Suspension stabilization system and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9834057-B2
Application number	US-201514932197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A suspension stabilization system may include a stabilizer bar having an end configured to connect to a suspension component of a vehicle, and a torsion shaft with an end connected to the stabilizer bar. A locking mechanism may be configured to rotationally couple and decouple at least a portion of the torsion shaft with a portion of a frame of the vehicle. Methods relate to stabilizing a vehicle suspension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension stabilization system, comprising:
a stabilizer bar having an end configured to connect to a suspension component of a vehicle;
a torsion shaft with an end connected to the stabilizer bar; and
a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of at least a portion of the torsion shaft relative to a portion of a frame of the vehicle when in a locked configuration.

2. The suspension stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer bar is connected to the torsion shaft via a splined interface.

3. The suspension stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer bar and the torsion shaft comprise a single, unitary component.

4. The suspension stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the torsion shaft and at least a portion of the locking mechanism are disposed within a housing attached to the portion of the frame of the vehicle.

5. The suspension stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pinion gear positioned on the torsion shaft and a sliding lock gear configured to slide axially within a housing, and wherein the pinion gear and the sliding lock gear each comprise gear teeth configured to intermesh when the sliding lock gear is in an engaged position.

6. The suspension stabilization system of claim 5 , wherein the sliding lock gear comprises external protrusions configured to slide within recesses of the housing and prevent rotation of the sliding lock gear with respect to the housing.

7. The suspension stabilization system of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electronic solenoid connected to an actuator fork configured to move the sliding lock gear from a disengaged position to an engaged position when the solenoid is energized.

8. The suspension stabilization system of claim 7 , further comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to activate the solenoid based on at least one of steering wheel angle, body roll angle, and lateral acceleration.

9. The suspension stabilization system of claim 8 , further comprising a position sensor disposed proximate the torsion shaft and configured to transmit a signal related to the rotational position of the torsion shaft to the ECU.

10. The suspension stabilization system of claim 9 , wherein the position sensor comprises a tone ring disposed on the torsion shaft.

11. The suspension stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an actuator configured to engage a friction shoe disposed on a friction surface of the torsion rod.

12. The suspension stabilization system of claim 11 , wherein the friction surface of the torsion rod comprises a friction surface of a bushing disposed around an outer diameter of the torsion rod.

13. A vehicle, comprising:
a suspension stabilization device, comprising:
a stabilizer bar connected to a suspension component of the vehicle;
a torsion shaft connected to the stabilizer bar; and
a locking mechanism configured to selectively immobilize at least a portion of the torsion shaft with respect to a portion of a frame of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the suspension component of the vehicle comprises a control arm.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the suspension component of the vehicle comprises a strut.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to engage and disengage based on signals from an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control actuation of the locking mechanism based on at least one of steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration, and body roll angle.

18. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle comprises at least two suspension stabilization devices, and wherein the at least two suspension stabilization devices are configured as independent units.

19. A method for stabilizing a vehicle suspension, comprising:
transmitting to an electronic control unit data relating to at least one of a steering angle of the vehicle, a body roll angle of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle, and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and
engaging a locking mechanism to prevent rotational movement of at least a portion of a torsion shaft of a suspension stabilization device relative to a frame portion of the vehicle when at least one of the steering angle exceeds a predetermined steering angle limit stored in the electronic control unit, the body roll angle exceeds a predetermined body roll angle limit stored in the electronic control unit, the yaw rate exceeds a predetermined yaw rate stored in the electronic control unit, and the lateral acceleration exceeds a predetermined lateral acceleration limit stored in the electronic control unit.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein transmitting to the electronic control unit the data related to the body roll angle of the body of the vehicle comprises transmitting to the electronic control unit ride height data for one or more wheels of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Drozdowski James Adam
• Buchwitz Joe L
• Arnold Bruce C

Classifications

• B60G17/025

  the mechanical spring being a torsion spring (B60G17/0277, B60G21/0553 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2400/412

  of steering wheel or column · CPC title

• B60G2200/142

  with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type · CPC title

• B60G2206/427

  Stabiliser bars or tubes · CPC title

• B60G2202/42

  Electric actuator · CPC title