Shock absorber with sonar position sensor
US5104144A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S15/88
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A damping device operable to change a suspension characteristic of a vehicle in response to changes in a relative relationship between the piston and the cylinder of the damping device. The damping device comprising a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber operable to store damping fluid. A piston is disposed within the pressure cylinder defining an upper and lower portion of the working chamber. The damping device further comprises a transducer for emitting and receiving sound waves within the lower portion of the working chamber. The sound waves emitted by said transducer are reflected by the end surface of the cylinder or a base valve mounted at the end of the cylinder and are received by said transducer. A timing circuit determines the difference in time between the emitted and reflected sound waves and generates an output in response thereto. A central processor calculates the desired relative relationship, such as the relative distance between the piston and the base valve, from the output of the timing circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.