Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060499-B2
Application number	US-201313934067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2013
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A system for controlling vehicle motion is described. The system includes: a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, the first set of sensors configured for sensing the vehicle motion; and a vehicle suspension damper coupled with the first set of sensors, the vehicle suspension damper configured for adjusting a damping force therein, the vehicle suspension damper comprising: a primary valve; a pilot valve assembly coupled with the primary valve, the pilot valve assembly configured for metering a flow of fluid to the primary valve, in response to at least the sensing; and an orifice block coupled with the primary valve and comprising a control orifice there through, the control orifice configured for operating cooperatively with the pilot valve assembly in the metering the flow of fluid to the primary valve.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A system for controlling vehicle motion, said system comprising:
a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, said first set of sensors sensing said vehicle motion; and
a vehicle suspension damper coupled with said first set of sensors, said vehicle suspension damper adjusting a damping force therein, said vehicle suspension damper comprising:
a primary valve;
a pilot valve assembly coupled with said primary valve, said pilot valve assembly metering a flow of fluid to said primary valve, in response to at least said sensing of said vehicle motion; and

an orifice block coupled with said primary valve, said orifice block comprising:
a control orifice there through, wherein said control orifice comprises:
a fluid flow pathway having a first end fluidly coupled with a first fluid chamber of an interior of a damping cylinder of said vehicle suspension damper and a second end fluidly coupled to a second fluid chamber adjacent to said primary valve, wherein said flow of said fluid is directed from said second fluid chamber to said primary valve.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pilot valve assembly performs said metering said flow of fluid to said primary valve in response to at least any of the following: an electro-mechanical device; a manually adjustable needle and jet arrangement; and a pressure signal from an outside pressure source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises:
a pressure relief valve covering a fluid port, said pressure relief valve being biased in a closed position by a set of springs coupled therewith, and configured for opening in response to an interior damper pressure against said pressure relief valve being above a predetermined threshold, and wherein upon opening of said pressure relief valve, a portion of said fluid flows through said fluid port to reduce said interior damper pressure.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said control orifice further controlling bleed at low shaft speeds.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said control orifice further reducing a pressure within said primary valve at high shaft speeds.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first set of sensors comprises:
a set of accelerometers.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first set of sensors producing a control signal based upon sensed vehicle motion.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a power source coupled with said vehicle suspension damper; and
a control system coupled with said power source and said vehicle suspension damper, said control system receiving a control signal from sensors coupled with said vehicle and for selectively activating said power source, wherein upon a selective activation of said power source, said power source delivers a current to said vehicle suspension damper.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
an adjuster moving a pilot valve of said pilot valve assembly upon a receipt of said current.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said sensors comprise:
said first set of sensors.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein said sensors comprise:
a second set of sensors coupled with said vehicle and said vehicle suspension damper, said second set of sensors sensing said vehicle motion, wherein said second set of sensors is different from said first set of sensors.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein said power source comprises:
a solenoid.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said pilot valve assembly comprises:
an adjustable pilot spool controlling a pressure inside said primary valve.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said adjustable pilot spool comprises:
an electromagnetic pilot spool valve.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein said vehicle suspension damper further comprises:
a set of shims adjacent to said primary valve, wherein a position of said adjustable pilot spool corresponds to an increase of pressure inside said primary valve and an increase of an axial force on said set of shims.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle suspension damper further comprises:
an armature coupled with said adjuster and said pilot valve assembly; and
a coil, wherein said coil electromagnetically interacts with said armature in response to a current delivered from a power source, wherein when said armature moves, an adjustable pilot spool of said pilot valve assembly moves in corresponding axial positions relative to said coil.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein an amount of said current to be delivered by said power source is predetermined.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein said power source comprises:
a solenoid.

19. A system for controlling vehicle motion, said system comprising:
a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, said first set of sensors sensing said vehicle motion; and
a vehicle suspension damper coupled with said first set of sensors, said vehicle suspension damper adjusting a damping force therein, said vehicle suspension damper comprising:
a primary valve;
a pilot valve assembly coupled with said primary valve, said pilot valve assembly metering a flow of fluid to said primary valve, in response to at least said sensing of said vehicle motion;
an orifice block coupled with said primary valve, said orifice block comprising:
a control orifice there through, wherein said control orifice comprises:
a fluid flow pathway having a first end fluidly coupled with a first fluid chamber of an interior of a damping cylinder of said vehicle suspension damper and a second end fluidly coupled to a second fluid chamber adjacent to said primary valve, wherein said flow of said fluid is directed from said second fluid chamber to said primary valve;

a damper cylinder;
a base valve assembly comprising said pilot valve assembly, said primary valve, and said orifice block;
an elastic bladder; and
a first fluid flow path providing a first fluid pathway for a movement of a first portion of said fluid through and between said damper cylinder, said base valve assembly, and said elastic bladder, wherein during at least one of a compression and a rebound of said vehicle suspension damper, said first portion of said fluid flows through said first fluid flow path, and during a damping of said compression and said rebound, said pilot valve assembly at least partially obstructs said first fluid flow path.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein said pilot valve assembly comprises:
a pilot spool obstructing a first flow port within said first fluid flow path between said damper cylinder and said elastic bladder.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said vehicle suspension damper further comprises:
a second damping fluid flow path providing a second fluid pathway for a movement of a second portion of said fluid from said damper cylinder, into said base valve assembly, such that said second portion of said fluid applies pressure against said primary valve, when said pilot valve assembly at least partially obstructs said first fluid flow path.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Ericksen Everet Owen
• Fox Robert C
• Marking John

Classifications

• F16F9/464

  Control of valve bias or pre-stress, e.g. electromagnetically (F16F9/465 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62K25/08

  for front wheel · CPC title

• F16F9/3292

  Sensor arrangements · CPC title

• F16F9/5126 Primary

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

• B62K2207/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic