Patent ID: 6637757
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
In a stabilizer bar assembly for a vehicle having a pair of laterally-spaced wheels, the stabilizer bar assembly having first and second stabilizer bar members and a clutch assembly, the first stabilizer bar member adapted to be coupled to a first one of the pair of laterally-spaced wheels, the second stabilizer bar member adapted to be coupled to a second one of the pair of laterally-spaced wheels, the clutch assembly coupled to the first and second stabilizer bar members, the clutch assembly having a switch and an electrically-powered actuator that is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle power source, the electrically-powered actuator being responsive to a first control signal, the first control signal causing the electrically-powered actuator to uncouple the first and second stabilizer bar members to permit the first and second stabilizer bar members to rotate independently of one another, and the electrically-powered actuator being responsive to a second control signal, the second control signal causing the electrically-powered actuator to couple the first and second stabilizer bar members for rotation with one another, the switch receiving power from vehicle power source and selectively generating the first and second control signals, the improvement comprising a reserve powering apparatus for powering the electrically-powered actuator, the reserve powering apparatus including:a power storage device coupled to the electrically-powered actuator and providing a supplemental source of electrical power; and a switching device coupled to the vehicle power source and the power storage device, the switching device being responsive to a failure of the vehicle power source to transmit electrical power to the switching device, the switching device electrically coupling the electrically-powered actuator to the power storage device in response to the failure such that electrical power from the supplemental source of electrical power is employed by the electrically-powered actuator to couple the first and second stabilizer bar members for rotation with one another when the vehicle power source fails to transmit electrical power to the switching device.