided, may include a server provided with part information related to changeable parts for a plurality of vehicle kinds, the server providing kinds of the changeable parts to a user terminal if a part change request for a specific vehicle kind is received from the user terminal, guiding a cost for a change target part through the user terminal if the corresponding part is selected through the user terminal and processing to transport the changed part to a service center, and outputting at least one of vehicle specification information or vehicle control data being changed due to the change of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11654964
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control switch that is configured to generate an operation signal, and a controller that is electrically connected to the control switch to receive the operation signal therefrom, and that is configured to, in response to receipt of the operation signal, transmit a control signal to a tilting mechanism for making the tilting mechanism operate in one of a locked state and an unlocked state. After the vehicle is powered on, the controller is further configured to, when the controller has continuously received the operation signal for a predetermined reception time, determine that the control switch is abnormal, stop transmitting the control signal and control a warning unit to output a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei-Xiang Liao
  • Patent number: 11608059
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for real time lateral control and steering actuation assessment for a motor vehicle by determining a desired host vehicle path, establishing a control point along the host vehicle path, generating a motion path between a host vehicle location and the control point, estimating a theoretical acceleration of the host vehicle along the motion path, controlling the host vehicle along the motion path, receiving a measured acceleration from an inertial measurement unit within the host vehicle, generating an error term in response to a comparison of the motion path and the measured lateral travel, and adjusting the performance limits of the sub-features in response to the error term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Braden J. Swantick, Michael J. Godfrey
  • Patent number: 11577576
    Abstract: A method for the active roll stabilization of a vehicle (50) by way of a roll stabilizer (30). The roll stabilizer (30) includes a stabilizer rod (32), a stabilizer housing (34) and a stabilizer motor (36), arranged inside the stabilizer housing (34), so that a first end of the stabilizer rod (32) is connected at to a wheel (52) of the vehicle and at a second end thereof is mounted to be rotated by way of the stabilizer motor (36). The method including the steps of obtaining a first set-point value of a rod torque of the stabilizer rod (32); obtaining a second set-point value of a motor rotation angle of the stabilizer motor (36); limiting the second set-point value based on an absolute value and/or a gradient of the first set-point value; and inputting the second set-point value into a control sequence (20) as a guide magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Beller, Axel Bolta, Lars-Theodor Thole
  • Patent number: 11571942
    Abstract: An electromechanical chassis actuator, for example an actuator of a roll stabilizer, for a motor vehicle has a torque measuring arrangement based on the inverse magnetostrictive principle. At least one electronic unit has a printed circuit board which is connected at least indirectly to an actuator housing through a rivet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kerstin Dürst, Manuel Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11560035
    Abstract: A method for operating an adjustable roll stabilizer for a motor vehicle. The adjustable roll stabilizer has an actuator which relative to a rotational axis can be rotated through a system angle in order to twist two stabilizer sections connected to it about the rotational axis relative to one another. The stabilizer sections are each coupled to a respective wheel suspension at a radial distance away from the rotational axis, and, starting from a target angle to be set at the actuator and having regard to the actual system angle and other parameters of the adjustable roll stabilizer and/or the motor vehicle equipped with it, a position-rotational speed regulator determines a target motor torque on the basis of which a motor of the actuator is controlled, so that having regard to the target angle and the actual system angle, the target motor torque is checked for plausibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Lekon, Lars-Theodor Thole, Axel Bolta, Michael Beller, Mortiz Van Spankeren
  • Patent number: 11524546
    Abstract: A method and system for operating pneumatic suspension system including a plurality of air springs changing a ride height of the motor vehicle by the supply and extraction of compressed air, at least two first axle air springs, and two second axle air springs, an air spring valve, a first and further changeover valve are arranged in a compressed air path, an additional accumulator valve, the second compressed air path is connected to the first compressed air path via a third compressed air path in which a connecting valve is provided, for simultaneous adjustment of the ride height of the vehicle on both axles, the air spring valves, and the first and the further changeover valves and the additional accumulator valve are opened at the same time while the connecting valve remains closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Volkan Sirke, Stefan Mölle
  • Patent number: 11491840
