Inertia actuated antidive system for vehicle

Claim 1

A system for preventing the forward portion of a vehicle from downwardly pitching toward the road during deceleration of the vehicle, said vehicle including a frame, a primary mover for said vehicle mounted on said frame, and a suspension system mounfted on said frame for carrying a plurality of ground engaging wheels and for maintaining said frame in a generally level attitude during normal driving conditions, said system generally maintaining said frame in said normal level attitude during deceleration of said vehicle and comprising (a) at least one hydraulic press adapted to interconnect the forward portion of said frame and said suspension system and having at least one chamber containing a pressurized fluid, (b) a source of hydraulic fluid, (c) means for pressurizing said source of hydraulic fluid, (d) a conduit connecting said hydraulic fluid source with said chamber of said hydraulic press, (e) a valve integrated along said conduit between said fluid source an said hydraulic press and having (i) a first operative position for maintaining a minimal operating pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic press when said vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, and (ii) second operative positions for allowing the fluid pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic press to increase on deceleration of said vehicle, said increase in fluid pressure expanding said press to upwardly displace said forward portion of said frame with respect to said suspension system, and being in proportion to the rate of deceleration of said vehicle such that the increase in fluid pressure is greater for greater rates of deceleration, (f) means for causing said valve to move from said first operative position to one of said second operative positions on deceleration of said vehicle, including, (i) a support member, (ii) a weight carried by said member and movable between at least two operative positions, a normal operative position, and a temporary secondary operative position, the inertia of said weight causing the weight to move from said normal operative position to said secondary operative position upon deceleration of said vehicle, (iii) resilient means for maintaining said weight in said normal operative position during travel of said vehicle at a constant speed and for returning said weight to said normal operative position after deceleration of said vehicle, and (iv) means for causing said valve to move from said first operative position to one of said second operative positions in proportionate response to the inertial movement of said weight from said normal operative position to said temporary secondary operative position, such that greater rates of deceleration of said vehicle cause the inertia of said weight to produce a greater displacement force, and allow a greater increase in fluid pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic valve.

Claim 2

A system for preventing the forward portion of a vehicle from downwardly pitching toward the road during deceleration of the vehicle, said vehicle including a frame, a primary mover for said vehicle mounted on said frame, and a suspension system mounfted on said frame for carrying a plurality of ground engaging wheels and for maintaining said frame in a generally level attitude during normal driving conditions, said system generally maintaining said frame in said normal level attitude during deceleration of said vehicle and comprising (a) at least one hydraulic press adapted to interconnect the forward portion of said frame and said suspension system and having at least one chamber containing a pressurized fluid, (b) a source of hydraulic fluid, (c) means for pressurizing said source of hydraulic fluid, (d) a conduit connecting said hydraulic fluid source with said chamber of said hydraulic press, (e) a valve integrated along said conduit between said fluid source an said hydraulic press and having (i) a first operative position for maintaining a minimal operating pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic press when said vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, and (ii) second operative positions for allowing the fluid pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic press to increase on deceleration of said vehicle, said increase in fluid pressure expanding said press to upwardly displace said forward portion of said frame with respect to said suspension system, and being in proportion to the rate of deceleration of said vehicle such that the increase in fluid pressure is greater for greater rates of deceleration, (f) means for causing said valve to move from said first operative position to one of said second operative positions on deceleration of said vehicle, including, (i) a support member, (ii) a weight carried by said member and movable between at least two operative positions, a normal operative position, and a temporary secondary operative position, the inertia of said weight causing the weight to move from said normal operative position to said secondary operative position upon deceleration of said vehicle, (iii) resilient means for maintaining said weight in said normal operative position during travel of said vehicle at a constant speed and for returning said weight to said normal operative position after deceleration of said vehicle, and (iv) means for causing said valve to move from said first operative position to one of said second operative positions in proportionate response to the inertial movement of said weight from said normal operative position to said temporary secondary operative position, such that greater rates of deceleration of said vehicle cause the inertia of said weight to produce a greater displacement force, and allow a greater increase in fluid pressure in said chamber of said hydraulic valve.