Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10047817-B2
Application number	US-201414251446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2014
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to the vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component is coupled with a frame of the vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper; monitoring a state of at least one valve within at least one vehicle suspension damper of the vehicle, wherein the state controls a damping force within the at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on the comparing and the monitoring, regulating damping forces within the at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating the at least one valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of the frame is reduced.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method for controlling vehicle motion, said method comprising:
comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to said vehicle component, wherein said vehicle component is coupled with a frame of said vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper;
monitoring a state of at least one pilot valve within said at least one vehicle suspension damper, wherein said state controls a damping force within said at least one vehicle suspension damper, said damping force controlling a flow of damping fluid from a damping cylinder interior of said at least one vehicle suspension damper to an annular reservoir at least partially surrounding said damping cylinder reservoir, said at least one pilot valve comprising:
a pilot spool having a metering edge, said pilot spool disposed within a bleed passage centrally located about an axis of said damping cylinder interior and said annular reservoir;
at least one port disposed fluidically coupling said damping cylinder interior and said annular reservoir via said bleed passage, said at least one port further disposed to selectively be at least partially obstructed by said metering edge of said pilot spool;
an armature coupled to said pilot spool; and
a coil disposed proximate said armature such that current applied to said coil is able to generate motion of said armature and said pilot spool to cause said metering edge of said pilot spool to at least partially obstruct said at least one port, said motion of said pilot spool affecting pressure such that greater obstruction of said at least one port also increases closing pressure applied to valve shims of said at least one vehicle suspension damper; and

based on said comparing and said monitoring, regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , where said method further comprises:
before said comparing, accessing a set of control signals, wherein at least one control signal of said set of control signals comprises said measured acceleration value.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises:
before said regulating, determining a mode switch setting for said at least one vehicle suspension damper.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced comprises:
sending a first activation signal to a power source of said at least one vehicle suspension damper, said first activation signal activating said power source to deliver a current to said at least one pilot valve, wherein upon delivery of said current, said at least one pilot valve adjusts to said desired state.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced comprises:
regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a fully open position such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced, wherein said fully open position enables engagement of a soft system mode for said at least one vehicle suspension damper.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced comprises:
regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a closed position such that an acceleration of said frame is reduced, wherein said closed position enables engagement of a firm system mode for said at least one vehicle suspension damper.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises:
setting a timer configured to hold said at least one pilot valve in said desired state for a predetermined period of time.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein said method further comprises:
upon expiration of said timer, determining whether or not said at least one vehicle suspension damper is experiencing rebounding.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein said method further comprises:
sending an activation signal to a power source of said at least one vehicle suspension damper, said activation signal activating said power source to deliver a current to said at least one pilot valve, wherein upon delivery of said current, said at least one pilot valve adjusts to a closed position.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for controlling vehicle motion, said method comprising:
determining that at least one vehicle suspension damper of a vehicle is in a rebounding mode;
comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of said vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to said vehicle component, wherein said vehicle component is coupled with a frame of said vehicle via said at least one vehicle suspension damper;
monitoring a state of at least one pilot valve within said at least one vehicle suspension damper of said vehicle, wherein said state controls a damping force within said at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on said comparing and said monitoring, regulating damping forces within said at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating said at least one pilot valve to adjust to a desired state, such that an acceleration of said vehicle component is reduced, said damping force controlling a flow of damping fluid from a damping cylinder interior of said at least one vehicle suspension damper to an annular reservoir at least partially surrounding said damping cylinder reservoir, said at least one pilot valve comprising:
a pilot spool having a metering edge, said pilot spool disposed within a bleed passage centrally located about an axis of said damping cylinder interior and said annular reservoir;
at least one port disposed fluidically coupling said damping cylinder interior and said annular reservoir via said bleed passage, said at least one port further disposed to selectively be at least partially obstructed by said metering edge of said pilot spool;
an armature coupled to said pilot spool; and
a coil disposed proximate said armature such that current applied to said coil is able to generate motion of said armature and said pilot spool to cause said metering edge of said pilot spool to at least partially obstruct said at least one port, said motion of said pilot spool affecting pressure such that greater obstruction of said at least one port also increases closing pressure applied to valve shims of said at least one veh

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Ericksen Everet Owen
• O'Neal George
• Mclellan Matt

Classifications

• B60G17/01908

  Acceleration or inclination sensors (characterised by the use of gyroscopes B60G21/08) · CPC title

• B60G17/0161

  mainly during straight-line motion (B60G17/0164 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F9/5126 Primary

  Piston, or piston-like valve elements (F16F9/504 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F9/512

  Means responsive to load action, {i.e. static load} on the damper or {dynamic} fluid pressure {changes} in the damper, {e.g. due to changes in velocity (F16F9/504, F16F9/516 take precedence; non-automatic damper adjustment from a distance using servo control, the servo pressure being created by the flow of damping fluid F16F9/465; self-pumping fluid springs in vehicle suspensions B60G17/044)} · CPC title