Patent ID: 6668986
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
An active hydraulic fluid vehicular suspension damper comprising:a cylindrical tube shaped to contain a fluid; a piston rod within and relatively movable to said tube; a piston affixed to an end of said rod having a circumferentially-extending seal in sliding, sealing contact with said tube to define a compression chamber in said tube extending from one side of said seal and a rebound chamber extending from the opposite side of said seal; a flux plate affixed to said tube adjacent said piston containing a solenoid and a solenoid valve cylinder movable from a first to a second position relative to said rod when said solenoid is activated; a valve plate positioned on said rod between said piston and said flux plate; said valve plate having a plurality of soft channels extending therethrough for providing fluid communication between said rebound and compression chamber through said rod, said rod having an axial rod passage extending from an end to a position whereat said valve plate is positioned; each soft channel having a first end opening confronting said rebound chamber and a second end opening adjacent said axial rod passage whereby said soft channels provide fluid communication between said rebound and compression chambers, said solenoid valve cylinder being movable within said axial rod passage between said first and second positions to open and close fluid communication between said soft channels and said axial rod passage; a soft digressive valve at each first end opening of each soft channel, wherein said soft digressive valve is actuated at a first set pressure when said rod moves in a first direction to allow, when said solenoid valve cylinder permits, fluid communication between said soft channels and said axial rod passage and fluid flow from said compression chamber through said axial rod passage into said rebound chamber, and wherein said soft digressive valve is actuated at a second set pressure when said rod moves in a second direction opposite to said first direction to allow, when said solenoid valve cylinder permits, fluid communication between said soft channels and said axial rod passage and fluid flow from said rebound chamber through said axial rod passage into said compression chamber; said piston having a plurality of rebound channels and a plurality of compression channels extending therethrough, each rebound channel and compression channel having a rebound end opening to said rebound chamber and a compression end opening to said compression chamber; a firm digressive rebound valve in valved contact with said compression end opening of said rebound channels allowing valved flow at a set rebound pressure from said rebound chamber through said rebound channels to said compression chamber; and, a firm digressive compression valve in valved contact with said rebound end opening of said compression channels allowing valved flow at a set compression pressure from said compression chamber through said compression channels to said rebound chamber whereby said set pressures of and rate of flow set by said firm digressive compression and firm digressive rebound valves are independent of one another.