Fluid controlled steering stabilizer
OwnerTodd E. Brayinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid controlled steering stabilizer is provided, comprising a cylindrical housing having a head end and a sealed butt end attachable to a steerable lift axle. A center member divides the interior of the housing into two chambers. A floating piston is provided within the butt end chamber, and a rod piston having a piston rod extending at one end through the otherwise sealed head end is provided in the head end chamber. The piston rod slidably extends through a hole in the rod piston to contact the floating piston, and the exposed end of the rod piston is attached to a tie rod. Means for providing fluid into the chambers force the pistons toward the center member and place the stabilizer in a positive centered position.
Claims17
A fluid controlled steering stabilizer for a non-steerable axle of a vehicle having a tie rod associated with said axle comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) first and second chambers formed within said housing;
- (c) a first piston freely slidable within said first chamber of said housing;
- (d) a second piston freely slidably within said second chamber of said housing and having a hole through its center;
- (e) a piston rod slidably extending through said hole of said second piston having a first end extending through said housing at a first end for connecting said piston rod to an axle or tie rod and a second end capable of contacting said first piston;
- (f) means for providing fluid to said chambers for maintaining said first piston and said second piston toward the center of said housing to inhibit movement of said axle relative to said tie rod;
- (g) means for connecting the remaining end of said housing to the remaining one of said axle or tie rod;
- (h) a snap ring provided in a radially extending snap ring groove located at the approximate centerpoint of said housing between said first piston and said second piston to provide a positive centerpoint to said stabilizer;
- and
- (i) a check valve located in a breather hole entering said housing at said snap ring groove for allowing excess fluid to pass out of said housing.
An air controlled steering stabilizer for the non-steerable axle of a vehicle having a tie rod associated with said axle comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) first and second chambers formed within said housing;
- (c) a first piston freely slidable within said first chamber of said housing;
- (d) a second piston freely slidable within said second chamber of said housing and having a hole through its center;
- (e) a piston rod slidably extending through said hole of said second piston having a first end extending through said housing at a first end for connecting said piston rod to an axle or tie rod and a second end capable of contacting said first piston;
- (f) means for providing air from an air source provided on said vehicle to said chambers for maintaining said first piston and said second piston toward the center of said housing to inhibit movement of said axle relative to said tie rod;
- (g) means for connecting the remaining end of said housing to the remaining one of said axle or tie rod;
- (h) a snap ring provided in a radially extending snap ring groove located at the approximate centerpoint of said housing between said first piston and said second piston to provide a positive centerpoint to said stabilizer;
- and
- (i) a check valve located in a breather hole entering said housing at said snap ring groove for allowing excess air to pass out of said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.