Patent US4700972A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4700972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computerized, central hydraulic, electronic variable suspension
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-06-13
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Granted: 1987-10-20
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Expires: 2006-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle suspension system using sensors and a computing means to vary suspension and road-handling parameters such as wheel camber, suspension spring rates, suspension damping coefficients, vehicle leveling and clearance to provide a vehicle with optimum suspension characteristics. This system is useful particularly, but not necessarily, for racing vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin G. Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/26; B60G3/265; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/0195; B60G7/00; B60G7/006; B62; B62D; B62D17/00; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/46; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/12; B60G2202/40; B60G2202/41; B60G2202/413; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/124; B60G2204/1244; B60G2204/14; B60G2204/143; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/421; B60G2204/423; B60G2204/4232; B60G2204/62; B60G2500/00; B60G2500/20; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
365 words
For use in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, wherein each wheel has a variable camber, a suspension system comprising; a lateral-acceleration-sensing means determining and providing lateral-acceleration input relating to lateral-acceleration of the vehicle; a plurality of camber-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing camber input relating to the camber of the particular wheel; a plurality of camber-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling the camber of the particular wheel; a computing means which receives the input from the lateral-acceleration-sensing means from each of the camber-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a camber output to the camber-control means for controlling the camber of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of body-roll-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing body-roll input relating to lateral body-roll of the vehicle in a region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of vertical-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling a vertical distance between the particular wheel and a chassis; wherein the computing means receives the input from each of the body-roll-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a vertical-output to the vertical-control means for controlling the vertical position of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of vertical-acceleration-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing vertical-acceleration input relating to vertical-acceleration of the vehicle in the region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of variable positioned fulcrums, each coresponding to a particular wheel and connected to the chassis by a piston and cylinder, and wherein varying a position of the variable-positioned fulcrum varies an effective spring rate constant of the vehicle corresponding to the particular wheel; a plurality of positioning means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and for varying the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum; the computing means receiving and processing the vertical-acceleration inputs, and computing a forced vibrational input over time for at least one selected wheel; and the computer means providing a fulcrum-output to the positioning means corresponding to the selected wheel to vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
365 words
For use in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, wherein each wheel has a variable camber, a suspension system comprising; a lateral-acceleration-sensing means determining and providing lateral-acceleration input relating to lateral-acceleration of the vehicle; a plurality of camber-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing camber input relating to the camber of the particular wheel; a plurality of camber-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling the camber of the particular wheel; a computing means which receives the input from the lateral-acceleration-sensing means from each of the camber-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a camber output to the camber-control means for controlling the camber of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of body-roll-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing body-roll input relating to lateral body-roll of the vehicle in a region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of vertical-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling a vertical distance between the particular wheel and a chassis; wherein the computing means receives the input from each of the body-roll-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a vertical-output to the vertical-control means for controlling the vertical position of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of vertical-acceleration-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing vertical-acceleration input relating to vertical-acceleration of the vehicle in the region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of variable positioned fulcrums, each coresponding to a particular wheel and connected to the chassis by a piston and cylinder, and wherein varying a position of the variable-positioned fulcrum varies an effective spring rate constant of the vehicle corresponding to the particular wheel; a plurality of positioning means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and for varying the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum; the computing means receiving and processing the vertical-acceleration inputs, and computing a forced vibrational input over time for at least one selected wheel; and the computer means providing a fulcrum-output to the positioning means corresponding to the selected wheel to vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
