Appeal No. 1999-1757 Page 12
Application No. 08/895,637
RL/
1. A vibration control system for use between a first mass
and a second mass said system comprising:
(d) a liquid spring operably interposed between said first
and second masses,
said liquid spring having a housing including a chamber
in which a first volume of compressible liquid is disposed and
restriction means slidably disposed within said housing, said
restriction means having a surface in contact with said first
volume of compressible liquid, said compressible liquid having
a spring rate, wherein said spring rate is an inverse function
of volume further wherein said liquid spring provides damping
by causing said compressible liquid to flow about said
restriction means;
(e) a second volume of compressible liquid in a second
chamber, said second volume removably connected to the first
volume by a fluid passage;
(f) valve means coupled to said fluid passage, said valve
means selectively operable to place said second volume in
communication with said first volume; and
(d) control means for varying at least one of spring and
damping forces in response to a sensed vibration by operating
said valve means to place into communication said first volume
with said second volume, said communication combining first
and second volume into one active volume producing a change in
spring rate.
Kouda discloses a suspension assembly 10 comprising a shock
absorber 20 having variable damping characteristics, a
pneumatic spring assembly 30 having variable spring
characteristics and a suspension coil spring 18 (column 5,
lines 47-57). Kouda teaches a control unit 100 is provided to
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