    Abstract: When a vehicle's driving situation is a rolling state, a compressor is used to transfer compressed air between left and right air suspensions of front wheels, and a compressor is used to transfer compressed air between left and right air suspensions of rear wheels. The air suspensions of the left and right front wheels and the air suspensions of the left and rear wheels thus independently generate counter rolls. This makes it possible to concurrently perform vehicle height adjustment of the air suspensions of the left and right front wheels and vehicle height adjustment of the air suspensions of the left and right rear wheels, which improves responsiveness in counter roll control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yamahata, Yuki Yoshida, Nobuyuki Ichimaru
  • Patent number: 11446975
    Abstract: A convertible link for use with an anti-sway bar is provided. The convertible link includes a hydraulic cylinder having a link tube and a fluid shaft. The fluid shaft includes a piston coupled to a first end of the fluid shaft, wherein the fluid shaft and the piston are slidably coupled within the link tube. Fluid flows in and out of the hydraulic cylinder to move the hydraulic cylinder between a fixed and a moveable condition. In the fixed position the fluid shaft does not move with respect to the link tube and the anti-sway bar is operational to control roll. In the moveable condition the fluid shaft is moveable with respect to the link tube and the anti-sway bar is not operational to control roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Shock Therapy Suspension, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Smith
  • Patent number: 11433727
    Abstract: Provided is an electric suspension device including an electromagnetic actuator that is provided between a body and wheel of a vehicle and generates damping force for damping vibration of the body. It includes: an information acquisition unit that acquires information on a sprung speed and sprung acceleration of the vehicle; a bounce target value computation unit that computes a bounce target value for controlling the vehicle's bounce orientation based on the sprung speed; and a driving control unit that controls driving of the actuator with a control target load which is based on the bounce target value. The bounce target value computation unit has a bounce target load map in which the bounce target value is associated with the sprung speed. The bounce target value computation unit adjusts a width of a dead zone set in the map based on the information on the sprung speed and sprung acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Goto, Ryoma Kanda
  • Patent number: 11383575
    Abstract: A method of controlling relative roll torque in vehicles having a front active sway bar and a rear active sway bar is provided. The front active sway bar varies roll torque of a front axle and the rear active sway bar varies roll torque of a rear axle. The method includes monitoring dynamic driving conditions during operation of the vehicle and biasing tire lateral load transfer distribution (TLLTD) relative to the front axle based on the monitored dynamic driving conditions. Positive bias of the TLLTD increases the portion of a total roll torque carried by the front active sway bar. Biasing TLLTD occurs during one or more dynamic bias events triggered as monitored dynamic driving conditions exceed one or more calibrated thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Saylor, Michael W. Neal, Larry G. Gepfrey, Robert G. Izak, Robert P. Marble, Hojjat Izadi
  • Patent number: 11376916
    Abstract: A damping force of a suspension is controlled appropriately in accordance with a road surface condition. An ECU (600) includes: a road surface determining section (84) configured to determine a road surface condition; and a rolling attitude control section (682) configured to calculate a steering-based desired control variable, which is a candidate for a control variable for controlling a damping force of a suspension, in accordance with a result of the determination by the road surface determining section (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Isshiki, Eishi Ishimaru, Kyouichi Tagami, Katsutoshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 11155266
    Abstract: An active roll control apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first actuator that is disposed adjacent to front wheels or rear wheels and is configured to adjust roll stiffness. A controller operates the first actuator in a reverse phase control manner in a roll angle increasing direction when a vehicle is in a low-friction turning driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byoung-Joo Kim, Eun-Woo Na
  • Patent number: 11021034
    Abstract: An anti-roll device equips an axle assembly of a motor vehicle and comprises two connecting rods of which one comprises a part of coupling means comprising: a housing subdivided into two parts by a piston and comprising two inlets-outlets communicating with the two parts and an intermediate inlet-outlet communicating with at least one of the parts depending on the position of the piston, a fluid reservoir supplying a conduit coupled to the intermediate inlet-outlet, two non-return means coupled to the inlets-outlets and to the conduit, and an electrically operated valve coupled to the inlets-outlets and placed either in an open state ensuring a connection between the parts and the fluid reservoir via the intermediate inlet-outlet, or in a closed state allowing fluid discharge out of the housing only through the intermediate inlet-outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA, BWI FRANCE S.A.S.U.
