# US 11,807,065 B1 · Pivot offset elasto-hydraulic bushing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,807,065 B1 - Document ID: US11807065B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/303,448 - Filed: 2021-05-28 - Granted: 2023-11-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-28 - Assignees: Zoox, Inc. - Applicants: Zoox, Inc. - Inventors: Johannes Edren; Johannes Andreas Huennekens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11807065B1 ## CPC - B60G 7/001: {Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60G 7/02: Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60G 3/04: the arm being essentially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle - B60G 3/12: the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle - B60G 17/015: the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements ({B60G17/002}, B60G17/005 take precedence) - F16C 17/10: for both radial and axial load - B60G 2200/132: with a single trailing arm - B60G 2200/1424: the lateral arm having an L-shape - B60G 2204/143: on the vehicle body or chassis - B60G 2204/1431: of an L-shaped arm - B60G 2204/41: Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings - B60G 2204/41062: hydromounts; interconnected mounts - B60G 2400/82: Ground surface - B60G 2400/823: Obstacle sensing - B60G 2400/824: Travel path sensing; Track monitoring - B60G 2401/142: Visual Display Camera, e.g. LCD - B60G 2401/16: GPS track data - B60G 2401/174: Radar - B60G 2600/20: Manual control or setting means - F16C 2326/05: Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A suspension including one or more elasto-hydraulic bushings that can enable adjustment of the kinematic pivot point. The suspension can include a bushing system having a single buishing or a coupled bushing pair interactively arranged and configured to transform rotational motion into translational motion or vice versa by the expansion and contraction of one or more reservoirs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a vehicle structure; a bushing system coupled to the vehicle structure, the bushing system comprising: a first rigid portion fixed to the vehicle structure; a second rigid portion movable relative to the first rigid portion; and an elastomeric member disposed between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion, the elastomeric member defining a first chamber and a second chamber; and a suspension arm coupled to the second rigid portion; wherein the bushing system is configured such that at least one of: rotation of the suspension arm causes fluid to flow out of the first chamber and into the second chamber thereby causing the suspension arm to translate; or translation of the suspension arm causes fluid to flow out of the second chamber and into the first chamber, thereby causing the suspension arm to rotate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric member comprises a third fluid chamber fluidly connected to a fourth fluid chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, further comprising one or more fluid connections between the first chamber and the third chamber, and one or more fluid connections between the second chamber and the fourth chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a bushing control system configured to control the operation of the bushing system by controlling fluid flow to and from at least the first chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the bushing system is a double-pin bushing system and the second rigid portion comprises a first inner sleeve and a second inner sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the bushing system is a single-pin bushing system wherein the second rigid portion comprises an inner sleeve and further comprising one or more vanes extending from the inner sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, wherein a vane extends into the elastomeric member between the first chamber and the second chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising: a third chamber and a fourth chamber, wherein a first vane extends from the inner sleeve into the elastomeric member between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein a second vane extends from the inner sleeve into the elastomeric member between the second chamber and the fourth chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber and the third chamber being fluidly connected to the fourth chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the bushing system is a single-pin bushing system and the first rigid portion comprises a housing and further comprising one or more vanes extending from the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising: a third chamber and a fourth chamber, wherein a first vane extends from the housing into the elastomeric member between the first chamber and the third chamber, and wherein a second vane extends from the housing into the elastomeric member between the third chamber and the fourth chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber and the third chamber being fluidly connected to the fourth chamber. ### Claim 14 A bushing system comprising: a first rigid portion; a second rigid portion movable relative to the first rigid portion; and an elastomeric member disposed between the first rigid portion and the second rigid portion, the elastomeric member comprising: a first chamber; and a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber; wherein the bushing system is configured such that at least one of: rotation of the second rigid portion causes fluid to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber thereby causing the second rigid portion to translate; or translation of the second rigid portion causes fluid to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber, thereby causing the second rigid portion to rotate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bushing system of claim 14, wherein the elastomeric member comprises a third chamber fluidly connected to a fourth chamber and further comprising one or more fluid connections between the first chamber and the third chamber, and one or more fluid connections between the second chamber and the fourth chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The bushing system of claim 14, wherein the bushing system is a double-pin bushing system wherein: the elastomeric member comprises a first elastic body and a second elastic body separate from the first elastic body; the first rigid portion is a housing surrounding the first elastic body and the second elastic body; the second rigid portion is a first inner sleeve surrounded by the first elastic body; the bushing system further comprising: a second inner sleeve surrounded by the second elastic body; a third chamber; and a fourth chamber fluidly connected to the third chamber, wherein the first chamber and the fourth chamber are embedded in the second elastic body, and the second chamber and the third chamber are embedded in the first elastic body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The bushing system of claim 14, wherein the bushing system is a single-pin bushing system wherein: the first rigid portion comprises a housing; and the second rigid portion comprises an inner sleeve; the bushing system further comprising: one or more vanes extending from the inner sleeve; one or more vanes extending from the housing; a third chamber in the elastomeric member; and a fourth chamber in the elastomeric member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bushing system of claim 17, wherein: a first vane extends from the inner sleeve into the elastomeric member between the first chamber and the second chamber; a second vane extends from the inner sleeve into the elastomeric member between the second chamber and the fourth chamber; a third vane extends from the housing into the elastomeric member between the third chamber and the fourth chamber; and a fourth vane extends from the housing into the elastomeric member between the first chamber and the third chamber. ### Claim 19 A method of transforming a first motion into a second motion comprising: receiving, by a bushing system comprising a first chamber fluidly connected to a second chamber, a first force that is either a translation first force or a rotational first force; causing the first chamber to be compressed in response to receiving the translation force or rotational force; causing the second chamber to expand in response to the first chamber being compressed; imparting, by the bushing system, a second force associated with causing the second chamber to expand, wherein: the second force is a rotational second force if the first force received is the translation first force, and the second force is a translation second force if the first force received is the rotational first force. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling one or more valves in conjunction with causing the first chamber to be compressed and the second chamber to expand.