US5437354A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tilt control apparatus for vehicles
Assignee: CLOUD FARM ASSOCIATES
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Filing: 1994-02-10
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2014-02-10
Abstract
Abstract In a vehicle having a transverse axle and a body, and a shock absorber mounted between the axle and the body to absorb shock from vertical movement of the axle and prevent shock from being transmitted completely to the body, the improvement disclosed involves apparatus for sensing tilt of the axle in combination with separate hydraulic system to prevent further tilt of the axle beyond a predetermined point sensed by the sensing unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Stewart G. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/005; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; B60G17/01908; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/06; F16F9/32; F16F9/34; F16F9/44; F16F9/46; F16F9/50; F16F9/512; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/11; B60G2204/113; B60G2204/114; B60G2204/115; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/104; B60G2400/40; B60G2400/41; B60G2400/412; B60G2401/00; B60G2401/14; B60G2401/144; B60G2401/20; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/20; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/70; B60G2800/702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a vehicle having an interior and an exterior, a transverse axle and a body, and being subject to swaying and tilting when the vehicle turns a corner or is driven around a curve, the improvement which comprises an apparatus for limiting the swaying and tilting movement of said vehicle comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, a chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid and having an upper end and a lower end; a movable piston sealing the lower end of said chamber, attached to said transverse axle; the upper end of the chamber being closed and attached to said body of the vehicle; a plate within said chamber having a substantially central opening separating said fluid within the chamber into a lower portion and an upper portion; movable sealing means within said chamber and when activated seals said central opening; means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening; means for sensing the tilting movement of said vehicle, electrically combined with means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening when the sensing means is activated at a predetermined tilt position of the body to prevent flow of said fluid from the lower portion of the chamber into the upper portion of the chamber and thus prevent tilting of the frame or body of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a vehicle having an interior and an exterior, a transverse axle and a body, and being subject to swaying and tilting when the vehicle turns a corner or is driven around a curve, the improvement which comprises an apparatus for limiting the swaying and tilting movement of said vehicle comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, a chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid and having an upper end and a lower end; a movable piston sealing the lower end of said chamber, attached to said transverse axle; the upper end of the chamber being closed and attached to said body of the vehicle; a plate within said chamber having a substantially central opening separating said fluid within the chamber into a lower portion and an upper portion; movable sealing means within said chamber and when activated seals said central opening; means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening; means for sensing the tilting movement of said vehicle, electrically combined with means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening when the sensing means is activated at a predetermined tilt position of the body to prevent flow of said fluid from the lower portion of the chamber into the upper portion of the chamber and thus prevent tilting of the frame or body of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an electrical switch controlled by the tilt of said sensing means is included for energizing electromagnetic means to move said sealing means to seal said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 comprising chambers partially filled with hydraulic fluid on both sides of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 including electromagnetic means for operating said sealing means within each chamber and means including an electrical switch controlled by the tilt of said sensing means for energizing said electromagnetic means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 where the means for sensing the tilting movement of the vehicle is a horizontal tube transverse to and attached to the body of the vehicle and containing electrically conductive material adapted to flow within the tube depending on the tilt of the vehicle and to complete an electrical circuit at each end of the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the curvature of the tube is adjustable by vertical movement of a solid object against the horizontal tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said solid object is an adjustable screw adapted to press against said tube, the vertical movement of said screw being controlled by a motor electrically activated by a switch in the interior of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for a vehicle having a transverse axle and a body comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, a chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid and a movable piston at one end of said chamber, attached to said transverse axle; the other end of the chamber being attached to said body of the vehicle; a plate within said chamber having at least one opening separating the fluid within the chamber into two portions; movable sealing means within said chamber when activated seals, said at least one opening; means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening; means for sensing the tilting movement of said vehicle, combined with means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening when the sensing means is activated at a set tilt position of the body to prevent flow of said fluid from one portion of the chamber into the other portion of the chamber and thus prevent tilting of the body of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for a vehicle having a transverse axle and a body comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, a chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid and a movable piston at one end of said chamber, attached to said transverse axle; the other end of the chamber being attached to said body of the vehicle; a plate within said chamber having at least one opening separating the fluid within the chamber into two portions; movable sealing means within said chamber when activated seals, said at least one opening; means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening; means for sensing the tilting movement of said vehicle, combined with means for moving the sealing means to seal said opening when the sensing means is activated at a set tilt position of the body to prevent flow of said fluid from one portion of the chamber into the other portion of the chamber and thus prevent tilting of the body of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein an electrical switch controlled by the tilt of said sensing means is included for energizing electromagnetic means to move said sealing means to seal said opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 comprising chamber partially filled with hydraulic fluid on both sides of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein an electrical switch controlled by the tilt of said sensing means is included for energizing electromagnetic means to move said sealing means to seal said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 where the means for sensing the tilting movement of the vehicle is a horizontal tube transverse to and attached to the body of the vehicle and containing electrically conductive material adapted to flow within the tube depending on the tilt of the vehicle and to complete an electrical circuit at each end of the tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the curvature of the tube is adjustable by vertical movement of a solid object against the horizontal tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said vehicle has an interior and an exterior and said solid object is an adjustable screw adapted to press against said tube, the vertical movement of said screw being controlled by a motor electrically activated by a switch in the interior of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein completion of said electrical circuit at each end of the tube is accomplished through a mercury switch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, a transverse axle and a body comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, means comprising a chamber having two portions partially filled with hydraulic fluid; a movable piston at one end of and within said chamber and attached to one of said structural elements; the other end of the chamber being attached to the other of said structural elements of the vehicle; means within said chamber to separate said fluid within the chamber into two portions; means for sensing the tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element; sealing means within said chamber and, when activated by said means for sensing tilting, to prevent any flow of said fluid from one portion to the other portion of the chamber, and, thus, prevent tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for a vehicle having at least the following two structural elements, a transverse axle and a body comprising, on at least one side of the vehicle, means comprising a chamber having two portions partially filled with hydraulic fluid; a movable piston at one end of and within said chamber and attached to one of said structural elements; the other end of the chamber being attached to the other of said structural elements of the vehicle; means within said chamber to separate said fluid within the chamber into two portions; means for sensing the tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element; sealing means within said chamber and, when activated by said means for sensing tilting, to prevent any flow of said fluid from one portion to the other portion of the chamber, and, thus, prevent tilting of one of said structural elements toward said other structural element.
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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) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |