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EP0277788A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Motor vehicle suspension with adjustable unit and control system therefor

Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1988-02-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-02-01
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Abstract

Abstract A suspension system for a motor vehicle includes a microprocessor (24) controlling an adjustable sliding friction suspension unit (10) having force, position, and velocity feedback to the microprocessor.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gary Klinger
  • 👤 Thomas G. Reichenbach
  • 👤 Karl C. Budde

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 02:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/06; B60G17/015; B60G17/0152; F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/08; F16F7/09

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a body and road wheels supporting said body, with said road wheels being connected to said body by said suspension system, said suspension system comprising a suspension unit (10) comprising an adjustable sliding friction element (13) contained within said suspension unit and adjustment means (20) for adjusting the damping force developed by said sliding friction element, and a control system (22,24) for said suspension unit comprising means (16) for measuring the magnitude of the damping force generated by said suspension unit (10) and means (22) coupled to said adjustment means (20) for adjusting said damping force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 104 words
A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a body and road wheels supporting said body, with said road wheels being connected to said body by said suspension system, said suspension system comprising a suspension unit (10) comprising an adjustable sliding friction element (13) contained within said suspension unit and adjustment means (20) for adjusting the damping force developed by said sliding friction element, and a control system (22,24) for said suspension unit comprising means (16) for measuring the magnitude of the damping force generated by said suspension unit (10) and means (22) coupled to said adjustment means (20) for adjusting said damping force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A suspension system according to Claim 1, wherein said adjustment means comprises actuator means operatively connected to said sliding friction element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A suspension system according to Claim 2, wherein said adjustable sliding friction element comprises a plurality of rotor plates interleaved between, and clampingly engaged by, a plurality of stator plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A suspension system according to Claim 3, wherein said actuator means comprises motor means for adjusting the clamping force developed between said rotor and stator plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 50 words
A suspension system according to Claim 4, wherein said motor means comprises a motor driving a lead screw operatively connected with said rotor and stator plates such that rotation of said lead screw by said motor will cause the clamping force between said rotor and stator plates to be adjusted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A suspension system according to Claim 2, wherein said adjustable sliding friction element comprises a plurality of semi-circular segments positioned for sliding engagement with the inner surface of a cylindrical tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A suspension system according to Claim 6, wherein said actuator means comprises motor means for adjusting the force developed between said semi-circular segments and said surface of said cylindrical tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 53 words
A suspension system according to Claim 7, wherein said motor means comprises a motor driving a lead screw operatively connected with said semi-circular segments such that rotation of said lead screw by said motor will cause the frictional force between said semi-circular element and said surface of said cylindrical tube to be adjusted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
A suspension system according to Claim 5 or 8, wherein said motor comprises a torque motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
A suspension system according to Claim 9 wherein said means coupled to said adjustment means for adjusting said damping force comprises means for supplying a control current to said torque motor.

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