Method and apparatus for controlling shock absorbers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile comprising:
- a hydraulic damper having a pressure cylinder, said pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid;
a piston assembly disposed between said first and second portions of said working chamber, said piston assembly including a piston valve body having a first and second flow passage in fluid communication with said first and second portions of said working chamber, said piston assembly having a first unloader acting on a first spring disk for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said first flow passage during compression, said first unloader movable between a first position for biasing said first spring disk so as to restrict flow through said first flow passage and a second position displaced from said first spring disk for permitting increased flow through said first flow passage, said piston assembly further including a second unloader acting on a second spring disk for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said second flow passage during rebound, said second unloader movable between a first position for biasing said second spring disk so as to restrict flow through said second flow passage and a second position displaced from said second spring disk for permitting increased flow through said second flow passage;
first sensor means for determining whether said shock absorber is in compression or rebound, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response thereto;
second sensor means for determining movement of the body of said automobile, said second sensor means operable to generate a second electrical signal in response thereto;
means for generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals, said means for generating an electrical control signal including an electronic control module having microprocessor means operable to receive said first and second electrical signals, said microprocessor means being operable to compare movement of the body of said automobile to a first threshold range, said microprocessor means being further operable to generate firm damping during compression of said hydraulic damper when movement of the body of said automobile exceeds said first threshold range, said microprocessor means operable to generate firm damping during rebound of said hydraulic damper when movement of the body of the automobile is below said first threshold range; and
electrical controllable flow means for regulating the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber in response to said electrical control signal, said electrical controllable flow means including a plunger operable to generate firm damping during compression and rebound of said hydraulic damper while maintaining the position of said plunger with respect to said electrical controllable flow means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile. The apparatus includes a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber and a first and second portion. A first sensor is used to generate an electrical signal in response to whether the shock absorber is in compression or rebound. A second sensor is used for determining the movement of the body on the automobile. An electronic control module is used for generating an electrical control signal in response to the outputs of the first and second sensors. A solenoid is used for regulating the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber. A piston assembly disposed within the pressure cylinder defines the first and second portions of the working chamber. The piston assembly includes a valve body and first and second unloaders adapted to control the flow of fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber. At least one of the unloaders being located external to the valve body.
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Citations
92 Claims
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1. An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile comprising:
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a hydraulic damper having a pressure cylinder, said pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid; a piston assembly disposed between said first and second portions of said working chamber, said piston assembly including a piston valve body having a first and second flow passage in fluid communication with said first and second portions of said working chamber, said piston assembly having a first unloader acting on a first spring disk for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said first flow passage during compression, said first unloader movable between a first position for biasing said first spring disk so as to restrict flow through said first flow passage and a second position displaced from said first spring disk for permitting increased flow through said first flow passage, said piston assembly further including a second unloader acting on a second spring disk for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said second flow passage during rebound, said second unloader movable between a first position for biasing said second spring disk so as to restrict flow through said second flow passage and a second position displaced from said second spring disk for permitting increased flow through said second flow passage; first sensor means for determining whether said shock absorber is in compression or rebound, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response thereto; second sensor means for determining movement of the body of said automobile, said second sensor means operable to generate a second electrical signal in response thereto; means for generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals, said means for generating an electrical control signal including an electronic control module having microprocessor means operable to receive said first and second electrical signals, said microprocessor means being operable to compare movement of the body of said automobile to a first threshold range, said microprocessor means being further operable to generate firm damping during compression of said hydraulic damper when movement of the body of said automobile exceeds said first threshold range, said microprocessor means operable to generate firm damping during rebound of said hydraulic damper when movement of the body of the automobile is below said first threshold range; and electrical controllable flow means for regulating the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber in response to said electrical control signal, said electrical controllable flow means including a plunger operable to generate firm damping during compression and rebound of said hydraulic damper while maintaining the position of said plunger with respect to said electrical controllable flow means. - 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. A method for regulating the flow of damping fluid between first and second portions of the working chamber of