    Inventors: Alan Cavarec, Philippe Germain, Bruno Perrée
  • Patent number: 10787053
    Abstract: A damping system of a two-track vehicle includes a passive stabilizer having a torsion bar which runs in a vehicle transverse direction and having lever elements which adjoin the torsion bar at the end sides and which are connected to mutually oppositely situated wheel suspension arrangements of an axle of the vehicle. Two actuators are assigned to respective wheels of the wheel suspension arrangements and are mounted on the vehicle body. Each actuator has a drive by way of which a torque can be exerted on that section of the stabilizer which faces toward the respective wheel. Here, the actuators are in the form of electric motors and are designed to dampen vertical vibrations of the respective wheel or of the so-called unsprung mass, and/or vibrations of the vehicle body in a frequency range between 0 Hertz and at least 20 Hertz, through suitable regulation of the drive of the actuators and thus also through active introduction of forces into the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marian Zuscik
  • Patent number: 10759248
    Abstract: A traveling control system for a vehicle includes a first sprung structure acceleration sensor, a second sprung structure acceleration sensor, a third sprung structure acceleration sensor, a fourth sprung structure acceleration sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to calculate a vertical acceleration, a roll acceleration, and a pitch acceleration at a gravity center position, calculate vertical accelerations of a sprung structure at positions of a front right wheel, a front left wheel, a rear right wheel, and a rear left wheel, and control traveling of the vehicle based on the vertical accelerations of the sprung structure at the positions of the front right wheel, the front left wheel, the rear right wheel, and the rear left wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 10315565
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 10207723
    Abstract: A suspension system for a railway vehicle includes a hub assembly configured to travel along a track, a suspension element coupled to the hub assembly and configured to provide a suspension force, a regulator coupled to the suspension element and configured to selectively adjust the suspension element, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine a target configuration for the suspension element using a characteristic of the track at a target position, the target position selected based on a location of the railway vehicle, and engage the regulator based on the target configuration such that the suspension force applied by the suspension element is based on the location of the railway vehicle and the characteristic of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9936358
    Abstract: A method for determining the position in a vehicle of a first device in communication with a microprocessor may include receiving, at the microprocessor, a first set of inertial data from at least one sensor of the first device; receiving, at the microprocessor, a second set of inertial data from at least one sensor of a reference device disposed within the vehicle; and determining, using the microprocessor, the position of the first device in the vehicle by comparing the first set of inertial data with the second set of inertial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Marco Gruteser, Richard P. Martin, Yingying Chen, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9770959
    Abstract: In a method for controlling at least one component of a chassis of a vehicle, a parameterization of a reactive controller of the at least one component of the chassis is changed depending on a current certainty of sensor data of a roadway section to be driven detected by a sensor system, such that, when driving on the roadway section, in the case of increased uncertainty of the sensor data, the reactive controller controls with a lower reaction time with respect to a normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Unger, Christoph Göhrle
  • Patent number: 9643599
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor detects wheel speed. The controller estimates sprung mass state based on detected information in a prescribed frequency range. The controller controls a variable-damping force shock absorber to bring the estimated sprung mass state to a target sprung mass state. The controller estimates wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel. The controller determines the estimation accuracy of the sprung mass state has deteriorated when a rate of change of a stationary component extracted from components of wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel is detected to equal or exceed a prescribed value. The controller controls the variable-damping force shock absorber to a more limited extent than when the estimation accuracy has not deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9452654
