Quick response adjustable shock absorber and system

Claim 2

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a non-compliant rigid link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the damping characteristic of the shock absorber.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 further comprising: means, operative when fluid pressure in the control circuit remains below a selected value for a selected time interval, for resiliently biasing the valve closed with a selected biasing force.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the resiliently biasing means comprises: a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the linkage from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the high speed pressure controlling device is dedicated to the shock absorber such that the shock absorber is the only shock absorber controlled by the control circuit.

Claim 6

A shock absorber responsive to fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 7

A shock absorber responsive to fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 or 5 wherein the valve provides the principal flow restriction in the passage such that the damping characteristic varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 6 wherein the piston forces the working hydraulic fluid through the passage in the same flow direction, regardless of the direction of movement of the piston in the cylinder, such that the valve provides the principal flow restriction to movement of the working hydraulic fluid during both extension and compression of the shock absorber.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 1 or 5 wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises a control piston, wherein the valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the control piston and the valve plate.

Claim 11

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit, said pressure regulator comprising a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a non-compliant, rigid link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve, said link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the fluid pressure in the control circuit are applied to the valve by the link; a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the controlled fluid pressure in the passage.

Claim 12

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit, said pressure regulator comprising a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a non-compliant, rigid link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve, said link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the fluid pressure in the control circuit are applied to the valve by the link; a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the controlled fluid pressure in the passage.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 9 wherein the piston forces the working hydraulic fluid through the passage in the same flow direction, regardless of the direction of movement of the piston in the cylinder, such that the valve provides the principle flow restriction to movement of the working hydraulic fluid during both extension and compression of the shock absorber.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10 further comprising: means, operative when fluid pressure in the control circuit remains below a selected value for a selected time interval, for resiliently biasing the valve closed with a selected biasing force.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 11 wherein the resiliently biasing means comprises: a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the linkage from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 10 wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises a second piston, wherein the valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the second piston and the valve plate.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 9 wherein the high speed pressure controlling device is dedicated to the shock absorber such that the shock absorber is the only shock absorber controlled by the control circuit.

Claim 18

A shock absorber responsive to a fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; and a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a ink between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 19

A shock absorber responsive to a fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; and a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a ink between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 20

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 21

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 22

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises an actuator piston, wherein the substantially constant pressure valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the actuator piston and valve plate.

Claim 23

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a substantially constant pressure 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; a substantially non-compliant link coupling the fluid powered actuator and the substantially constant pressure valve such that forces applied to the fluid powered actuator by the control fluid are applied to the valve by the link, thereby adjusting pressure of the working hydraulic fluid behind the valve and the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the damping characteristic of the shock absorber; wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises an actuator piston, wherein the substantially constant pressure valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the actuator piston and valve plate.

Claim 24

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the controlled fluid pressure in the passage; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 25

An active shock absorber system for a vehicle suspension system, said shock absorber system comprising: a control circuit adapted to contain a control fluid; a shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; and a high speed pressure controlling device operative to modulate fluid pressure in the control circuit with a maximum response frequency of at least about 8 Hz, thereby accomplishing high speed adjustment of the controlled fluid pressure in the passage; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; a spring; a linkage coupling the spring to the fluid powered actuator; and a second fluid powered actuator responsive to fluid pressure in the control circuit to compress the spring and decouple the spring from the first mentioned fluid powered actuator.

Claim 26

A shock absorber responsive to a fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; and a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises an actuator piston, wherein the valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the actuator piston and valve plate.

Claim 27

A shock absorber responsive to a fluid pressure in a control circuit, said shock absorber 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 chamber through the passage in a selected direction; and a fluid powered pressure regulator coupled to the passage to control fluid pressure in the passage and therefore in the first chamber in response to fluid pressure in the control circuit such that fluid pressure in the passage varies substantially less with variations in speed of the piston above a threshold speed than with variations in fluid pressure in the control circuit; wherein the pressure regulator comprises a fluid powered actuator, a valve, and a link between the fluid powered actuator and the valve; wherein the fluid powered actuator comprises an actuator piston, wherein the valve comprises a valve plate, and wherein the link comprises a solid rod interconnecting the actuator piston and valve plate.