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US 4,838,394 AGranted
Adjustable shock absorber and system
OwnerCharles D. Lemme, Fredrick J. Furrerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable shock absorber system includes a plurality of shock absorbers, the damping characteristics of which are controlled by a hydraulic control circuit. Each of the shock absorbers includes an adjustable flow restrictor that is controlled by a hydraulic actuator responsive to pressure in the control circuit. By adjusting pressure in the control circuit the damping characteristics of each of the shock absorbers can be adjusted in parallel.
Claims34
An adjustable hydraulic shock absorber system comprising:
- a plurality of shock absorbers, each operative to pass fluid through a respective passage in response to at least one of elongation and shortening of the shock absorber, each shock absorber comprising means for adjustably controlling at least one fluid flow restriction characteristic of the passage;
- a plurality of fluid powered actuator means, each coupled to a respective one of the controlling means, for adjusting the respective controlling means in response to a control fluid pressure;
- a control fluid circuit interconnecting each of the actuator means to supply a control fluid to each of the actuator means;
- and
- means for adjusting control fluid pressure in the control fluid circuit in order to cause the fluid powered actuator means to adjust each of the controlling means, thereby varying at least one damping characteristic of the shock absorbers in parallel.
2 more elements
An adjustable shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising:
- a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid:
- a plurality of hydraulic shock absorbers adapted for mounting in the vehicle suspension system, each of said shock absorbers comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof:
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first to the second chambers through the passage;
- an adjustable valve disposed in the passage and effective to restrict fluid flow through the passage to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber;
- a fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit and coupled to the adjustable valve, said actuator effective to adjust the valve and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to fluid pressure of the control circuit;
- and
- a pressure source coupled to the control circuit to pressurize the control fluid in the control circuit to a selected value, thereby causing the actuators to adjust the valves of the shock absorbers in parallel.
6 more elements
An adjustable shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising:
- a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid;
- a plurality of hydraulic shock absorbers adapted for mounting in the vehicle suspension system, each of said shock absorbers comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof;
- a reservoir;
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers and the reservoir such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first chamber through the passage to at least one of the reservoir and the second chamber;
- an adjustable valve disposed in the passage and effective to restrict fluid flow through the passage to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber;
- a fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit and coupled to the adjustable valve, said actuator effective to adjust the valve and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to fluid pressure of the control circuit and
- a pressure source coupled to the control circuit to pressurize the control fluid in the control circuit to a selected value thereby causing the actuators to adjust the valves of the shock absorbers in parallel.
6 more elements
An adjustable shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:
- a cylinder:
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first to the second chambers through the passage;
- means for adjustably controlling fluid flow restriction characteristics of the passage to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber;
- and
- fluid powered actuator means, coupled to the controlling means and configured to be connected to a control fluid circuit, for adjusting the controlling means and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to pressure of the control fluid circuit.
3 more elements
An adjustable shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof;
- a reservoir:
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers and the reservoir such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first chamber through the passage to at least one of the reservoir and the second chamber;
- means for adjustably controlling fluid flow restriction characteristics of the passage to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber and
- fluid powered actuator means, coupled to the controlling means and configured to be connected to a control fluid circuit for adjusting the controlling means and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to pressure of the control fluid circuit.
3 more elements
An adjustable hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof;
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first to the second chambers through the passage;
- an adjustable valve disposed in the passage and effective to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber:
- a fluid powered actuator configured to be connected to a control fluid circuit and coupled to the adjustable valve, said actuator effective to adjust the valve and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to pressure of the control fluid circuit;
- said cylinder and piston configured for mounting between suspension components of a vehicle.
3 more elements
An adjustable hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a piston disposed in the cylinder to define first and second chambers on opposite sides thereof;
- a reservoir;
- at least one passage interconnecting the first and second chambers and the reservoir such that movement of the piston in the cylinder in a selected direction forces a working hydraulic fluid from the first chamber through the passage to at least one of the reservoir and the second chamber;
- an adjustable valve disposed in the passage and effective to determine a damping characteristic of the shock absorber;
- a fluid powered actuator configured to be connected to a control fluid circuit and coupled to the adjustable valve, said actuator effective to adjust the valve and therefore the damping characteristic of the shock absorber in response to pressure of the control fluid circuit;
- said cylinder and piston configured for mounting between suspension components of a vehicle.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.