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US 11,912,095 B1Granted
Suspension system with rotation inducing component
AssigneeZoox, Inc.
InventorJohannes Edren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system includes a rotation inducing member for causing a cylinder to rotate relative to piston rod in response to an axially-applied force. In examples, the rotation inducing member may be embodied as a bushing structure. In other examples, the cylinder and/or the piston rod may include the rotation inducing member. The inducement of rotational motion may help overcome stiction or similar frictional forces between the piston rod and the cylinder.
Claims20
A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
- a cylinder coupled to a wheel;
- a piston rod disposed at least partially in the cylinder and extending from the cylinder along an axial direction to a distal end, the piston rod being configured to move relative to the cylinder;
- a seal between the cylinder and the piston rod;
- and
- a bushing structure coupled to the distal end of the piston rod, the bushing structure having a first end coupled to the distal end of the rod and a second end spaced from the first end along the axial direction, the bushing structure being configured such that a change in a load applied generally along the axial direction causes the first end of the bushing structure to rotate relative to the second end of the bushing structure, such that the piston rod rotates relative to the cylinder to overcome a static friction force at the seal.
2 more elements
A suspension system comprising:
- a cylinder extending along an axis;
- a piston rod disposed at least partially in the cylinder and extending from the cylinder, along the axis, to a distal end, the piston rod being configured to move relative to the cylinder;
- a seal between the cylinder and the piston rod;
- and
- a rotation inducing component configured to, under a change in axial loading, cause the piston rod to rotate relative to the cylinder, about the axis, rotation of the piston rod relative to the cylinder at least in part overcoming a friction force between the seal and one of the piston rod or the cylinder.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel;
- and
- a suspension system coupled to the frame and to the wheel, the suspension system comprising:
- a cylinder extending along an axis;
- a piston rod disposed at least partially in the cylinder and extending from the cylinder, along the axis, to a distal end, the piston rod being configured to move relative to the cylinder;
- and
- a rotation inducing component configured to, under a change in axial loading, cause the piston rod to rotate relative to the cylinder to overcome a friction force at a seal between the piston rod and the cylinder.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.