Automotive suspension control system utilizing variable damping force shock absorber
AssigneeUnisia Jecs Corporation
InventorsMichiya Nakamura, Shinobu Kakizaki
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Abstract
A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle is provided which utilizes variable damping force shock absorbers for modifying damping force characteristics. Each of the shock absorbers has an electric motor adapted for varying an effective fluid flow restriction established by an orifice when modifying the damping force characteristics. When the electric motor is energized to initialize an angular position thereof upon starting the suspension control, operating torque of the motor is decreased below a preselected level for reducing reaction force from a stopper when an output shaft of the motor is urged into engagement with the stopper arranged at an original angular position of the motor.
Claims5
A suspension control system for an automotive vehicle comprising:
- a shock absorber disposed between a vehicle body and a suspension member rotatably supporting a wheel, said shock absorber being controllable to assume damping force characteristics in a range between preselected higher and lower damping coefficients over extension and compression strokes;
- an adjusting member, disposed in said shock absorber, movable for modifying the damping force characteristics of said shock absorber;
- a motor providing driving torque of a preselected operating level to said adjusting member to move said adjusting member for modifying the damping force characteristics;
- a stopper restricting the movement of said adjusting member at a preselected position when said motor is initialized;
- and
- motor driving controlling means for controlling the driving torque provided from said motor to said adjusting member, said motor driving controlling means reducing the driving torque to a level lower than the preselected operating level when said motor is initialized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.