Appeal No. 1999-1757 Page 13
Application No. 08/895,637
adjust the damping characteristics of the shock absorber 20
and the spring characteristics of the pneumatic spring
assembly 30. The control unit 100 is connected to various
sensors including a transmission selector position sensor 102,
an engine speed sensor 106, a steering angle sensor 116,
vehicle height sensor 118, etc. (column 5, lines 58-68). With
reference to Fig. 2, the shock absorber 20 is variable of the
damping characteristics between a HARD suspension mode
position and a SOFT suspension mode position (column 6, lines
62-67). The shock absorber 212 generally comprises a hollow
cylinder 220 and a piston 224 fitting flush within the hollow
interior of the cylinder 220. The piston 224 defines upper
and lower fluid chambers 226 and 228 within the cylinder 220
(column 7, lines 17-21). Chambers 258 and 260 are connected
by fluid passages 256, 258 and 260. Fluid passages 258 and
260 are closed by flow-restricting valves 262 and 264,
respectively and "open to allow fluid communication between
the upper and lower fluid chambers 226 and 228 only when the
fluid pressure difference between the upper and lower chambers
226 and 228 overcomes the effective pressure of the valves"
(column 7, lines 47-61).
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Last modified: November 3, 2007