US 12,304,269 B2
Stabilizer assembly and an off-road vehicle with the stabilizer assembly
Toshiyuki Fukuda, Amagasaki (JP); Yuki Hashimoto, Amagasaki (JP); and Keith J. Andrews, Morristown, TN (US)
Assigned to KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD., Amagasaki (JP)
Filed by KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD., Amagasaki (JP)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/173,368.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/323,213, filed on Mar. 24, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0302868 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B60G 21/055 (2006.01); F16D 11/10 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 21/0556 (2013.01) [F16D 11/10 (2013.01); B60G 2202/135 (2013.01); B60G 2204/82 (2013.01); B60G 2204/8302 (2013.01); B60G 2300/07 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stabilizer assembly for a vehicle including a pair of wheels, the stabilizer assembly comprising:
a first stabilizer coupled to a suspension part supporting a first wheel of the pair of wheels;
a second stabilizer coupled to a suspension part supporting a second wheel of the pair of wheels; and
a clutch mechanism capable of selectively creating a first state in which the first and second stabilizers are decoupled from each other and a second state in which the first and second stabilizers are coupled to each other,
wherein
the clutch mechanism includes:
a clutch case that supports the first and second stabilizers such that inner ends of the first and second stabilizers are disposed on the same axis;
a first engagement portion having engagement grooves formed on an outer periphery of the inner end of the first stabilizer;
a second engagement portion having engagement grooves formed on an outer periphery of the inner end of the second stabilizer;
an engagement slider that is incapable of rotating relatively to the first and second engagement portions and that is slidable in an axial direction, the engagement slider being capable of switching between an engaged state and a non-engaged state of the first and second engagement portion to each other;
an actuator that slides the engagement slider;
a first protrusion having a diameter smaller than a groove-bottom diameter of the engagement grooves, the first protrusion being formed on an end face of the inner end of the first engagement portion;
a second protrusion having a diameter that is smaller than the groove-bottom diameter of the engagement grooves but is identical with the diameter of the first protrusion, the second protrusion being formed on the inner end of the second engagement portion; and
a collar fitted on outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second protrusions across a mating point thereof while the first and the second protrusions are set their front ends butted against each other, the collar having an outer diameter size not exceeding a size of the groove-bottom diameter of the engagement grooves.