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:
Dec. 10, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2000
Yuting Rui, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Timothy Gerard Offerle, Whittaker, MI (US);
Thomas J. Walsh, Northville, MI (US);
David Scott Rohweder, Troy, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A variable damper assembly is provided for use with a vehicle power steering system and includes a variable orifice valve which controls the flow of fluid between one chamber side of the damper assembly to another chamber side of the damper assembly. 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 reduces the fluid flow rate between chamber sides and thereby causing the damper assembly to have enhanced damping characteristics during certain vehicle operating conditions (e.g., during relatively high vehicle speed operating conditions).