Oil temperature estimating device for shock absorber, and shock absorber damping force control apparatus using such oil temperature estimating device

摘要

A device for estimating a temperature of a working oil in a shock absorber in a suspension system which connects a sprung member and an unsprung member of a motor vehicle, wherein the temperature of the oil is estimated on the basis of at least detected vertical acceleration of the sprung member. The device may be suitably incorporated in an apparatus for controlling the damping characteristic of the shock absorber, wherein an actuator is operated by a controller for changing the damping characteristic, and the controller includes the temperature estimating device, and a device for inhibiting an operation of the actuator to control the damping characteristic when the oil temperature estimated by the temperature estimating device is lower than a predetermined threshold.