Patent ID: 7770902
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
1. An in-arm suspension for supporting a frame, comprising: a stator mounted to the frame, said stator including a mounting flange having a mounting boss, and an outer pivot plate fixedly secured to said mounting boss of said mounting flange to fixedly secure said outer pivot plate to said mounting flange: said mounting flange and said outer pivot plate each having circumferentially extending stator surfaces disposed in opposed relation, with said stator surface of said mounting flange spaced apart from said stator surface of said outer pivot plate; a suspension arm defining a housing having a first housing end a second housing end, with said first housing end having two circumferentially extending housing surfaces disposed in registration on opposite sides of said housing, and said second housing end secured to a spindle, with said spindle spaced apart from said housing surfaces: a first bearing and a second bearing adapted for securing between respective ones of said housing surfaces and said stator surfaces to rotatably secure said housing to said mounting flange and said outer pivot plate, with respective ones of said housing surfaces disposed in opposed relation to corresponding ones of said stator surfaces with said bearings disposed therebetween; a compressible fluid strut mounted within said housing of said suspension arm, said compressible fluid strut having a cylinder and a piston rod, wherein said piston rod is urged to move from within said cylinder in response to pressure applied to a compressible fluid disposed within said cylinder, wherein a first strut end of said compressible fluid strut is secured to said housing and a second strut end is secured to said stator, with at least one of said first and second strut ends spaced apart from at least one of a corresponding one of a central axis of said stator and a central axis of said spindle; and a fluid control section disposed within said housing of said suspension arm, said fluid control section having a fluid reservoir, a manifold, a pump and a pump motor, and including valves for selectively operating to actively control flow of said compressible fluid into and out of said compressible fluid strut.