Positively controller automotive suspension system
First Claim
1. An automotive suspension system comprising:
- a hollow cylinder defining a chamber;
a piston thrustingly received within said chamber of said cylinder and defining therein a first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid said piston being free to move axially within said chamber;
a fluid pressure source;
a hydraulic circuit connecting said first and second fluid chamber and said fluid pressure source;
a pressure control valve disposed within said hydraulic circuit and selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first and second fluid chamber and said fluid pressure source;
first means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly back to within said predetermined normal range; and
second means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel relative to said vehicle body, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers to assist smooth displacement of said piston within said cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to said vehicle body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A positively controlled automotive suspension system provides both of driving stability and riding comfort by adjusting damping characteristics of the suspension system according to the driving condition. The suspension system is soften in response to bounding and rebounding shock for effectively absorbing road shock. On the other hand, in response to relative displacement of the vehicle body and road wheel assembly, the suspension system serves for regulating the relative distance and whereby provides sufficient driving stability. The system comprises a hollow cylinder defining a chamber, a piston thrustingly received within the chamber of the cylinder and defining therein a first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid the piston being free to move axially with the chamber, a fluid pressure source, a hydraulic circuit connecting the first and second fluid chamber and the fluid pressure source, a pressure control valve disposed within the hydraulic circuit and adapted to selectively establish and block fluid communication between the first and second fluid chamber and the fluid pressure source, means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling the pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in the first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between the vehicle body and the road wheel assembly back to within the predetermined normal range, and means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of the road wheel relative to the vehicle body, for controlling the pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in the first and second fluid chambers to assist smooth displacement of the piston within the cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to the vehicle body.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An automotive suspension system comprising:
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a hollow cylinder defining a chamber; a piston thrustingly received within said chamber of said cylinder and defining therein a first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid said piston being free to move axially within said chamber; a fluid pressure source; a hydraulic circuit connecting said first and second fluid chamber and said fluid pressure source; a pressure control valve disposed within said hydraulic circuit and selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first and second fluid chamber and said fluid pressure source; first means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly back to within said predetermined normal range; and second means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel relative to said vehicle body, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers to assist smooth displacement of said piston within said cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to said vehicle body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automotive suspension system comprising:
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a hollow cylinder defining a chamber; a piston thrustingly received within said chamber of said cylinder and defining therein first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid, said piston being free to move axially with said chamber; a fluid pressure source; a hydraulic circuit connecting said first and second fluid chambers and said fluid pressure source; a pressure control valve disposed within said hydraulic circuit and selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first and second fluid chambers and said fluid pressure source; first means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly back to within said predetermined normal range; second means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel relative to said vehicle body, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers to assist smooth displacement of said piston within said cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to said vehicle body; wherein said pressure control valve comprises a valve housing defining said and second ports respectively connected to said first and second fluid chambers, a third port connected to said fluid pressure source to introduce therefrom a fluid pressure and a fourth port connected to said fluid pressure source for draining the pressurized working fluid for reducing fluid pressure and valve means for selectively establishing fluid communication between said first and second ports and said third and fourth ports for adjusting the fuild pressure in said first and second fluid chambers; and wherein said valve means comprises a first member functionally coupled to said first means and operable in response to relative displacement between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly and a second member functionally coupled to said second means and operable in response to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automotive suspension system comprising:
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a hollow cylinder defining a chamber; a piston thrustingly received within said chamber of said cylinder and defining therein first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid, said piston being free to move axially with said chamber; a fluid pressure source; a hydraulic circuit connecting said first and second fluid chambers and said fluid pressure source; a pressure control valve disposed within said hydraulic circuit and selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first and second fluid chambers and said fluid pressure source; first means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly back to within said predetermined normal range; and second means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel relative to said vehicle body, for controlling said pressure control valve by moving the rod of said piston so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second chambers to assist smooth displacement of said piston within said cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to said vehicle body.
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16. An automotive suspension system comprising:
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a hollow cylinder defining a chamber; a piston thrustingly received within said chamber of said cylinder and defining therein first and second fluid chambers, both filled with a working fluid, said piston being free to move axially with said chamber; a fluid pressure source; a hydraulic circuit connecting said first and second fluid chamber and said fluid pressure source; a pressure control valve disposed within said hydraulic circuit and selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said first and second fluid chambers and said fluid pressure source, said pressure control valve including a valve housing defining first and second ports respectively connected to said first and second fluid chambers, a third port connected to said fluid pressure source to introduce therefrom a fluid pressure and a fourth port connected to fluid pressure source for draining the pressurized working fluid for reducing fluid pressure, and a valve member selectively establishing fluid communication between said first and second ports and said third and fourth ports for adjusting the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers; first means, responsive to relative displacement between a vehicle body and road wheel assembly out of a predetermined normal range, for controlling said pressure control valve so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers in order to adjust the relative distance between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly back to within said predetermined normal range; and second means, responsive to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel relative to said vehicle body, for controlling said pressure control valve by moving the rod of said piston so as to adjust the fluid pressure in said first and second fluid chambers to assist smooth displacement of said piston within said cylinder thereby absorbing bounding and rebounding energy which would otherwise be transmitted to said vehicle body, said valve member including a first member cooperated with said first means and operable in response to relative displacement between said vehicle body and said road wheel assembly and a second member cooperated with said second means and operable in response to bounding and rebounding motion of said road wheel assembly.
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Specification