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: accessing a set of control signals, wherein at least a first control signal of the set of control signals includes a set of values associated a pressure applied to a vehicle component of a vehicle; accessing a set of predetermined vehicle component base-level pressure values associated with the vehicle component; comparing the set of values associated with a pressure applied to the vehicle component with the set of predetermined vehicle component base-level pressure values; based on said comparing, calculating an approximate shift in a center of gravity of the vehicle; monitoring a state of at least one valve; and based on the calculating and the monitoring, determining a control mode for said at least one vehicle suspension damper that, if actuated, would compensate the vehicle for the shift in the center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, Christopher Paul Cox, Philip Tsiaras, Mark Larson, Mario Galasso, Matt McLellan
  • Patent number: 9333830
    Abstract: A method for operating a stabilizer arrangement which has two stabilizer modules and an actuator, wherein the stabilizer modules are arranged along an axle of a motor vehicle and are acted on by the actuator, wherein at least one kinematic variable of each wheel which is oriented in the vertical direction of the axle is determined, wherein by using a value of the at least one kinematic variable a value for at least one pilot control parameter is determined by a pilot control arrangement, which value is made available to a control cascade which includes an angle control module, a rotational speed control module and a power control module, wherein a value for a power control for operating the actuator is made available by the control cascade from the value for the pilot control parameter, which is dependent on the value of the kinematic variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Igor Illg, Thomas Mirwaldt
  • Patent number: 9333985
    Abstract: Power steering system including: an electric pump to supply fluid to a power steering unit; and an engine control unit (ECU) to control an amount of the fluid by a rotation speed of the electric pump. The ECU includes a first device for calculating an on-slope standby rotation speed and setting the electric pump to this speed when a vehicle is descending or ascending a slope. This speed is calculated by correcting a standby rotation speed of the electric pump corresponding to a vehicle speed with a slope correction value calculated according to a slope angle or a vehicle body angle. Accordingly, it is possible to supply the fluid with the electric pump and assist a steering operation to suppress both a jerky steering feeling due to insufficient steering force in slope descent and a lack of response in the steering operation due to excessive steering force in slope ascent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Iwao
  • Patent number: 9150282
    Abstract: A water craft has a body portion and at least two water engaging means. The body portion is at least partially suspended above the at least two water engaging means by a suspension system, and locating means are provided to connect each water engaging means to the body portion to permit substantially vertical and pitch direction motions of the water engaging means relative to the body. The suspension system includes at least one front pitch support ram and at least one back pitch support ram, the front and back pitch support rams providing support for at least a portion of the body relative to the at least two water engaging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nauti-Craft Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Heyring, John Gerard Catoni, Richard Monk
  • Patent number: 8967643
    Abstract: Split roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle, between the two stabilizer parts (2a) of which an actuator (1) for a torsion of the stabilizer parts (2a) can be effectively disposed, a sensor (11) for determining the torsional moment acting in the stabilizer parts (2a) being provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Mayer, Manfred Kraus, Bernd Wittmann
  • Patent number: 8960697
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension device includes a first fluid path through which a first upper port opening into a first hydraulic cylinder and a second lower port opening into a second hydraulic cylinder communicate with each other, a second fluid path through which a second upper port opening into the second hydraulic cylinder and a first lower port opening into the first hydraulic cylinder communicate with each other, a first hydraulic damping mechanism in the first fluid path, a second hydraulic damping mechanism in the second fluid path, a first accumulator connected to the first fluid path via a first branch fluid path having a first auxiliary hydraulic damping mechanism, a second accumulator connected to the second fluid path via a second branch fluid path having a second auxiliary hydraulic damping mechanism, and a bridge fluid path through which the first and second branch fluid paths are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Takamasa Kato, Yoshifumi Ohtani, Katsuhiko Takasu, Masaaki Oishi
  • Patent number: 8954233
    Abstract: A vehicle body drifting suppression device including a steering torque detection unit which detects a steering torque of a vehicle, wherein a vehicle body drifting suppression is performed according to a vehicle body drifting suppression control-amount, and the vehicle body drifting suppression control-amount is adjusted according to a temporal sustention status of the steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Nakamura, Norio Yamazaki, Shigenori Takimoto, Yoshimichi Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8919788
