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:
Sep. 17, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2000
Yuting Rui, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Timothy Gerard Offerle, Whittaker, MI (US);
Thomas J. Walsh, Northville, MI (US);
Dexin Wang, Livonia, MI (US);
Ford Global Tech., Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A rack and pinion power steering system is provided and includes a variable orifice valve which controls the flow of fluid in and out of a hydraulic cylinder . Variable orifice valve is communicatively coupled to a source of pressurized fluid by use of a conduit and an electronically controlled valve assembly . The pressurized fluid received through conduit controls the operation of valve . Based upon the pressure of the received fluid, valve selectively increases and decreases the volume of fluid flow in and out of cylinder , thereby causing cylinder to have enhanced damping characteristics during certain vehicle operating conditions (e.g., during relatively high vehicle speed operating conditions).