Electronically controlled frequency dependent damping

• US 20080006494A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bart Vandewal
• Original Assignee: Bart Vandewal
• Inventors: Vandewal, Bart
• Granted Patent: US 8,210,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0152 characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0416 regulated by varying the resiliency of hydropneumatic suspensions B60G17/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/206 Body oscillation speed; Body vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/91 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper

Abstract

A gas damper includes a gas pressurized working chamber and valving within the piston to control flow of the gas through the piston. A system is in communication with the working chamber to control the gas pressure within the working chamber in order to control the damping characteristics of the damper. An electronic control unit is utilized to control the opening and closing of the valving within the piston to also control the damping characteristics of the damper.

Claims

1. A damper comprising:

a pressure tube forming a working chamber;

a pressurized gas being the only damping medium disposed within said working chamber;

a first piston disposed within said working chamber, said first piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;

a source for said pressurized gas separate from said working chamber in selective communication with said working chamber;

a sensor monitoring an operating condition associated with said damper;

a pressure control unit in communication with said sensor and said source for said pressurized gas for continuously controlling the pressure of said pressurized gas disposed within said upper and lower working chambers of said working chamber based upon said operating condition monitored by said sensor to control damping characteristics of said damper;

a first electronic valve for controlling flow of said pressurized gas through said first piston; and

a valve control unit in electrical communication with said first electronic valve, said valve control unit controlling opening and closing of said first electronic valve, said valve control unit operating independently from said pressure control unit.

2. The damper according to claim 1 further comprising a first passage extending through said piston between said upper and lower working chambers and a first valve assembly controlling flow of said pressurized gas through said first passage.

3. The damper according to claim 2 wherein said first valve assembly includes a valve disc engaging said piston to close said first passage.

4. The damper according to claim 2 further comprising a second passage extending through said piston between said upper and lower working chambers and a second valve assembly controlling flow of said pressurized gas through said second passage.

5. The damper according to claim 4 wherein said first valve assembly includes a first valve disc engaging said piston to close said first passage and said second valve assembly includes a second valve disc engaging said piston to close said second passage.

6. The damper according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor monitoring an operating condition associated with said damper, said first control unit being in communication with said sensor for changing said pressure of said pressurized gas disposed within said upper and lower working chambers based upon said operating condition monitored by said sensor.

7. The damper according to claim 1 further comprising a valve controlling flow of said pressurized fluid through said piston and a second control unit in communication with said valve, said second control unit opening and closing said valve.