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. 10, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1999
Stephen H. Bell, Guelph, CA;
Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc., Brentwood, TN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for controlling and making real-time adjustments to damping in a shock absorber based on driving conditions and desired driving characteristics. The shock absorber has a reservoir compartment and a fluid-filled internal chamber divided into a compression compartment and a rebound compartment by a movable piston. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through a seal in the rebound end of the internal chamber. The shock absorber contains flow passages connecting, and normally allowing fluid to flow between, the reservoir compartment, the compression compartment and the rebound compartment. Fluid flow in the flow passages, which is directly related to the relative motion between the shock main body and the piston rod assembly, is controlled by providing a variable valve closing force. Control of the valve closing force, and thus the damping of the shock absorber, may be controlled in real-time either by the vehicle operator or an autonomous damping, control system.