The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 1989
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1988
Ralph P McCabe, Troy, MI (US);
Colt Industries Inc., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A solenoid actuated control valve includes a valve member located in either of a first or a second position within a fluid flow passage in response to the energization or deenergization of a solenoid. In one of its positions, the valve establishes a minimum restriction to flow and in its other position establishes a maximum restriction to flow. The valve member is designed so that the fluid pressures to which it is exposed are essentially balanced in its direction of movement so that the valve may be rapidly shifted with a minimum power requirement. By controlling the solenoid energization by a pulse width modulated control signal, the flow restriction may be time averaged to any restriction intermediate the minimum and maximum restrictions. The valve is especially adapted for use in a vehicle suspension system to provide a variable damping characteristic for a shock absorber, for example, which may be varied in response to vehicle operating conditions monitored by an electronic processor which controls energization of the solenoid.