Apparatus, system and method for a vehicle suspension system
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael L. Oliver, William C. Kruckemeyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system comprising a damper having a lower mount end and an upper mount end and a spring having a lower end and an upper end positioned around the damper. The spring and the damper have a common central axis. An adjustment assembly is operably attached at the lower mount end of the damper and the lower end of the spring is operably attached to and supported by the adjustment assembly thereby allowing the position of the lower end of the spring to continuously vary along the central axis of the damper. The method comprising supporting a lower end of a spring positioned around a damper and moving the end of the spring for adjusting vehicle ride height.
Claims18
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a damper having a lower mount end and an upper mount end;
- a spring having a lower end and an upper end, the spring positioned around the damper, the spring and the damper having a common central axis;
- an adjustment assembly operably attached at the lower mount end of the damper and supporting the lower end of the spring,
- the adjustment assembly comprising
- a housing;
- a ring gear positioned within and supporting the housing, the ring gear having a worm threaded outer surface and a threaded inner surface;
- a sleeve including a threaded outer portion engaged with the threaded inner surface of the ring gear;
- an adjuster rod including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, the threaded portion for engaging with the worm threaded outer surface of the ring gear, wherein rotation of the adjuster rod laterally moves the ring gear with respect to the sleeve, within the housing;
- a sleeve support positioned at one end of the sleeve to hold the sleeve within the housing;
- and
- a retaining ring positioned within a groove in the damper to anchor the sleeve support to the damper,
- wherein movement of the adjustment assembly in a first direction lengthens the spring and movement of the adjustment assembly in a second direction shortens the spring.
A vehicle suspension system comprising:
- a damper having a lower mount end and an upper mount end;
- a spring having a lower end and an upper end, the spring positioned around the damper, the spring and the damper having a common central axis;
- an adjustment assembly operably attached at the lower mount end of the damper and supporting the lower end of the spring,
- the adjustment assembly comprising
- a housing supporting the lower end of the spring;
- a ring gear positioned within the housing having a worm threaded outer surface and a threaded inner surface;
- a threaded portion at one end of the damper engaged with the threaded inner surface of the ring gear;
- a sleeve support positioned at one end of the housing to hold the ring gear within the housing;
- an adjuster rod including a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion, the threaded portion for engaging with the worm threaded outer surface of the ring gear, wherein rotation of the adjuster rod laterally moves the ring gear with respect to the damper, within the housing;
- and
- a retaining ring positioned within a groove in the damper to anchor the sleeve support to the damper.
A method for adjusting a vehicle suspension system comprising:
- providing a spring positioned around a damper and having a lower end;
- supporting the lower end of a spring against a housing;
- moving the lower end of the spring for adjusting vehicle ride height;
- said moving comprising:
- rotating an adjuster rod;
- transferring rotation of the adjuster rod to a ring gear;
- moving the ring gear linearly relative to a sleeve;
- holding the ring gear and sleeve within the housing;
- supporting the sleeve in fixed relationship relative to the damper;
- and
- transferring linear motion of the ring gear to the housing.
A system for adjusting a vehicle suspension system comprising:
- means comprising a housing for supporting a lower end of a spring positioned around a damper;
- means for moving the lower end of the spring for adjusting vehicle ride height, said means for moving comprising:
- means for rotating an adjuster rod;
- means for transferring rotation of the adjuster rod to a ring gear;
- means for moving the ring gear linearly relative to a sleeve;
- means for holding the ring gear and the sleeve within the housing;
- means for anchoring the sleeve to the damper;
- and
- means for transferring linear motion of the ring gear to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.