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. 06, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2000
Hiroshi Sakai, Tokyo, JP;
Akinori Kurusu, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Takao Kohara, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Ohsawa, Tokyo, JP;
Tokico, Ltd., Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Abstract
An air chamber ( ) of a damping force adjusting mechanism ( ) disposed in a hydraulic shock absorber ( ) of a damping force adjusting type communicates with an air chamber ( ) of an air spring through a tubular path ( ). A free piston ( ) is transferred in accordance with the pressure of the air chamber and a spool ( ) is transferred to shift a damping force. The damping force presents a soft characteristic both on the extending side and on the retracting side in a usual status, presents a hard characteristic on the extending side and a soft characteristic on the retracting side when the pressure of the air chamber is high, and presents a soft characteristic on the extending side and a hard characteristic on the retracting side when the pressure of the air chamber ( ) is low. The damping force can be obtained, which approximates the damping force control on the basis of a so-called sky-hook theory. Therefore, the air suspension apparatus can alleviate the input from the axle side and improve a riding comfort and stability in operability by controlling the vibration on the vehicle body side.