a direct acting hydraulic shock absorber, said shock absorber being disposed between the sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle and having a piston assembly axially disposed within a pressure cylinder, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing whether said shock absorber is in compression or rebound; sensing the vertical velocity of the sprung portion of said vehicle; delivering damping fluid to electrical controllable flow means for regulating the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber, said electrical controllable flow means comprising a plunger operable to be disposed in first and second positions; and regulating the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber by said electrical controllable flow means in response to the first and second sensed signals, said step of regulating the flow of damping fluid includes the step of generating firm damping during compression and rebound of said shock absorber when said plunger is disposed in said first position, said step of regulating the flow of damping fluid further includes the steps of comparing the vertical velocity of said sprung portion to a first threshold range, generating firm damping during compression of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said sprung portion exceeds said first threshold range, and generating firm damping during rebound of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said sprung portion is below said first threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile relative to a wheel of said automobile, said damping apparatus having a pressure cylinder with a reciprocating piston assembly disposed therein operable to divide the working chamber formed by said pressure cylinder into first and second portions, said damper apparatus comprising:
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a valve body having first and second flow passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions of said working chamber; first valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said first flow passage from said second portion to said first portion of said working chamber during compression, said first valve means having a first spring disk for regulating the flow of fluid through said first flow passage, and a first unloader adapted to normally bias said first spring disk for restricting flow through said first flow passage, said first unloader operable to overcome the normal biasing force applied to said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader so as to permit increased flow through said first flow passage; second valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid through said second flow passage from said first portion to said second portion of said working chamber during rebound, said second valve means having a second spring disk for regulating the flow of fluid through said second flow passage, and a second unloader adapted to normally bias said second spring disk for restricting flow through said second flow passage, said second unloader operable to overcome the normal biasing force applied to said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader for permitting increased flow through said second flow passage; electrical controllable flow means operable to control the actuation of said first and second valve means, said electrical controllable flow means comprising a solenoid having a plunger operable to be displaced in first and second positions, said plunger operable to control the flow of damping fluid between said first unloader and said second unloader; a first flow path between said first portion of said working chamber and said second unloader through said electrical flowable control means; a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first unloader through said electrical controllable flow means; and means for controllable activating said electrical controllable flow means for generating firm damping during compression and rebound by displacing said plunger to said first position. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile relative to a wheel of said automobile comprising a shock absorber, said shock absorber having a pressure cylinder with a reciprocating piston disposed therein operable to divide the working chamber formed by said pressure cylinder into first and second portions, said shock absorber comprising:
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a piston valve body having first and second flow passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions of said working chamber; a first spring disk for controlling the flow of fluid through said first flow passage from said second portion to said first portion of said working chamber; a first unloader movable between a first position normally biasing said first spring disk for restricting flow through said first flow passage and a second position, said first unloader adapted to move to said second position in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader so as to permit increased flow through said first flow passage; first biasing means for applying the normal biasing force on said first unloader so as to bias said first unloader to said first position; a second spring disk for controlling the flow of fluid through said second flow passage from said first portion to said second portion of said working chamber; a second unloader movable between a first position normally biasing said second spring disk for restricting flow through said second flow passage and a second position, said second unloader adapted to move to said second position in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader so as to permit increased flow through said second flow passage; second biasing means for applying the normal biasing force on said second unloader so as to bias second unloader to said first position; electrical controllable flow means operable to control the movement of said first and second unloaders, said electrical controllable flow means comprising a solenoid having a plunger operable to be displaced in first and second positions, said plunger operable to control the position of said first and second unloaders by controlling the flow of damping fluid between said first unloader and said second unloader; a first flow path between said first portion of said working chamber and said second unloader through said electrically controllable flow means a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first unloader through said electrically controllable flow means; and means for controllably activating said electrical controllable flow means for generating firm damping during compression and rebound by displacing said plunger to said first position whereby said first and second unloaders are biased to their respective first positions, said electrically controllable flow means generating soft damping during compression and rebound by displacing said plunger to said second position, whereby said plunger is operable to permit the flow of fluid through said first flow path for biasing said second unloader to said second position and said plunger is operable to permit the flow of fluid through said second flow path for biasing said first unloader to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A piston assembly for use in a hydraulic damper adapted for damping the movement of the body of an automobile relative to a wheel of said automobile, said piston assembly disposed for reciprocating motion within a pressure cylinder and operable to divide the working chamber formed by said pressure cylinder into first and second portions, said piston assembly comprising:
