Spring devices – Vehicle – Comprising compressible fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-10-02
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Vehicle
Comprising compressible fluid
C280S124106
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296235
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and assemblies for stabilization of automobiles during cornering. More particularly, this invention relates to such apparatus adapted for accomplishing such stabilization through transferral of pressure forces exerted upon outside wheels upon cornering to inside wheels upon cornering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The chassis and body of an automobile typically experiences a rolling motion upon cornering, such motion typically leaning the chassis and body of the automobile away from the direction of the turn. Upon such rolling motion, outside springs and struts of the automobile's suspension are compressed or shortened while inside springs and struts are rarified or lengthened. Such rolling motion of the chassis and body of an automobile upon turning undesirably creates pressure differentials between the inside wheels and outside wheels, resulting in overall decreased cornering traction. Also, such rolling motion upon cornering may undesirably shift the vehicle's center of gravity away from its optimum position for cornering.
The instant inventive automobile stabilization assembly counteracts such undesirable rolling motion upon cornering by modifying conventional wheel motion dampers (i.e., shock absorbers) of an automobile to additionally serve as two way hydraulic rams. Hydraulic lines laterally interconnect such modified dampers so that upon steering the automobile through a turn, compressive forces exerted upon outside wheel damper cause the inside wheel damper to move the inside wheels upwardly with respect to the chassis, leveling the automobile through the turn.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant inventive automobile stabilization assembly preferably comprises four modified wheel motion dampers. According to the invention, the hydraulic fluid reservoirs of the dampers are preferably laterally divided by an interior partitioning wall so that pistons having motion damping channels therethrough may underlie the partitioning walls and so that the piston shafts of the dampers may extend upwardly from such pistons through closely fitted piston shaft receiving apertures within the partitioning walls.
Above the partitioning walls, and within the upper chambers defined thereby, second pistons, preferably imperforate, are fixedly attached to the piston shafts so that, as the piston shafts move longitudinally with respect to their cylinders, the imperforate pistons slidably move within the cylinders. Such sliding motion effectively drives and draws hydraulic fluid in the manner of a two way hydraulic ram. Preferably, the piston shafts extend upwardly from the upper surfaces of the imperforate pistons to extend through closely fitted piston shaft receiving apertures extending through the upper walls of the cylinders. Suitably, the two way hydraulic rams may be situated in parallel configurations with respect to the dampers. However, utilization of the above described in-line configuration is preferable due to reduction in mechanical complexity, space economy, and cost economy resulting from use of the in-line configuration.
In order to allow motion of the piston shafts within modified wheel motion dampers, hydraulic fluid exchange ports preferably extend through the cylinder walls, above and below the imperforate pistons. Preferably, each hydraulic fluid exchange port is adapted for fixed attachment of a hydraulic line or tube.
In installing the inventive assembly upon an automobile, assuming the preferred in-line configuration is utilized, the conventional wheel motion dampers of all four wheels are preferably replaced with dampers modified as described above. Hydraulic lines are preferably installed, such lines preferably laterally interconnecting both the front and rear pairs of modified dampers so that each lower hydraulic fluid exchange port may transmit hydraulic fluid to the upper hydraulic fluid exchange port of the laterally opposing damper.
Preferably, the flow of hydraulic fluid through the laterally crossing hydraulic lines is controlled by pilot actuated check valves, such valves delaying the onset of flow of hydraulic fluid in a line experiencing low pressure while the opposing line is at a relative high pressure.
It is also preferable that floating piston gas cushion cylinders be utilized in the assembly, each such cylinder having hydraulic fluid on one side of the floating piston and having compressed nitrogen gas on the other side of the piston. It is preferable that such floating piston cylinders be utilized for relieving excess pressure both above and below the imperforate pistons within the upper chambers of the left and right cylinders. Utilization of such floating piston cylinders provides an overall spring or cushioning effect to the assembly; and such cylinders assure a period of hydraulic fluid pressure differential between the crossing hydraulic lines interconnecting the left and right cylinders.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile stabilization assembly having wheel motion dampers which work in conjunction with two way hydraulic rams for leveling an automobile through a turn.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an assembly having laterally crossing hydraulic lines for converting outside wheel compression forces into inside wheel pulling forces.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an assembly having floating piston gas cushion cylinders for relieving and cushioning hydraulic pressure and assuring a pressure differential between the laterally crossing hydraulic lines.
Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.
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Butler Douglas C.
Davis & Jack, L.L.C.
Jack Kenneth H.
Pezzlo Benjamin A
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