IP Library Granted Patent US 8,056,392
Granted Patent B2
US 8,056,392 · App. 12/346,502 · Granted Nov 15, 2011

Method, system, and device for optimizing a vehicle's suspension

Assignee: JRI Development Group, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,056,392
App. No.
12/346,502
Granted
Nov 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, and device for optimizing a vehicle's suspension includes: mounting at least one modified passive shock with a plurality of sensors onto a vehicle, where the shock is adjustable for a plurality of damping forces; connecting the shock to an electronic control unit being for adjusting the damping forces of the shock and reading the plurality of sensors; and running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles where the electronic control unit reading the plurality of sensors during each test cycle and adjusting the shock to a different damping force between each test cycle, where the adjusted shock emulating the damping forces of multiple standard passive shocks.

Claims (42)

1. A method for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing at least one passive shock;

modifying each of said passive shocks including:

adding a plurality of sensors to each of said passive shocks; and

adding a spool valve to each of said passive shocks for controlling the opening in the bleed circuit;

whereby each of said modified passive shocks being adjustable for a plurality of damping forces for emulating the damping forces of a standard passive shock;

mounting at least one of said modified passive shocks onto a vehicle;

connecting each said mounted shock to an electronic control unit;

said electronic control unit being for controlling said spool valve for adjusting said damping forces of said shock and reading said plurality of sensors; and

running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles comprising the steps of:

reading said plurality of sensors from each said shock with said electronic control unit during each test cycle; and

adjusting at least one shock to a different damping force between each test cycle;

where said shock emulating the damping forces of multiple standard passive shocks.

2. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 1 where the vehicle being an automobile.

3. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 2 where four shocks being mounted on said automobile, where one shock being mounted on each wheel of said automobile.

4. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 3 where said step of running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles including said electronic control unit reading said plurality of sensors from all four of said shocks during each test cycle and adjusting at least one of said shocks to a different damping force between each test cycle.

5. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 1 where said plurality of sensors being for measuring the properties consisting of: load, stroke, velocity, pressure, temperature, acceleration, and any combination thereof.

6. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 1 where said step of running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles including testing the vehicle on a seven post test.

7. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 6 whereby the amount of time required for said seven post test being reduced by at least 50% in comparison to the amount of time required for said seven post test without said modified passive shock being mounted to the vehicle.

8. The method of optimizing the suspension of a vehicle according to claim 1 where said step of running the vehicle through a plurality of test cycles including testing the vehicle on a track.

9. A system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle comprising:

at least one passive shock;

each of said passive shocks being modified to include:

a plurality of sensors;

a spool valve for controlling the opening in the bleed circuit,

whereby each of said modified passive shocks being adjustable for a plurality of damping forces for emulating the damping forces of a standard passive shock;

an electronic control unit for controlling said spool valve for adjusting said damping forces of each of said modified passive shocks and reading said plurality of sensors.

10. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 9 where the vehicle being an automobile.

11. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 10 including four of said modified shocks, one modified shock for each wheel of said automobile.

12. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 9 where said plurality of sensors include: a load sensor, a stroke sensor, a velocity sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, and any combination of sensors thereof.

13. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 9 further including a display module for displaying the readings of said control unit.

14. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 9 where said shock further including a quick disconnect hydraulic fitting.

15. The system for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 14 where said quick disconnect hydraulic fittings being adapted for allowing corner coupling, whereby the hydraulics from a front right shock being corner coupled to the hydraulics from a rear left shock and the hydraulics from a font left shock being corner coupled to the hydraulics from a rear right shock.

16. A shock for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle comprising:

a passive shock;

said passive shock being modified to include:

a plurality of sensors; and

a spool valve for controlling the opening in the bleed circuit,

whereby said modified passive shock being adjustable for a plurality of damping forces by means of said spool valve controlling the opening in the bleed circuit for emulating the damping forces of multiple standard passive shocks.

17. The shock for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 16 where said plurality of sensors include: a load sensor, a stroke sensor, a velocity sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, and any combination of sensors thereof.

18. The shock for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 16 where said shock further including a quick disconnect hydraulic fitting.

19. The shock for optimizing the suspension of a vehicle of claim 16 where said spool valve allowing said shock to be adjustable for different damping forces for emulating the damping forces of four different standard passive shocks.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2021
From: ARNOTT PERFORMANCE, LLC
To: ARNOTT T&P HOLDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 058285/0534 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2021
From: JRI SHOCKS, LLC
To: ARNOTT PERFORMANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 058204/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2018
From: JRI DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC
To: JRI SHOCKS, LLC
Reel/Frame 047366/0804 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2008
From: RYAN, JEFFREY SCOTT; NEGISHI, NOBUHIKO
To: JRI DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 022041/0524 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61009605 · Dec 31, 2007
Related Publication 20090171532A1 · Jul 2, 2009