Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2002-05-14
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124178, C280S124170, C280S124175
Reexamination Certificate
active
06386565
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a system for enhancing the traction performance of vehicles, e.g., automobiles, and more particularly, to a system that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of traction performance, particularly during vehicle acceleration.
2. Background Art
Devices and/or systems for enhancing traction between the wheels of a motor vehicle and a road surface have been developed and marketed in the automotive field. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,523 to Valerio describes an effective system for improved traction for a rear wheel drive vehicle. Indeed, a device/system according to the Valerio '523 patent has been manufactured and marketed for several years by Competition Engineering, a division of Moroso Performance, the assignee of the present disclosure.
As described in the Valerio '523 patent, during pronounced vehicle acceleration, e.g., in drag racing, the forces on the rear spring and the rapid acceleration of the wheels result in decreased contact of the rear wheels with the road surface, thereby causing wheel hopping and/or inadequate traction due to less than optimum transfer of weight to the vehicle's rear wheels. The Valerio '523 system improved upon the standard traction bar that is typically secured to the rear axle housing and spring for each rear wheel by providing an innovative telescopic tubular assembly that could be advantageously deployed between the rear axle housing of the vehicle and the rear leaf spring.
More particularly, the Valerio '523 system provided a first member pivotally mounted to rear axle housing by a bracket assembly (inner member
3
) and a second member pivotally mounted to the leaf spring by a second bracket assembly (outer member
6
). An elastomeric member
10
is advantageously deployed between a pair of flanges (flanges
7
and
8
) to absorb shock and transmit forces during operation of the Valerio '523 device. In the pictured Valerio embodiment, flange
8
extends from outer member
6
, whereas flange
7
extends from a further outer member
5
. Outer member
5
is advantageously fixed relative to inner member
3
by through bolt
12
that extends through aperture
33
. Thus, inner member
3
and outer member
5
are adapted for conjoint movement. Inner member
3
extends within outer member
6
for a distance sufficient to ensure that members
3
and
6
remain in cooperative relation once mounted to a vehicle.
The elastomeric member
10
provided by the Valerio '532 patent is disclosed to have an endless band construction and be fabricated form a relatively hard material, e.g., rubber having a durometer of 65-70. As disclosed in the Valerio '532 patent, utilization of an elastomeric member having the disclosed “durometer, width and length [provides] sufficient movement of the outer member
6
and adequate cushioning whereby the forces exerted on the connection between the first outer member
5
and inner member
3
as well as of the connections between the inner member
3
and the outer member
6
and their respective mountings to the vehicle during acceleration to provide sufficient compression to the elastomeric member
10
and proper distribution of the area of shock, combined with relative movement of the outer member
6
on the inner member
3
, to minimize damage to the device when in operation.” The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,523 to Valerio are incorporated herein by reference.
A further product directed to improved traction for motor vehicles is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,092 to Calvert and is commercially available from Calvert Racing (Lancaster, Calif.). The “Cal-Tracs System” includes a rear support assembly bolted adjacent to a leaf spring opposite to a rear axle, a front support assembly pivotally attached to a front end of the leaf spring, and a rigid link which extends between and is attached to both the front and rear support assemblies at locations spaced from the leaf spring. The front support assembly includes a pair of generally triangular plates wherein a bolt is provided at each apex to connect the plates. A first upper bolt extends through a front spring eye of the leaf spring to provide a pivot axis for the front support assembly. A second upper bolt is positioned to extend across an upper surface of the leaf spring at a location spaced rearwardly from the front spring eye, to limit pivotal movement of the front support assembly relative to the leaf spring. A third bolt extends between the plates at a lower end thereof to secure a front end of the rigid link. This rigid link includes an elongated link tube or bar having eye connectors threaded into the front and rear ends thereof. The eye connectors have opposite threads relative to one another such that rotation of the elongated bar about its longitudinal axis changes the overall length of the rigid link.
Despite the efforts to date in improving traction performance of vehicles, particularly the positive attributes associated with the Valerio '523 traction design and the commercial product based thereon, several opportunities for improved performance and use are apparent. In particular, improved ease of adjustment of the transaction device, e.g., to address specific road and/or track conditions is desirable. In addition, improved shock absorption and translation of forces by the traction device are desired. In improving the system performance, e.g., in translating forces for improved traction, it is essential that the overall system operate without failure or fatigue. These and other objectives are met by the traction device of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The system of the present disclosure is designed for use in automotive applications desiring superior traction performance. The system finds particular utility within rear wheel drive vehicles adapted for racing, e.g., Stock Eliminator and Bracket Racing vehicles. However, the presently disclosed system may be advantageously employed in non-racing vehicles to gain the superior performance characteristics enabled thereby.
In a first preferred embodiment of the traction system of the present disclosure, a system for enhancing vehicle traction is provided that includes a first tube assembly defining a first stop flange and a second tube assembly defining a second stop flange. The second tube assembly is advantageously disposed in part within the first tube assembly. In addition, the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly are mounted with respect to a vehicle such that the first tube assembly and the second tube assembly are slidably movable with respect to each other.
A shock pad is also provided that is movably positioned on at least one of the tube assemblies. The shock pad is positioned between the first stop flange and the second stop flange, and is optimally fabricated at least in part from a urethane material. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shock pad is fabricated from a urethane material having a Shore durometer of about 95A. Alternative shock pads are also contemplated, e.g., wherein the shock pad includes a metal tube positioned between said urethane material and tube assembly. In the case of a metal tube within the shock pad, it is contemplated that the urethane material would define a first length of the shock pad and the metal tube would define a length shorter than the urethane's length. In further contemplated embodiments, the shock pad would be fabricated from a plurality of materials, each material having a differing Shore durometer, and/or the shock pad would have a geometry selected from geometries such as a cylinder, cone and hour glass-shape.
In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for enhancing vehicle traction of a vehicle is provided which includes first tube assembly defining a first stop flange and a second tube assembly defining a second stop flange. The second tube assembly is disposed in part within the first tube assembly and the two tube assemblies are mounted with respect to the vehi
Culbreth Eric
Cummings & Lockwood
Moroso Performance
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