Joshua David Coombs

US Patent:

6749048, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224112

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16F 936

US Classification:

18832217, 277919

Abstract:

The present invention involves a fluid seal assembly of a pressured system for reducing static friction on a displacement rod of the pressured system. The assembly comprises a sealing member disposed on a surface of the pressured system. The sealing member is in circumferential engagement about the displacement rod to define a radial preload on the displacement rod forming a static friction thereon. The assembly further comprises an actuator attached to the sealing member and being configured to bend when the electric input is applied thereacross to displace the sealing member from the displacement rod for reducing the static friction on the displacement rod when the displacement rod move from a stagnant position within the pressured system.

US Patent:

6811167, Nov 2, 2004

Filed:

Dec 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/182845

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI
Jeremy Edmondson - Canton MI

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60G 1507

US Classification:

280124154, 280124157, 280124158, 280124159

Abstract:

Suspension system ( ) includes a compressible fluid ( ), a suspension strut ( ), a hydraulic cavity ( ), a reservoir ( ), and a volume modulator ( ). The hydraulic cavity ( ) is at least partially defined by the suspension strut ( ) and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid ( ). The hydraulic cavity ( ) and the compressible fluid ( ) supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel ( ) of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator ( ) selectively pushes the compressible fluid ( ) into the hydraulic cavity ( ) and vents the compressible fluid ( ) from the hydraulic cavity ( ), thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

US Patent:

6814364, Nov 9, 2004

Filed:

Aug 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/223494

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI
Maged Radamis - Canton MI

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60G 1507

US Classification:

280124154, 280124157, 280124158, 280124159

Abstract:

A suspension system for a vehicle having left and right wheels is disclosed and claimed. The system includes first and second suspension struts and first and second hydraulic cavities to supply first and second suspending spring force for the left and right wheels, respectively. The system also includes a volume modulator to selectively push fluid into and vent fluid from the first and second hydraulic cavities, thereby actively modulating the first and second suspending spring forces. The volume modulator includes first and second modulator pistons and first and second cavity-side valves. In a preferred embodiment, the modulator pistons are cycled and the cavity-side valves are opened and closed to counteract roll of the vehicle. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the first modulator piston and the second modulator piston are located approximately 180Â apart relative to an eccentric to minimize power consumption of the volume modulator during roll of the vehicle.

US Patent:

6871866, Mar 29, 2005

Filed:

Jan 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/340479

Inventors:

Gary Gloceri - West Bloomfield MI, US
Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI, US
Jeremy R. Edmondson - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Van Buren Township MI

International Classification:

B60G015/07

US Classification:

280124154, 280124157, 280124158, 280124159

Abstract:

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a compressible fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, a reservoir, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid. The hydraulic cavity and the compressible fluid supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby modulating the suspending spring force.

US Patent:

6886841, May 3, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/224245

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI, US
Jeremy Edmondson - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60G009/04

US Classification:

280124157, 280124158, 280124159, 28012416

Abstract:

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, an accumulator, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the fluid. The hydraulic cavity supplies a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

US Patent:

6988599, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Dec 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/203133

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI, US
Jeremy R. Edmondson - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F16F 9/49

US Classification:

188280, 1882991, 18832215, 267 6411

Abstract:

A suspension strut () for a vehicle including a compressible fluid (), a hydraulic tube (′) and displacement rod () adapted to cooperate with the compressible fluid () to supply a suspending spring force that biases the wheel toward the surface, a cavity piston (′) separating the inner cavity () into a first section () and a second section () and defining a first orifice () adapted to allow flow of the compressible fluid () between the first section () and the second section () of the inner cavity (), and a first variable restrictor () adapted to variably restrict the passage of the compressible fluid () through the first orifice () based on the velocity of the cavity piston (′) to the hydraulic tube (′).

US Patent:

7036835, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626995

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - Whitmore Lake MI, US
Jeremy R. Edmondson - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60G 15/07

US Classification:

280124154, 28012415

Abstract:

Suspension system for a vehicle is disclosed and claimed. The suspension system includes a compressible fluid, a suspension strut, a hydraulic cavity, a reservoir, and a volume modulator. The hydraulic cavity is at least partially defined by the suspension strut and is adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid. The hydraulic cavity and the compressible fluid supply a suspending spring force that biases a wheel of a vehicle toward the road surface. The volume modulator selectively pushes the compressible fluid into the hydraulic cavity and vents the compressible fluid from the hydraulic cavity, thereby actively modulating the suspending spring force.

US Patent:

7938418, May 10, 2011

Filed:

Oct 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/261028

Inventors:

Joshua D. Coombs - East Lansing MI, US
Kelly Parker - St. Johns MI, US
Brian Wezensky - Portland MI, US
Alfred N Seger - DeWitt MI, US
Michael Larmann - Lansing MI, US

Assignee:

Air Lift Company - Lansing MI

International Classification:

B60G 15/00

US Classification:

280124147, 280124155, 267220

Abstract:

An upper mount assembly for an air-over vehicle suspension system includes an annular elastomeric isolator molded between two tubular bushing sleeves and press-fit into a through bore defined in an end cap. The inner bushing sleeve is adapted to receive the free end of the system's damper rod while an axial projection of the end cap is supported for relative rotation within a complementary through bore of a top plate. An axially-projecting lower surface on the elastomeric isolator defines a low-profile jounce bumper adapted to resiliently engage an upper end of the damper's cylinder body, thereby obviating the need for a separate jounce bumper while further accommodating relatively-low vehicle ride heights.