Dynamic steering stabilizer device for vehicles

An apparatus for stabilizing the steering of a vehicle, comprising:

• (a) a device having:
• (1) a proximal end (12) connectable to a fixed part of a vehicle,
• (2) a distal end (16) connectable to a movable part of a steering mechanism of the vehicle, and
• (3) a housing having a proximal end (22) connected to proximal end (12) of the device, a distal end (24), and a sidewall which forms a cavity with a longitudinal axis, the distal end (24) including a plurality of off-center orifices (34) having a diameter (36) and spaced equiangularly around the longitudinal axis;
• (b) a control mechanism structured to maintain the device in an equilibrium configuration wherein the vehicle normally travels unassistedly along a straightaway, the control mechanism including:
• (1) a gas spring having a rod portion with a distal end (50) and a cylinder portion having a peripheral groove with a retainer,
• (2) a first member having a central orifice (80) slidably surrounding the cylinder portion of the gas spring and structured to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis, and off-center orifices (86) with diameter (88) aligned with orifices (34) of the distal end of the housing,
• (3) a second member secured to distal end (50) of the rod portion and structured to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the second member including a plurality of off-center orifices (96) aligned with, and having a diameter (88) which is smaller than diameter (36) of, orifices (34) of the distal end of the housing,
• (4) a plurality of displacement rods having a proximal end and a distal end connecting the first member to distal end (16) of the device and having a diameter (106) smaller than diameter (88) of the first and second members and respectively aligned with orifices (34) of the distal end of the housing, each proximal end extending through a respective orifice (82) of the first member and threadably mated with a fastener wherein the first member is normally sandwiched between the retainer and the fasteners, and
• (5) a sleeve surrounding each displacement rod and normally extending from the second member to the distal end (16) of the device in the equilibrium configuration, each sleeve having a diameter (128) which is greater than diameter (88) of orifices (96) of the second member but smaller than diameter (36) of the distal end of the housing;
• and
• (c) a centering mechanism structured to maintain the gas spring in alignment with the longitudinal axis;
• (d) wherein, as driving conditions cause the device to be extended from the equilibrium configuration, the first member and the cylinder portion are displaced toward the second member whereupon the gas spring is activated thereby responsively and automatically urging the device to return to the equilibrium configuration, and as driving conditions cause the device to be compressed from the equilibrium configuration, the second member and the rod portion are displaced toward the first member whereupon the gas spring is activated thereby responsively and automatically urging the device to return to the equilibrium configuration.