Patent ID: 8540257

Claim:
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, and a distal end ( 16 ) connectable to a movable part of a steering mechanism of the vehicle, and (2) 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; (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 cylinder portion and a rod portion with a distal end ( 50 ), (2) a first member connected to the cylinder portion and structured to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis, and (3) a second member secured to distal end ( 50 ) of the rod portion and structured to be displaceable along the longitudinal axis; 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.