Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system includes an anti-roll control loop which is responsive to lateral acceleration to be exerted on a vehicle, to adjust suspension characteristics. The control loop employed suspension system is variable of response characteristics to vehicular rolling depending upon the vehicle speed for varying anti-rolling suspension control characteristics. In a range of the vehicle speed, in which the greater loop gain of the control loop, causes significant and unacceptable level of self-induced lateral vibration, the gain is varied to be the smaller value than that in other vehicle speed range. Namely, since the greater gain may affect for causing self-induced lateral vibration in substantially low vehicle speed range, the gain may be adjusted to smaller value while vehicle speed is lower than a given value.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system employs a shut-off valve which is responsive to a source pressure dropping below a predetermined level to shut-off communication between a pressure return line for returning the fluid pressure to the pressure source from a hydraulic cylinder. The shut-off valve is disposed in a drain line connecting a drain port of a spool valve assembly and the pressure source. By the presence of the shut-off valve, substantial pressure difference between the hydraulic cylinder side and pressure source side of the spool valve is not created. Therefore, no leakage through the spool valve occurs and whereby the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder can be maintained even when the source pressure becomes substantially low or zero.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply system includes a discharge rate variable fluid pump. The discharge rate of the fluid pump is controlled to vary depending upon the vehicle driving condition. In the control of the discharge rate of the fluid pump, greater discharge rate is ordered while the vehicle is running, than that during vehicle stopping condition.

Abstract: An actively controlled suspension system includes a vehicle rolling responsive component to adjust the suspension characteristics for suppressing vehicular rolling. In addition, the actively controlled suspension control system may be provided for adjusting roll-stabilization load distribution between the front and rear suspension systems for adjusting vehicular cornering characteristics.

Abstract: A positively controlled automotive suspension system provides both of driving stability and riding comfort by adjusting damping characteristics of the suspension system according to the driving condition. The suspension system is soften in response to bounding and rebounding shock for effectively absorbing road shock. On the other hand, in response to relative displacement of the vehicle body and road wheel assembly, the suspension system serves for regulating the relative distance and whereby provides sufficient driving stability.

Abstract: A suspension system consists of a suspension rod interposed between a vehicle body side member and a wheel side member to elastically connect them. The suspension rod includes a first elastomeric member connected to the vehicle body side member and defining a first fluid chamber. A second elastomeric member is provided in the suspension rod structure to be connected to the wheel side member, defining a second fluid chamber. The first and second fluid chambers are communicated with each other through a fluid communication passage. An incompressive fluid is filled in the first and second fluid chambers and in the fluid communication passage, thereby constituting a fluid dynamic damper for suppressing resonance vibration of the suspension system.

Abstract: A vibration-proofing device according to the present invention includes at least one fluid chamber in which fluid is filled between a vibrating member and a vibrated member. The fluid chamber is formed which expands and contracts from the vibration of the vibrating member. In the fluid within this fluid chamber, opposite phase pulsations are generated by means of a vibrator. The vibrator comprises an almost plate-shaped member fabricated from a magnetic material, which makes up one part of a partition forming the fluid chamber. The vibrator is activated by solenoids.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly for an automotive vehicle suspension prevents transmission of vibrations such as road shocks. The shock absorber assembly has a resiliently shock absorbing spring seat retaining a suspension coil spring. The spring seat is adapted to absorb relatively low-amplitude, high-frequency vibrations and thus prevent the shock absorbing assembly from surging. The spring seat has resilient characteristics in which the minimum damping force occurs at a position normally maintained by the vehicle and in which the spring seat becomes rigid in response to relatively high-amplitude vibrations.

Abstract: A vortex flow hydraulic shock absorber for damping relative displacement of two components comprising a piston provided with a fluid passage therethrough including a pair of vortex chambers formed in a movable valve body disposed between a pair of resilient annular discs in a valve chamber in the piston. The valve body moves against the force of the resilient annular discs in response to an increase in the pressure difference of the working fluid on opposite sides of the piston to positions in which the fluid is permitted to bypass one or both of the vortex chambers as it traverses the piston, thereby varying the damping force of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a piston which comprises upper and lower members. The upper and lower members are fixedly assembled to define therein the vortex chamber. The piston has vertically-extending channels on the periphery thereof to define the vertical section of the vortex passages together with the inner periphery of the cylinder tube.

Abstract: A shock absorber is provided with a relief valve within a thrusting piston. The relief valve defines a vortex chamber therein and is movable in response to the pressure difference between a high pressure chamber and a lower pressure chamber. The valve is movably urged toward an initial position by a set spring which defines the set pressure of the shock absorber.

Abstract: The shock absorber having a piston reciprocatingly disposed in a cylinder and sized small enough to permit a compact construction. The piston defines therein a vortex chamber with a maximum radius. The vortex chamber communicates with fluid chambers defined in the shock absorber via vortex passages formed in the piston. The vortex passage extends in the ceiling or bottom of the piston and tangentially opens at the upper and lower plane periphery of the vortex chamber. By providing the vortex passages in the above-mentioned manner, the radius of the vortex chamber can be maximized in relation to the radius of the piston thus reducing the size of the piston and, in turn the shock absorber.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber including a piston disposed within a hollow cylinder in movable position responsive to a shock applied thereto, the piston defining a hollow vortex chamber therein, the vortex chamber being communicated with fluid chambers defined in the hollow cylinder to introduce a working fluid and to generate a vortex therein for producing an absorbing force,wherein the vortex chamber being so sized as1.ltoreq.(h.multidot.Sv/So).ltoreq.6where:h is a depth of the vortex chamber;Sv is sectional area of the vortex chamber;So is effective sectional area of the piston effecting for the fluid to increase or decrease the pressure thereof.

Abstract: A shock absorber with improved shock absorbing characteristiscs has a piston in which a vortex chamber is formed. The vortex chamber communicates with upper and lower fluid chambers via communication passages. One of the communication passage opens to the vortex chamber tangentially to produce a vortex in the vortex chamber. Within the vortex chamber, a member is normally elastically urged to narrow the area through which the fluid flows. The member is responsive to the fluid pressure exceeding a predetermined value to move against the resilient force in the direction increasing the area allowing fluid flow. A bottom fitting of similar construction and function is also disclosed.