Bypass for a suspension damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11408482-B2
Application number	US-202017027478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2009
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A damper comprising:
a cylinder and a piston assembly comprising a piston;
a working fluid within said cylinder;
a bypass having a fluid pathway between a first and a second side of the piston;
a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the bypass, the valve including a displaceable piston surface, the piston surface biasing the valve towards a closed position when displaced; and
a plurality of predetermined fluid volumes in selective communication with the piston surface for causing displacement thereof.

2. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the valve is disposed adjacent the bypass and is closed when a movable member obstructs a flow path between the cylinder and bypass and is open when the movable member permits flow.

3. The damper of claim 2 , wherein the valve further includes a locked-out position.

4. The damper of claim 2 , wherein dampening is increased when the valve is closed and decreased when the valve is open.

5. The damper of claim 1 , wherein each predetermined volume is injectable into the valve to displace the piston surface.

6. The damper of claim 5 , wherein each predetermined volume comprises a valve operating cylinder, the fluid contents of the cylinder injectable into the valve to displace the piston surface, and optionally wherein each valve operating cylinder, includes a piston and rod that are operable to cause the fluid in each cylinder to be injected into the valve against the piston surface and optionally wherein the fluid contents are returnable to the valve operating cylinders, thereby removing the biasing effect on the valve towards the closed position.

7. The damper of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined fluid volumes of the valve operating cylinders are different, or wherein the predetermined fluid volumes of the valve operating cylinders are substantially equal.

8. The damper of claim 6 , wherein the valve operating cylinders are operable separately, and optionally wherein contents of a first control cylinder of said valve operating cylinders cause the piston surface to be displaced a first distance and contents of a second control cylinder of said valve operating cylinders cause the piston surface to be displaced a second, additional distance.

9. The damper of claim 6 , wherein the valve operating cylinders are operable simultaneously.

10. The damper of claim 6 , wherein said valve control cylinders are remotely controllable, and optionally wherein the valve control cylinders are solenoid-operated.

11. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the valve is remotely controllable.

12. The damper of claim 11 , further comprising a manually operable switch having at least two positions, and optionally wherein the switch is located in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

13. The damper of claim 11 , further including a load transducer for sensing a piston rod force created by a damper piston rod connected to said piston, and/or a transducer arranged to measure an angle associated with a steering wheel of a vehicle.

14. The damper of claim 1 , further comprising a second valve for limiting flow through the bypass.

15. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a one way valve arranged to permit fluid flow in a single direction, and/or further including a passageway through the piston and limiting a flow rate of the working fluid through the piston in at least one direction.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Marking John

Classifications

• F16F9/5126 Primary

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

• F16F9/19

  with a single cylinder {and of single-tube type} · CPC title

• F16F9/56

  Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke {(F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005)} · CPC title

• F16F9/461

  characterised by actuation means · CPC title

• F16F9/325

  for attachment of valve units · CPC title