Ratchet assembly for an adjustable stabilizer bar
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsJeffrey R. Aulerich, Michael A. Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable stabilizer bar assembly includes a housing rotatably mounting a stabilizer bar in a first bore. A second bore in the housing slidably receives an actuation pin. A plurality of dowels are slidably provided between the first and second bores. As the actuation pin is slid into the housing, selected dowels are forced into respective grooves on the stabilizer bar, thereby ratcheting the stabilizer bar toward a limited rotational range. Sensors and a driver may input data to a controller to selectively position the actuation pin, thereby providing a desired degree of roll resistance.
Claims12
An adjustable stabilizer bar assembly for an automotive suspension, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a first bore in the housing rotatably mounting stabilizer bar means;
- (c) a second bore in the housing slidably receiving actuator means;
- and
- (d) a plurality of dowels slidably provided between the first and second bores,
- whereby different ones of the dowels are received in complementary grooves on the stabilizer bar means as the actuator means is slid into the second bore.
A ratchet device for selectively varying the rotation of an automotive stabilizer bar, comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a first bore in the housing rotatably receiving the stabilizer bar, wherein the stabilizer bar includes a plurality of grooves formed on its outer surface;
- (c) a second bore in the housing slidably receiving an actuator means;
- and
- (d) a plurality of dowels slidably arranged between the first and second bores and aligned with grooves of the stabilizer bar,
- whereby different ones of the dowels are received in respective grooves of the stabilizer bar as the actuator means is slid into the second bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.