Patent ID: 6206383
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
A vehicle suspension system comprising a hydraulic actuator for producing an actuating force, a source of hydraulic pressure and a drain, a pressure control valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from the source to the drain thereby to provide a controlled hydraulic pressure drop between the source and the drain, which pressure drop has a minimum value, at least one actuation control valve for connecting the actuator between the source and the drain such that said pressure drop controls the magnitude of the actuating force, and control means having an input arranged to define a desired actuating force and being arranged to operate the valves in response to said input, wherein the control means defines a minimum valve of the desired actuating force corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the drop which can be produced by the pressure control valve and is arranged to operate said at least one actuation control valve to connect the actuator between the source and the drain only when the desired actuating force is greater than said minimum actuating force, and to measure the temperature of at least one component of the hydraulic system and to determine the minimum pressure drop from said temperature.