Patent · US Expired

Air suspension apparatus

US6427986B1 · kind B1 · utility

48Cited by
7References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 30, 2000
Grant dateAug 6, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 30, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60G2500/112
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An air chamber (53) of a damping force adjusting mechanism (49) disposed in a hydraulic shock absorber (3) of a damping force adjusting type communicates with an air chamber (7) of an air spring through a tubular path (57). A free piston (51) is transferred in accordance with the pressure of the air chamber and a spool (46) 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 (7) 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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.