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe methods, apparatuses, and systems for enhanced vehicle stabilization solutions. Embodiments of the invention may receive sensor information from at least one sensor coupled to a vehicle having two or more wheels, the at least one sensor coupled to at least one of a wheel, a suspension component, or a frame of the vehicle. A tilt angle of the vehicle is determined from the received sensor information, the tilt angle comprising an offset angle from a reference plane for the vehicle. A controller transmits a command to one or more control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) coupled to the frame of the vehicle to produce a total angular moment based, at least in part, on the tilt angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lit Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Kee Young Kim, Eric Miller
  • Publication number: 20140361501
    Abstract: A carrier including a body and a gravity modulating module disposed at the body is provided. The gravity modulating module includes a weight block, a tilting sensing assembly and a driver. The tilting sensing assembly is adapted for sensing the tilting condition of the body and sending a left turning signal or a right turning signal. The driver is adapted to move the weight block according to the left turning signal or the right turning signal, so that the center of gravity of the carrier shifts to keep balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Buo-Hong Lin, Hung-Huan Sung, Chi-Hung Chang
  • Patent number: 8855856
    Abstract: A system for providing vehicle roll control that controls the friction-force of dampers provided at the wheels of the vehicle. The system includes a lateral acceleration sensor for determining the lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a steering angle sensor for determining the steering angle of the vehicle and a speed sensor for determining the speed of the vehicle. The system calculates a current control signal for one or more of the dampers based on the lateral acceleration and/or the steering angle, and uses one or both of the current control signals to control the friction-force of the inside, outside or both of the dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jihan Ryu, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 8777242
    Abstract: A linkage mechanism for double-wheel combination of vehicle mainly includes a main frame, connecting rod, and two sway rods. With the simple assembly, the two sway rods are pivoted to the main frame and the connecting rod respectively so as to sway identically and simultaneously for better vehicle stability and mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bentech Marketing & Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bo-Sheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 8781684
    Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle that includes: a single front wheel; two rear wheels; a passenger cabin; an electronic steering control unit; and a steering input device configured to send an electronic signal to the electronic steering control unit corresponding to an input received at the steering input device associated with turning the three-wheeled vehicle; wherein the electronic steering control unit is configured to counter-steer the front wheel in response to receiving the electronic signal, wherein the counter-steering of the front wheel initiates a leaning of the passenger cabin a direction of turning of the three-wheeled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha Motors Company Limited
    Inventor: Ian A. Bruce
  • Patent number: 8770603
    Abstract: A divided roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle between whose two stabilizer parts (2a) an actuator (1) can be arranged for a torsion of the stabilizer parts (2a). At least one of the stabilizer parts (2a) is provided with a torsion transmitting connecting part (4a) for connection to the actuator (1), and the connecting part (4a) is magnetically coded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Wittmann, Ralf Mayer, Andrea Lottes, Norbert Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8690175
    Abstract: A disconnectible stabilizer bar assembly for a vehicle having first and second stabilizer bar halves, a housing fixed to an end portion of each stabilizer bar half, so as to align the two halves. The housing containing a stator with magnetic coil, a rotor with exterior magnets and threaded onto a hollow screw, with the stator selectively rotating the rotor and the rotation translated into axial movement of the screw. The screw having meshing means on an interior surface and an end face, the interior meshing means meshed with an exterior meshing means on one of the stabilizer bar halves, and the end face meshing means selectively coupled and decoupled with aligned mashing means on the other of the stabilizer bar halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mark Brown
  • Patent number: 8684365
