Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1985-12-04
1988-03-22
Halvosa, George E. A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
188299, 188319, 18832215, 280714, F16F 934
Patent
active
047324082
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a means intended for a shock-absorber in order to permit variation of the shock-absorbing capacity of the shock-absorber by means of control impulses from an external control unit, for example in the form of or incorporating a computer. The shock-absorber in this case is of the kind which comprises a cylinder operating with fluid or fluid/gas. Arranged inside the cylinder is a piston provided with at least one passageway via which fluid is transferred from one side of the piston to its other side, and vice versa.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Shock absorbers are used in a variety of applications where there is a requirement to absorb forces from a moving mass. By way of example, mention may be made of shock-absorbers for motor vehicles, for example motor cycles and motor cars, where the shock-absorber is fitted between a wheel and the chassis for the purpose of contributing to the optimum jolt-free movement of the chassis, in spite of any irregularities in the surface over which the vehicle is being driven. Another example is provided by the case in which rotating masses which are also subject to centrifugal forces must be provided with shock-absorption in relation to a solid surface.
Shock-absorbers provided with constant resistance of shock-absorbing capacity are previously known in the art. Known is a shock-absorber with replaceable or additional component parts to provide the optimum result with regard to the shock-absorbing capacity on each occasion on which the vehicle is driven.
Also known in the art is the provision of a variation in shock-absorbing capacity with the assistance of an external control unit which may take the form of or may incorporate a computer unit or calculator, etc. The control unit can be supplied with information relating to the behaviour of the vehicle, which in turn is controlled by the actions of the driver. Thus, for example, the control unit may be supplied with information in respect of the speed of the vehicle, the torque being transmitted by the engine, and any changes in speed and inclination, etc. With the help of this information, the control unit is able to calculate the optimum shock-absorbing function for the shock-absorber at any given time and to control the shock-absorber in such a way that it will provide the shock-absorption determined by calculation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In systems with an external control unit it is desirable to be able to achieve a technically simple construction for the shock-absorber in which the variation function of the shock-absorber is integrated with the construction of the shock-absorber as a whole. In the case of motor cycles, for instance, it is desirable to be able to avoid external components which must form part of, or must be connected to, tbe shock-absorber. Thus, the aim is to achieve a construction for the shock-absorber which requires no external additions or other design changes because of the requirement for it to be provided with the aforementioned variation facility for its shock-absorbing capacity.
SOLUTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means which will solve this problem amongst others. The new features of the present invention include provisions of a piston means capable of being controlled from the control unit and so arranged as to vary depending on the control impulses received from the control unit, the cross-sectional area of the passageway referred to by way of, introduction, in so doing causing a variation to occur in the shock-absorbing capacity.
Further developments of the idea of invention are based on, the construction of the controllable means. Accordingly, this is intended in a preferred embodiment to be included in or to form an electrically controlled servo valve. This valve receives an electrical control signal from the external control unit and initiates a force-exerting flow of fluid dependent upon the control signal, this fluid flow acting upon a means to determine the size of the cross-sectional area of the pa
REFERENCES:
patent: 2748898 (1956-06-01), de Carbon
English translation of a portion of published Japanese patent application 57-173,629(A) of M. Kashima, entitled Hydraulic Buffer (Oct. 26, 1982).
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