Suspension control unit and control valve

A valve comprising:

• an annular body having an inner surface, an annular shoulder defined on the body inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening extending from the annular shoulder to an end of the body, and a flow path between the side passage and the end opening for coupling a chamber in an actuator to a reservoir;
• and
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the side passage and a second position at least partially not blocking the side passage, wherein the poppet comprises,
• a conical tip section and a poppet shoulder extending radially beyond the conical tip section, and
• an annular outer surface section between the conical tip section and the poppet shoulder, wherein the annular outer surface section is at least partially within the end opening when the poppet is in the first position.

A valve comprising:

• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and the end opening for coupling a chamber in an actuator to a reservoir;
• a valve body inner shoulder formed on the inner surface of the body;
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path;
• and
• a poppet flange extending radially from an end portion of the poppet for engaging the body inner shoulder for stopping the poppet in the first position.

A valve comprising:

• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and the end opening for coupling a chamber in an actuator to a reservoir;
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path, wherein the valve poppet is hollow having an inner surface;
• a poppet inner shoulder formed on the inner surface of the poppet;
• a compliant member seated on the poppet inner shoulder;
• a solenoid;
• and
• a solenoid damper coupled to the solenoid and to the compliant member for transferring a load generated by the solenoid to the compliant member for moving the poppet.

A valve comprising:

• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and the end opening for coupling a chamber in an actuator to a reservoir;
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path;
• an annular check valve sliding surrounding the valve body, the annular check valve comprising,
• an annular wall, and
• a check valve flange radially extending from the annular wall;
• a flange extending from the body outer surface;
• and
• a spring sandwiched between the body flange and the check valve flange.

A suspension control system comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each chamber has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid control unit comprising,
• a fluid reservoir, comprising,
• a first passage providing access to the reservoir, and
• a second passage providing access to the reservoir;
• a sensor within the reservoir for sensing the amount of fluid in the reservoir, the sensor generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;
• a first valve in communication with the reservoir for controlling the flow through the first passage;
• a second valve, wherein each of said first and second valves comprises,
• an annular body having a side passage, an inner surface, an annular shoulder defined on the body inner surface, and an end opening extending from the annular shoulder to an end of the body, the end opening being in communication with a respective passage on the reservoir, wherein a flow path is defined between the side passage an the end opening, and
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path, wherein the poppet comprises,
• a conical tip section and a poppet shoulder extending radially beyond the conical tip section, and
• an annular outer surface section between the conical tip section and the poppet shoulder, wherein the annular outer surface section is at least partially within the end opening when the poppet is in the first position;
• a first conduit coupling the first chamber to the side passage of the first valve;
• a second conduit coupling the second chamber to the side passage of the second valve;
• and
• a controller coupled to each valve and to the sensor for controlling the operation of each valve responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.

A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;
• a sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;
• at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,
• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart annular slot sections, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface, and
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path, wherein the poppet comprises a conical tip section, a shoulder extending radially beyond the conical tip section and an annular outer surface section between the conical tip section and the shoulder, wherein the conical tip section of the poppet is a section of a 70° cone, wherein the annular section and the shoulder are always in communication with the side passage, and wherein each annular slot section comprises a width defined between a slot section first end and a slot section second end, wherein the poppet comprises a circumferential edge defined at the intersection of the conical section and the poppet annular outer surface section, and wherein when the poppet is in the first position, the poppet circumferential edge is radially aligned with first ends of the slot sections;
• and
• a microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.

A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;
• a sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;
• at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,
• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface,
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path
• a valve body inner shoulder formed on the inner surface of the body, and
• a poppet flange extending radially from an end portion of the poppet for engaging the body inner shoulder for stopping the poppet in the first position;
• and
• a microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.

A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;
• a sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;
• at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,
• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface,
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path,
• a poppet inner shoulder formed on the inner surface of the poppet,
• a compliant member seated on the poppet inner shoulder,
• a solenoid, and
• a solenoid damper coupled to the solenoid and to the compliant member for transferring a load generated by the solenoid to the compliant member for moving the poppet;
• and
• a microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.

A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;
• a sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;
• at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,
• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface,
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path,
• a housing surrounding the body and defining a valve chamber between the body outer surface and the housing for receiving fluids from an actuator chamber,
• a by-pass opening on the reservoir surrounding the reservoir inlet and located within the valve chamber, the by-pass opening providing access to the fluid within the reservoir,
• an annular check valve within the valve chamber and surrounding the valve body, the annular check valve comprising,
• an annular wall, and
• a check valve flange radially extending from the annular wall for covering the by-pass opening,
• a flange extending from the body outer surface within the valve chamber, and
• a spring sandwiched between the body flange and the check valve flange for holding the check valve in a first position where the check valve flange covers the by-pass opening surrounding the passage, wherein the check valve can slide against a force created by the spring to a second position allowing fluid flow from the reservoir through the by-pass opening;
• and
• a microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.

A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;
• a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to the actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;
• a linear variable inductive transformer sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir, the sensor comprising,
• a coiled bobbin extending within the reservoir, and
• an aluminum sensor piston slidably fitted within the reservoir, the piston having an opening on one side for accommodating the bobbin and a second opposite side dividing the reservoir into a first reservoir portion in communication with the fluid and a second reservoir portion housing the bobbin, wherein as the first reservoir portion is filled with fluid it causes the piston to slide toward the bobbin such that the bobbin penetrates the opening;
• at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,
• an annular body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface, and
• a poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path;
• and
• a microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.