    Abstract: A stabilizer system is provided with a stabilizer bar configured to connect a left wheel and a right wheel of a vehicle to each other and suppress a roll of the vehicle by torsional reaction force, an actuator configured to control a relative torsional amount between a side of the left wheel and a side of the right wheel of the stabilizer bar, and a control device configured to control the actuator. The actuator can selectively operate in a permitting mode in which increase and decrease in the torsional amount is permitted or in a regulating mode in which the increase and decrease in the torsional amount is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8613452
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator, especially for an anti-roll bar of a motor vehicle, that has two actuator elements, which can be rotated relative to each other about a common rotational axis, for which purpose an electric motor and a gearbox coupled therewith are provided. The electric motor is arranged in an actuator element for transmitting a torque, and an output shaft of the gearbox is coupled to the other actuator element. A mechanical overload coupling is provided in the torque-transmitting load path from the electric motor to the gearbox output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Grau, Thorsten Meyerhoefer, Ralf Mayer
  • Patent number: 8608186
    Abstract: An active roll control system that may be adapted to actively control roll stiffness of a vehicle by adjusting a mounting position of a stabilizer link connecting a suspension arm with a stabilizer bar of the vehicle on the suspension arm according to a driving condition of vehicle may include a driving unit which including a housing connected with a side of the suspension arm, a rail plate disposed within the housing, and a connector movable along the rail plate, and a stabilizer link of which one end may be connected with an end of the stabilizer bar and the other end may be connected with the connector through a first joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8579313
    Abstract: An active roll control device varies a position of a stabilizer link connecting a stabilizer bar with a suspension arm such that torsion rigidity of the stabilizer bar is varied to actively control the roll. A penetrating slot is formed in the suspension arm and may include a sliding unit that includes a rail plate disposed in a housing disposed at a lower side of the penetrating slot along a vehicle width direction and connects a connector that is movably disposed on the rail plate with a lower end of the stabilizer link to guide the stabilizer link along a width direction of the vehicle, and a drive unit having a lead screw as a rotation shaft through a three joint mounting portion that engages a screw connector connected to a hinge portion of the stabilizer link to transfer a driving torque to the stabilizer link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Un Koo Lee, Sung Bae Jang, Pil Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 8573605
    Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle including at least one fluid operated ram having a cylinder and a main piston mounted therein for reciprocating movement, control means for controlling an equilibrium position of the piston in the ram in response to lateral acceleration of the vehicle in order to counter the effects of body roll of the vehicle, and wherein the ram includes shock absorbing means for permitting rapid movement of the piston from the equilibrium position when operating fluid in the ram is subjected to transient increases in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip Di Maria
  • Patent number: 8556273
    Abstract: Four electromagnetic shock absorbers (30) are provided with motors (40FL, 40FR, 40RL, 40RR). First current-carrying terminals (T1) of the motors (40FL, 40FR, 40RL, 40RR) are connected to one another by a ground line (61). Further, second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FL) and the motor (40FR) are connected to each other by a front wheel roll damping line (62F). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40RL) and the motor (40RR) are connected to each other by a rear wheel roll damping line (62R). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FL) and the motor (40RL) are connected to each other by a left wheel pitch damping line (63L). Second current-carrying terminals (T2) of the motor (40FR) and the motor (40RR) are connected to each other by a right wheel pitch damping line (63R). In this manner, appropriate damping forces can be generated with a simple configuration not only against vehicle bouncing but also against vehicle rolling and pitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8534678
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, which has a tie rod (1) formed from two rod parts (2, 3). In order to achieve speed-dependent adaptation of the compliance of the tie rod, the proposal is that the first rod part (2) have a compensating space (4) filled with a compensating medium, in which the other, second rod part (3) is arranged by means of the engagement end (7) thereof, the compensating space (4) being connected to a, preferably pressurized, medium reservoir (18) via a switching element (17) arranged at a connecting element (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ralf Hintzen
  • Patent number: 8523192
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yvonne Baeumchen, Michael Seemann, Marc Suermann, Markus Schommer, Uwe Hoffmann, Russ Lee Norton