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a piston valve body having a first and second plurality of flow passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions of said working chamber; a first spring disk located adjacent an upper portion of said valve body and adapted to control the flow of fluid through said first flow passage from said second portion into said first portion of said working chamber; first biasing means for biasing said first spring disk toward said upper portion of said valve body; a first unloader located above said first spring disk and operable to overcome the biasing force applied by said first biasing means to said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid within a first pressure chamber formed within said first unloader; a second spring disk located adjacent a lower portion of said piston valve body for controlling the flow of fluid through said second flow passage from said first portion into said second portion of said working chamber; second biasing means for biasing said second spring disk toward said lower portion of said valve body; a second unloader located below said second spring disk and operable to overcome the biasing force applied by said second biasing means on said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting within a second pressure chamber formed within said second unloader; a first flow path between said first portion of said working chamber and said second pressure chamber within said second unloader; and a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first pressure chamber within said first unloader. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A piston valve assembly for use in a hydraulic damping apparatus for controllably damping the movement of the body of an automobile relative to a vehicle, said piston assembly disposed within the pressure cylinder and operable to divide the working chamber formed by said pressure cylinder into first and second portions, said piston assembly comprising:
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a valve body member having a first and second plurality of flow passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions of said working chamber; a first spring disk for controlling the flow of fluid through said first flow passage from said second portion into said first portion of said working chamber; a first unloader assembly located above said first spring disk and adapted for normally biasing said first spring disk into engagement with an upper outlet end portion of said first flow passage for restricting flow therethrough so as to generate firm damping during compression; first chamber means formed within said first unloader for applying a hydraulic force on said first unloader in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting within said first chamber means, said hydraulic force counteracting the normal biasing of said first unloader so as to displace said first unloader from said first disk spring to permit increased flow through said outlet end portion of said first flow passage for generating soft damping during compression; a second spring disk for controlling the flow of fluid through said second flow passage, said second spring disk engaging a lower outlet end portion of said second flow passage for controlling the flow of fluid from said first portion to said second portion of said working chamber; a second unloader acting on a lower surface of said second spring disk opposite said outlet end portion and normally biasing said second spring disk to engagement therewith for restricting fluid flow through said second flow passage for generating firm damping during rebound; second chamber means formed within said second unloader for applying a hydraulic force on said unloader in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting within said second chamber means, said hydraulic force counteracting the normal biasing of said second unloader so as to displace said second unloader from said second disk spring to permit increased flow through said second flow passage for generating soft damping during rebound; a first flow passage between said first portion of said working chamber and said second chamber means; a second flow passage between said second portion of said working chamber and said first chamber means; and flow control means operable to control the flow of damping fluid through said first and second flow paths for controlling the communication of fluid between said first and second chamber means. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A piston assembly for use in a hydraulic damping apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile relative to a wheel of said automobile, said piston assembly disposed within a pressure cylinder comprising:
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a valve body dividing a working chamber formed by said pressure cylinder into first and second portions, said valve body having a first and second plurality of flow passages for providing fluid communication between said first and second portions of said working chamber; first unloader means for controlling the flow of fluid from said second portion into said first portion of said working chamber through said first flow passage, said first unloader means movable between a first normally biased position for restricting flow through said first flow passage to a second position for permitting increased flow through said first flow passage in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader means from said second portion of said working chamber; second unloader means for controlling the flow of fluid from said first portion into said second portion of said working chamber through said second flow passage, said second unloader means movable between a first normally biased position for restricting flow through said second flow passage to a second position for permitting increased flow through said second flow passage in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader means from said first portion of said working chamber; a first flow path between said first portion of said working chamber and said second unloader means; and a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first unloader means. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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Specification