公开(公告)号：US10807434B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US16066161

申请日：2017-01-06

Applicant: Multimatic Inc.

Inventor： Laurence J Holt ,  Damian O'Flynn

IPC: B60G17/027 ,  B60G11/50 ,  B60G7/00

Abstract: A selectively switchable dual rate vehicle suspension system comprising a pushrod actuated inboard spring configuration, conventionally oriented between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass of one corner of the vehicle, comprising a torsion bar spring of a first predetermined rate, K1, and a coil spring of a second predetermined rate, K2, arranged in series so as to provide a total combined spring rate KT. A lockout actuator is arranged in parallel with the coil spring and configured so that in a first mode it allows the coil spring to move freely and in a second mode prevents motion of the coil spring such that when the lockout actuator is in a first, unlocked, mode the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation 1/KT=1/K1+1/K2, and when the lockout actuator is in a second, locked, mode the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is substantially higher as defined by KT=K1, thus selectively providing both a low rate, optimal ride comfort setting and a high rate, optimal handling setting.

公开(公告)号：US20190009632A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-10

申请号：US16066161

申请日：2017-01-06

Applicant: Multimatic, Inc.

Inventor： Laurence J Holt ,  Damian O'Flynn

IPC: B60G17/027 ,  B60G7/00 ,  B60G11/50

Abstract: A selectively switchable dual rate vehicle suspension system comprising a pushrod actuated inboard spring configuration, conventionally oriented between the unsprung mass and the sprung mass of one corner of the vehicle, comprising a torsion bar spring of a first predetermined rate, K1, and a coil spring of a second predetermined rate, K2, arranged in series so as to provide a total combined spring rate KT. A lockout actuator is arranged in parallel with the coil spring and configured so that in a first mode it allows the coil spring to move freely and in a second mode prevents motion of the coil spring such that when the lockout actuator is in a first, unlocked, mode the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation 1/KT=1/K1+1/K2, and when the lockout actuator is in a second, locked, mode the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is substantially higher as defined by KT=K1, thus selectively providing both a low rate, optimal ride comfort setting and a high rate, optimal handling setting.