184 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the computing means has a memory means and stored in the memory means are, for each selected wheel: a previous lateral-acceleration input from the corresponding lateral-acceleration-sensing means; and a previous camber input from the corresponding camber-sensing means, wherein the camber of the selected wheel is firstly incrementally altered in a positive or a negative direction, with respect to the previous camber input; the computing means compares for each selected wheel the lateral-acceleration input to the previous lateral-acceleration input; and if the lateral-acceleration input is greater than or equal to the previous lateral-acceleration input, the lateral-acceleration input is stored in the memory as the previous lateral-acceleration input and the computing means provides the camber-output to cause the control means to incrementally alter the camber of the selected wheel in the same direction as firstly altered; and if the lateral-acceleration input is less than the previous lateral-acceleration input, the computing means provides the camber-output to cause the control means to incrementally alter the camber of the selected wheel in a direction opposite to the direction as firstly altered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein, stored in the memory means is, for each selected wheel: a previous body-roll input from the corresponding body-roll-sensing means; wherein the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel of each selected wheel is firstly incrementally varied in a positive or negative direction; the computing means compares for each selected wheel the body-roll input to the previous body-roll input; and if the body-roll input is lesser than or equal to the previous body-roll input, the body-roll input is stored in the memory as the previous body-roll input and the computing means provides a fulcrum-output to cause the positioning means to incrementally vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel in the same direction as firstly varied; and if the body-roll input is greater than the previous body-roll input, the computing means provides a fulcrum-output to cause the positioning means to incrementally vary the position of the variable positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel in a direction opposite to the direction as firstly varied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
253 words
For use in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a suspension system comprising: a plurality of body-roll-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing body-roll input relating to lateral body-roll of the vehicle in a region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of vertical-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling a vertical distance between the particular wheel and a chassis; a computing means which receives the input from each of the body-roll-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a vertical-output to the vertical-control means for controlling the vertical position of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of vertical-acceleration-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing vertical-acceleration input relating to vertical-acceleration of the vehicle in the region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of variable positioned fulcrums, each corresponding to a particular wheel and connected to the chassis by a piston and cylinder, and wherein varying a position of the variable-positioned fulcrum varies an effective spring rate constant of the vehicle corresponding to the particular wheel; a plurality of positioning means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and for varying the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum; the computing means receiving and processing the vertical-acceleration inputs, and computing a forced vibrational input over time for at least one selected wheel; and the computer means providing a fulcrum-output to the positioning means corresponding to the selected wheel to vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
253 words
For use in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a suspension system comprising: a plurality of body-roll-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing body-roll input relating to lateral body-roll of the vehicle in a region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of vertical-control means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and controlling a vertical distance between the particular wheel and a chassis; a computing means which receives the input from each of the body-roll-sensing means, processes the inputs corresponding to at least one selected wheel, and provides a vertical-output to the vertical-control means for controlling the vertical position of the at least one selected wheel; a plurality of vertical-acceleration-sensing means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and determining and providing vertical-acceleration input relating to vertical-acceleration of the vehicle in the region proximate the particular wheel; a plurality of variable positioned fulcrums, each corresponding to a particular wheel and connected to the chassis by a piston and cylinder, and wherein varying a position of the variable-positioned fulcrum varies an effective spring rate constant of the vehicle corresponding to the particular wheel; a plurality of positioning means, each corresponding to a particular wheel and for varying the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum; the computing means receiving and processing the vertical-acceleration inputs, and computing a forced vibrational input over time for at least one selected wheel; and the computer means providing a fulcrum-output to the positioning means corresponding to the selected wheel to vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
178 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein, stored in the memory means is, for each selected wheel: a previous body-roll input from the corresponding body-roll-sensing means; wherein the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel of each selected wheel is firstly incrementally varied in a positive or negative direction; the computing means compares for each selected wheel the body-roll input to the previous body-roll input; and if the body-roll input is lesser than or equal to the previous body-roll input, the body-roll input is stored in the memory as the previous body-roll input and the computing means provides a fulcrum-output to cause the positioning means to incrementally vary the position of the variable-positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel in the same direction as firstly varied; and if the body-roll input is greater than the previous body-roll input, the computing means provides a fulcrum-output to cause the positioning means to incrementally vary the position of the variable positioned fulcrum corresponding to the selected wheel in a direction opposite to the direction as firstly varied.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-19 | 1991-04-20 | 1991-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-19 | 1995-04-20 | 1995-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-19 | 1999-04-20 | 1999-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |