Roll bumper stabilizer bar links

Abstract

A vehicle suspension is provided that includes a frame supporting a pair of laterally spaced apart suspension members pivotally supported on the frame and movable in a vertical direction. Each of a pair of wheel ends is supported respectively on one of the suspension members. A stabilizer bar is supported on the frame laterally between the suspension members. The stabilizer bar includes opposing ends each respectively proximate one of the suspension members. Each of a pair of resilient stabilizer bar links respectively interconnects one of the ends and one of the suspension members and transmits torsional force to the stabilizer bar in response to movement of the suspension members in the vertical direction during roll conditions. The links have first and second deflection rates during the roll condition with the first rate being less than the second deflection rate. The links transition from the first deflection rate to the second deflection rate and from the second deflection rate to an effective zero deflection rate.

1 . A vehicle suspension system comprising: 
 a frame;    a pair of laterally spaced apart suspension members pivotally supported on the frame and movable in a vertical direction;    a stabilizer bar supported on the frame laterally between the suspension members, the stabilizer bar including opposing stabilizer bar ends each respectively proximate to one of the suspension members; and    a pair of stabilizer bar links each respectively interconnecting one of the opposing stabilizer bar ends and one of the suspension members and transmitting a torsional force to the stabilizer bar in response to movement of the suspension members in the vertical direction during a roll condition, each of the pair of stabilizer bar links having a fluid with a viscosity that is selectively variable in order to change a damping rate.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of stabilizer bar links includes opposing link ends, with one of the opposing link ends secured to one of the opposing stabilizer bar ends and the other of the opposing link ends secured to one of the suspension members.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of stabilizer bar links includes a housing connected to one of the opposing link ends and a piston connected to the other of the opposing link ends, the housing defining a fluid cavity containing the fluid, the piston disposed in the fluid cavity, the piston separating the fluid cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The vehicle suspension system of  claim 3  wherein the piston includes an orifice fluidly connecting the first chamber and the second chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a magneto-rheological fluid  
   
   
       6 . The vehicle suspension system of  claim 5  further including an electromagnetic field source for generating an electromagnetic field to control the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid.  
   
   
       7 . The vehicle suspension system according to  claim 1  wherein a controller is connected to a magnetic source cooperating with the fluid, the controller controlling the magnetic source in order to change the viscosity of the fluid.  
   
   
       8 . The vehicle suspension system according to  claim 7 , wherein an accelerometer is connected to the controller to provide a vehicle rate of roll signal to the controller, the controller controlling the magnetic source to change the viscosity of the fluid based upon the vehicle rate of roll signal.  
   
   
       9 . A method of providing driver feedback during vehicle roll maneuvers comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a stabilizer bar attached to a suspension member by a stabilizer bar link, the stabilizer bar link having a fluid with a selectively variable viscosity;    b) effecting a first viscosity of the fluid during a first vehicle roll; and    c) effecting a second viscosity of the fluid during a second vehicle roll, the first viscosity greater than the second viscosity.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said steps b) and c) are performed by altering a magnetic field in which the fluid is at least partially disposed.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further including the step of measuring acceleration and effecting the first viscosity of the fluid in said step b) based upon the acceleration.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the second viscosity is effected in said step c) based upon the acceleration.  
   
   
       13 . A stabilizer bar link assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a first connection area;    a magneto-rheological fluid in the housing; and    a piston having a first end disposed within the housing and a second end having a second connection area.    
   
   
       14 . The stabilizer bar link assembly of  claim 13  wherein the housing defines a fluid cavity divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by the piston.  
   
   
       15 . The stabilizer bar link assembly of  claim 14  wherein the piston includes an orifice providing fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The stabilizer bar link assembly of  claim 15  further including a magnetic source generating a magnetic field in which the fluid is at least partially disposed.