Method and apparatus for controlling shock absorbers

Claim 1

An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile comprising: a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder, said pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid; first sensor means for determining the difference in pressure between the damping fluid in said first and second portions of said working chamber, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response to the difference in pressure between the damping fluid stored in said first and second portions; 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 to the movement of the body of said automobile; means for generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals, said means for generating an electrical control signal comprises an electronic control module having a microprocessor operable to receive said first and second electrical signals, said microprocessor being operable to compare the movement of the body of said automobile to a first threshold range, said microprocessor being further operable to generate firm damping during compression of said shock absorber when the movement of the body of said automobile exceeds said first threshold range, said microprocessor operable to generate firm damping during rebound of said shock absorber when the 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 shock absorber while maintaining the position of said plunger with respect to said electrical controllable flow means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile comprising: a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder, said pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid; first sensor means for determining the difference in pressure between the damping fluid in said first and second portions of said working chamber, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response to the difference in pressure between the damping fluid stored in said first and second portions; 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 to the movement of the body of said automobile; means for generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals, said means for generating an electrical control signal comprises an electronic control module having a microprocessor operable to receive said first and second electrical signals, said microprocessor being operable to compare the movement of the body of said automobile to a first threshold range, said microprocessor being further operable to generate firm damping during compression of said shock absorber when the movement of the body of said automobile exceeds said first threshold range, said microprocessor operable to generate firm damping during rebound of said shock absorber when the 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 shock absorber while maintaining the position of said plunger with respect to said electrical controllable flow means.

Claim 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 pressure cylinder, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber; 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 pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber and the vertical velocity of said sprung portion of said vehicle, 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.

Claim 20

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 pressure cylinder, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber; 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 pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber and the vertical velocity of said sprung portion of said vehicle, 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.

Claim 35

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: first valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber during compression, said first valve means including a first spring disk, and a first unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader; second valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber during rebound, said second valve means including a second spring disk, and a second unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader; 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 displayed in first and second positions, said plunger operable to control the biasing force on said first and second unloaders by selectively limiting 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 valve means through said electrical controllable flow means and said first valve means; a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first valve means through said electrically controllable flow means and said second valve means; and means for controllably actuating said electrical controllable flow means in response to the pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber and the movement of the body of said automobile, said means for controllably actuating said electrical controllable flow means operable to generate firm damping during compression and rebound by displacing said plunger to said first position.

Claim 36

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: first valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber during compression, said first valve means including a first spring disk, and a first unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader; second valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid between said first and second portions of said working chamber during rebound, said second valve means including a second spring disk, and a second unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader; 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 displayed in first and second positions, said plunger operable to control the biasing force on said first and second unloaders by selectively limiting 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 valve means through said electrical controllable flow means and said first valve means; a second flow path between said second portion of said working chamber and said first valve means through said electrically controllable flow means and said second valve means; and means for controllably actuating said electrical controllable flow means in response to the pressure differential between said first and second portions of said working chamber and the movement of the body of said automobile, said means for controllably actuating said electrical controllable flow means operable to generate firm damping during compression and rebound by displacing said plunger to said first position.

Claim 52

A method for regulating the flow of damping fluid through a piston disposed between the first and second portions of the working chamber of the direct acting shock absorber, said shock absorber operable to damp movement of the body of an automobile, said method comprising the steps of: permitting damping fluid to flow from said second portion of said working chamber through a first flow path to first valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid during compression, said first valve means including a first spring, and a first unloader operable to supply a biasing force on said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader; permitting damping fluid to flow from said first portion of said working chamber through a second flow path to second valve means for controlling the flow during rebound, said second valve means including a second spring disk, and a second unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader; recording the output of a first sensor means for determining the difference in pressure between the damping fluid in said first and second portions of said working chamber, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response to the difference in pressure between the damping fluid stored in said first and second portions of said working chamber; recording the output of a second sensor means for determining the movement of a body of said automobile, said sensor means operable to generate a second electrical signal in response to the movement of the body of said automobile; generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals; and regulating the flow or damping fluid through said piston by an electrical controllable flow means for regulating the flow of damping fluid through said piston, said electrical controllable flow means comprising a plunger operable to allow damping fluid to flow through said first and second flow paths when said plunger is in a first position, said plunger operable to prevent damping fluid from flowing through said first and second flow paths when said plunger is in a second position, said plunger operable to control the biasing force on said first and second unloaders by controlling the flow of damping fluid to said first unloader through said second unloader and said first flow path during compression as well as controlling the flow of damping fluid to said second unloader through said first unloader and said second flow path during a rebound, said step of regulating the flow of damping fluid including the steps of (a) comparing the vertical velocity of said body to a first threshold range, (b) generating firm damping during compression of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said body exceeds said first threshold range, (c) and generating firm damping during rebound of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said body is below said first threshold range.

Claim 53

A method for regulating the flow of damping fluid through a piston disposed between the first and second portions of the working chamber of the direct acting shock absorber, said shock absorber operable to damp movement of the body of an automobile, said method comprising the steps of: permitting damping fluid to flow from said second portion of said working chamber through a first flow path to first valve means for controlling the flow of damping fluid during compression, said first valve means including a first spring, and a first unloader operable to supply a biasing force on said first spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said first unloader; permitting damping fluid to flow from said first portion of said working chamber through a second flow path to second valve means for controlling the flow during rebound, said second valve means including a second spring disk, and a second unloader operable to apply a biasing force on said second spring disk in response to the pressure of damping fluid acting on said second unloader; recording the output of a first sensor means for determining the difference in pressure between the damping fluid in said first and second portions of said working chamber, said first sensor means operable to generate a first electrical signal in response to the difference in pressure between the damping fluid stored in said first and second portions of said working chamber; recording the output of a second sensor means for determining the movement of a body of said automobile, said sensor means operable to generate a second electrical signal in response to the movement of the body of said automobile; generating an electrical control signal in response to said first and second electrical signals; and regulating the flow or damping fluid through said piston by an electrical controllable flow means for regulating the flow of damping fluid through said piston, said electrical controllable flow means comprising a plunger operable to allow damping fluid to flow through said first and second flow paths when said plunger is in a first position, said plunger operable to prevent damping fluid from flowing through said first and second flow paths when said plunger is in a second position, said plunger operable to control the biasing force on said first and second unloaders by controlling the flow of damping fluid to said first unloader through said second unloader and said first flow path during compression as well as controlling the flow of damping fluid to said second unloader through said first unloader and said second flow path during a rebound, said step of regulating the flow of damping fluid including the steps of (a) comparing the vertical velocity of said body to a first threshold range, (b) generating firm damping during compression of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said body exceeds said first threshold range, (c) and generating firm damping during rebound of said shock absorber when the vertical velocity of said body is below said first threshold range.