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:
Apr. 02, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 16, 1994
William H Clarke, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Ray A Sackett, Monroe, MI (US);
Matthias Raulf, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Rolf Wengenroth, Harrison Township, MI (US);
Ford Motor Co., , US;
Sachs Automotive of America, , US;
Abstract
A hydraulic shock absorber having discrete damping levels in the rebound direction includes a piston that reciprocates within a pressure tube and divides the pressure tube into rebound and pressure chambers. A passage extends through the piston for establishing fluid communication between the rebound and pressure chambers. A one-way, pressure responsive valve normally closing the passage opens in response to fluid pressure of a predetermined magnitude in the rebound chamber when the piston moves in the rebound direction. The side wall of the pressure tube has bleed holes that lead to a bypass channel that is controlled by an electronically controlled or actuated solenoid valve that opens and closes the outlet of the bypass channel to change the damping characteristics in the rebound and jounce directions in response to suspension conditions. The piston carries a slide valve that closes the bleed holes to the bypass channel mechanically in the rebound direction in response to rapid changes in suspension conditions that the solenoid valve cannot react to quick enough.