Patent ID: 6296091
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: B60G,F15B,F16F

Abstract:
A suspension control unit for controlling damping, comprising:an actuator comprising a housing divided into a first and a second chamber by a piston slidably fitted within the housing, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a volume, wherein the volume of the first and second chambers changes as the piston reciprocates within the actuator housing;a fluid reservoir storing fluid and coupled to the actuator, the reservoir having at least an inlet;a sensor within the reservoir for generating signals indicative of the amount of fluid in the reservoir;at least one valve coupled to the actuator and to the reservoir inlet, the valve comprising,an annular body having an inner surface, a first annular shoulder defined on the body inner surface, an outer surface, a side passage, an end opening extending from the first annular shoulder to an end of the body, and a flow path between the side passage and end opening coupling a chamber in the actuator to the reservoir, wherein the annular body comprises an inner and an outer surface, anda poppet slidably fitted within the body wherein the poppet can slide between a first position blocking the flow path and a second position not blocking the flow path, wherein the poppet comprises,a conical tip section and a poppet shoulder extending radially beyond the conical tip section, andan annular outer surface section between the conical tip section and the poppet shoulder, wherein the annular outer surface section is at least partially within the end opening when the poppet is in the first position; anda microprocessor for ascertaining the position of the actuator piston responsive to the signals generated by the sensor.