US3829119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for static level regulation of a vehicle
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1972-08-30
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-08-30
Abstract
Abstract The static level of vehicles having a spring arrangement between the body and axle is regulated by controlling a threaded adjustment device in a manner that, despite variations in the compression of the spring arrangement due to static loading of the vehicle, the distance between the axle and the body of the vehicle remains constant. A threaded shaft mates with a threaded receiving part, one being rotatable and mounted on a part of the vehicle while the other is non-rotatable and mounted to contact an end of the spring arrangement. Rotating motion is imparted to the rotatable part in response to static load variations which causes a variation in the relative positions of the threaded receiving part and the threaded shaft in a self-locking manner thereby maintaining the distance between the axle and the body of the vehicle constant.
Inventors
- 👤 P Kirschner
- 👤 H Rauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/021; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G15/062; B60G15/063; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/12; B60G2202/40; B60G2202/41; B60G2202/413; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/124; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/419; B60G2204/4193; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/20; B60G2500/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S267/00; Y10S267/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for static level regulation of a vehicle having a body, an axle, spring means arranged between the body and the axle, and shock absorber means including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder, a piston rod mounted on the piston, and two thrust bearings, a different one of the two thrust bearings being mounted on the piston rod adjacent one end of the spring means and on the cylinder adjacent the other end of the spring means, respectively, said apparatus comprising: a. screw means including a threaded shaft that is formed as a part of the end of the piston rod away from the piston and threaded receiving means arranged to engage the threaded shaft so that a relative rotation between the threaded receiving means and the threaded shaft causes a relative displacement of the threaded receiving means along the length of the threaded shaft, said screw means being self-locking; b. means for supporting the threaded receiving means disposed between the threaded receiving means and one of the body and the axle; and c. driving means engaging the threaded receiving means and including i. detecting means to sense a variation in loading of the vehicle and to provide an output representative of the variation, and ii. motor means receiving the output and translating it into rotating motion of the threaded receiving means so that a change in distance between the body and the one of the two thrust bearings disposed closer to the axle due to variations in vehicle load is accompanied by an oppositely directed compensating change in distance between the one of the two thrust bearings disposed closer to the screw means and the one of the body and the axle adjacent said one of the two thrust bearings closer to the screw means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for static level regulation of a vehicle having a body, an axle, spring means arranged between the body and the axle, and shock absorber means including a cylinder, a piston positioned within the cylinder, a piston rod mounted on the piston, and two thrust bearings, a different one of the two thrust bearings being mounted on the piston rod adjacent one end of the spring means and on the cylinder adjacent the other end of the spring means, respectively, said apparatus comprising: a. screw means including a threaded shaft that is formed as a part of the end of the piston rod away from the piston and threaded receiving means arranged to engage the threaded shaft so that a relative rotation between the threaded receiving means and the threaded shaft causes a relative displacement of the threaded receiving means along the length of the threaded shaft, said screw means being self-locking; b. means for supporting the threaded receiving means disposed between the threaded receiving means and one of the body and the axle; and c. driving means engaging the threaded receiving means and including i. detecting means to sense a variation in loading of the vehicle and to provide an output representative of the variation, and ii. motor means receiving the output and translating it into rotating motion of the threaded receiving means so that a change in distance between the body and the one of the two thrust bearings disposed closer to the axle due to variations in vehicle load is accompanied by an oppositely directed compensating change in distance between the one of the two thrust bearings disposed closer to the screw means and the one of the body and the axle adjacent said one of the two thrust bearings closer to the screw means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the supporting means includes means for reducing friction during rotation of the threaded receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the motor means includes a motor and gear means comprising a flexible rotating shaft connected at one end to said motor, a worm gear connected to the other end of said flexible rotating shaft and a gear wheel engaging said worm gear and being rigidly connected with the threaded receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the motor means includes a motor and said detecting means comprises switch means to control said motor, resistance bridge means including a variable resistance means to control said switch means and sensing means adapted to alter the value of said variable resistance means in response to variations in the distance between said body and said axle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said variable resistance means comprises at least one radiation-sensitive resistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said sensing means comprises a radiation source mounted on said body, a radiation filter mounted on said axle and positioned between said radiation source and said radiation-sensitive resistor to control the amount of light to said radiation-sensitive resistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said variable resistance means comprises at least one potentiometer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said sensing means comprises an arm rigid with said axle and connected to a wiper arm on said potentiometer mounted on said body to vary the resistance in accordance with the distance between said body and said axle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said sensing means is associated with each of two said axles and wherein two radiation-sensitive resistors are connected in series to control said motor in rEsponse to the difference in distance between said body and each of said axles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sensing means is associated with each of two said axles and wherein two potentiometers are connected in series to control said motor in response to the difference in distance between said body and each of said axles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |