Opposing or Counter Spring (Bi-Linear) Suspension Technology for Optimum Vehicle Dynamic Roll Control Without Computers 2002-01-1604
There are about 80 million high CG Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and Pickup trucks registered for use on the USA highways today. These vehicles are mostly equipped with traditional Leaf or Coil spring suspension systems that have not basically changed in application methods for decades. The recent introduction of computer control for yaw and pitch and speed through interaction with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) has made contemporary SUV's safer. But millions of existing vehicles suspension systems have now become seriously outdated.
Opposing springs suspension stabilization is a new Patented method intended to reduce vehicle rollover propensity and improve stability. It works by controlling suspension rebound travel, utilizing the vehicle un-sprung weight as a counterweight to minimize the initial roll of the body during cornering or evasive maneuvers. It is inexpensive to deploy for OEM use on new vehicles and perhaps just as important, its simplicity makes it easy to supply as a kit for retrofit on “high risk of rollover” vehicles like 15 passenger vans.
Opposing or “Counter” springing can eliminate the need for anti-roll/sway bars in vehicles and its characteristics will increase the life of shock absorbers. It is effective for helping to control the vehicle ride height, plus it will reduce pitch due to heavy braking. We believe it can also be applied to reduce axle hop of heavy trailer axles when unloaded, thus reducing road surface damage due to unloaded axle “chatter” or hop.
Citation: Bryant, P., "Opposing or Counter Spring (Bi-Linear) Suspension Technology for Optimum Vehicle Dynamic Roll Control Without Computers," SAE Technical Paper 2002-01-1604, 2002, https://doi.org/10.4271/2002-01-1604. Download Citation
Author(s):
Peter E. Bryant
Affiliated:
AMTECH Corporation
Pages: 9
Event:
SAE 2002 Automotive Dynamics & Stability Conference and Exhibition
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
Proceedings of the 2002 SAE Automotive Dynamics and Stability Conference-P-377
Related Topics:
Dampers and shock absorbers
Anti-lock braking
Suspension systems
Vehicle ride
Light trucks
Springs
Roll
Pitch
Axles
Yaw
SAE MOBILUS
Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content.
Learn More »
