Distributed power suspension system
First Claim
1. In a suspension system having at least two struts, a leveling system separately comprising for each strut:
- a power supply, a fluid reservoir wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the strut by a fluid passage and the power supply serves to increase the pressure of fluid in the fluid passage; and
a valve coupled to the fluid passage, the valve selectively operable to place the fluid reservoir in communication with the strut to vary the fluid quantity in the strut.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vibration control or vehicular suspension system. In one embodiment, the system uses a liquid spring filled with a compressible liquid. In such an embodiment, a suspension system, in addition to being able to change stiffness and damping properties, has the ability to level a vehicle or other structure or device to a desired height and compensate the level height for the addition or subtraction of load.
The liquid spring can be either a passive or an active system. An active system uses a second volume of compressible fluid. A passive system uses only a single volume of compressible fluid. Further, the liquid spring can provide either spring force or both spring and damping forces. Alternatively, a single volume liquid spring can be utilized in conjunction with a conventional damper.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. In a suspension system having at least two struts, a leveling system separately comprising for each strut:
a power supply, a fluid reservoir wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the strut by a fluid passage and the power supply serves to increase the pressure of fluid in the fluid passage; and
a valve coupled to the fluid passage, the valve selectively operable to place the fluid reservoir in communication with the strut to vary the fluid quantity in the strut.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a suspension system having at least two struts, a leveling system comprising:
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a first power supply, a first separate quantity of fluid, a first fluid reservoir, a first strut wherein the first fluid reservoir is connected to the first strut by a first fluid passage and the first power supply serves to increase the pressure of the fluid in the first fluid passage; and
a first valve coupled to the first fluid passage, the first valve selectively operable to place the first fluid reservoir in communication with the first strut to vary the fluid quantity in the first strut; and
a second power supply, a second separate quantity of fluid, a second fluid reservoir, a second strut wherein the second fluid reservoir is connected to the second strut by a second fluid passage and the second power supply serves to increase the pressure of the fluid in the second fluid passage; and
a second valve coupled to the second fluid passage, the second valve selectively operable to place the second fluid reservoir in communication with the second strut to vary the fluid quantity in the second strut. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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- 37. In a suspension system, a leveling system comprising a motor, a pump, a check valve, a fluid reservoir and a strut wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the strut by a fluid passage, and the motor operates the pump to increase the pressure of fluid in the fluid passage until it is greater than the fluid pressure in the strut, at which point the check valve opens to allow fluid to pass from the fluid passage into the strut.
- 50. In a suspension system having at least one strut, a leveling system comprising a power supply, a fluid reservoir and a check valve wherein the power supply serves to increase the pressure of fluid in the fluid passage for one strut only and the check valve serves to place one fluid reservoir only in connection with one strut only by use of one fluid passage only.
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65. In a suspension system having at least two struts, a leveling system comprising for each strut:
a power supply, a fluid reservoir, a strut wherein the fluid reservoir is connected to the strut by a fluid passage, a means for selectively introducing fluid from the reservoir into the strut, and a means for selectively removing fluid from the strut. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
Specification