Jeffrey T Gardner

US Patent:

20180141401, May 24, 2018

Filed:

Jan 16, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/872451

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
David R. BLANKENSHIP - Canton MI, US
Karl C. KAZMIRSKI - Temperance MI, US
Jeroen K. PAENHUYSEN - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jeffrey T. GARDNER - Woodland Park CO, US

International Classification:

B60G 17/08
F16F 9/46
B60G 13/00
F16F 9/32
B60G 17/015
B60G 17/019

Abstract:

A damper system and method for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.

US Patent:

20160082803, Mar 24, 2016

Filed:

Nov 20, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/947222

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
David R. BLANKENSHIP - Canton MI, US
Karl C. KAZMIRSKI - Temperance MI, US
Jeroen K. PAENHUYSEN - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jeffrey T. GARDNER - Woodland Park CO, US

International Classification:

B60G 17/08
B60G 17/015

Abstract:

A damper system and method for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.

US Patent:

20140262648, Sep 18, 2014

Filed:

Mar 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/211318

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
Scott S. DUNAWAY - Carleton MI, US
David R. BLANKENSHIP - Canton MI, US
Jeffrey T. GARDNER - Woodland Park CO, US

Assignee:

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

F16F 9/516
F16F 9/34

US Classification:

1882822

Abstract:

A shock absorber may include a piston rod, a first rod guide member, a second rod guide member, and an electronically controlled valve assembly. The first rod guide member is concentrically disposed about the piston rod, and the second rod guide member is concentrically disposed about the piston rod and is adjacent the first rod guide member. The electronically controlled valve assembly may include a coil assembly and a valve guide assembly. The valve guide assembly may be disposed adjacent to the coil assembly and may be concentrically disposed about the second rod guide member. The valve guide assembly includes a spool and defines a valve inlet, a valve outlet, and a chamber. The spool is disposed within the chamber and controls the flow of fluid between the valve inlet and the valve outlet.

US Patent:

20140244112, Aug 28, 2014

Filed:

Feb 27, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/191885

Inventors:

- Lake Forest IL, US
David R. BLANKENSHIP - Canton MI, US
Karl C. KAZMIRSKI - Temperance MI, US
Jeroen K. PAENHUYSEN - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jeffrey T. GARDNER - Woodland Park CO, US

Assignee:

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Lake Forest IL

International Classification:

B60G 17/08
B60G 17/015

US Classification:

701 37

Abstract:

A damper system for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.