Internal floating piston

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12429074-B2
Application number	US-202318367261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2023
Priority date	Sep 12, 2023
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

An IFP is disclosed. The IFP includes a sealing channel formed axially about an outer diameter (OD), the sealing channel including at least two walls where the at least two walls of the sealing channel having a smaller OD than an inner diameter (ID) of a chamber and a channel is formed between the at least two walls. The IFP also includes an anti-tipping feature fixedly coupled with at least a portion of one wall of the sealing channel, the anti-tipping feature increasing a length of the IFP.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internal floating piston (IFP) comprising:
a sealing channel formed axially about an outer diameter (OD) of said IFP, said sealing channel comprising:
at least two walls, said at least two walls of said sealing channel having a smaller OD than an inner diameter (ID) of a chamber; and

an anti-tipping feature fixedly coupled with at least a portion of one wall of said sealing channel, said anti-tipping feature increasing a length of said IFP, wherein said anti-tipping feature comprises:
a circumferential feature comprising a contact surface, said circumferential feature formed axially about said OD of said IFP and having a similar diameter as said sealing channel, said circumferential feature having at least one fluid pathway disposed at least partially therein; and
a stand-off fixedly coupling said circumferential feature with said one wall of said sealing channel, said stand-off providing a separation distance between said sealing channel and said circumferential feature, said stand-off having at least one fluid pathway disposed at least partially therein.

2. The IFP of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal, said sealing channel configured to retain said seal, said seal configured to provide a fluid seal between said IFP and said chamber when said IFP is installed within said chamber.

3. The IFP of claim 1 , wherein said separation distance of said stand-off is dependent upon said ID of said chamber.

4. The IFP of claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluid pathway of said stand-off comprises:
an open area formed by reducing an OD of at least said portion of said stand-off to less than said OD of said circumferential feature.

5. The IFP of claim 4 , wherein a shape of said stand-off is an hourglass.

6. The IFP of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more tangs fixedly coupled with said circumferential feature, said one or more tangs about said OD of said sealing channel and projecting therefrom.

7. The IFP of claim 1 , wherein said anti-tipping feature comprises:
a plurality of tangs fixedly coupled with said one wall of said sealing channel, said plurality of tangs spread axially about said OD of said sealing channel and projecting therefrom.

8. The IFP of claim 7 , wherein said one or more of said plurality of tangs comprise:
at least one fluid pathway at least partially therein.

9. The IFP of claim 7 , wherein said one or more of said plurality of tangs comprise:
a scaffold type architecture.

10. The IFP of claim 7 , wherein a length of said projection of said plurality of tangs is related to said ID of said chamber.

11. The IFP of claim 1 , wherein said sealing channel and said anti-tipping feature are formed from a single material.

12. The IFP of claim 11 , wherein said single material comprises a low coefficient of friction.

13. The IFP of claim 1 , further comprising:
a material with a low coefficient of friction provided about said OD of said anti-tipping feature.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a first tube;
a second tube telescopically coupled with said first tube;
a valve assembly configured to control a telescopic movement of said first tube and said second tube; and
an internal floating piston (IFP) comprising:
a sealing channel formed axially about an outer diameter (OD) of said IFP, said sealing channel configured to retain a seal, said seal configured to provide a fluid seal between said IFP and said chamber when said IFP is installed within said chamber, said sealing channel comprising:
at least two walls, said at least two walls of said sealing channel having a smaller OD than an inner diameter (ID) of a chamber within said apparatus; and
a channel formed between said at least two walls; and

an anti-tipping feature fixedly coupled with at least a portion of one wall of said sealing channel, said anti-tipping feature increasing a length of said IFP, wherein said anti-tipping feature comprises:
a circumferential feature comprising a contact surface, said circumferential feature formed axially about said OD of said IFP and having a similar diameter as said sealing channel, said circumferential feature having at least one fluid pathway disposed at least partially therein; and
a stand-off fixedly coupling said circumferential feature with said one wall of said sealing channel, said stand-off providing a separation distance between said sealing channel and said circumferential feature, said stand-off having at least one fluid pathway disposed at least partially therein.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said separation distance of said stand-off is dependent upon said ID of said chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said at least one fluid pathway of said stand-off comprises:
an open area formed by reducing an OD of at least said portion of said stand-off to less than said OD of said circumferential feature.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
one or more tangs fixedly coupled with said circumferential feature, said one or more tangs about said OD of said sealing channel and projecting therefrom.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said anti-tipping feature comprises:
a plurality of tangs fixedly coupled with said one wall of said sealing channel, said plurality of tangs spread axially about said OD of said sealing channel and projecting therefrom.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said one or more of said plurality of tangs comprise:
at least one fluid pathway at least partially therein.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said one or more of said plurality of tangs comprise:
a scaffold type architecture.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a length of said projection of said plurality of tangs is related to said ID of said chamber.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said sealing channel and said anti-tipping feature are formed from a single material.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein said single material comprises a low coefficient of friction.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a material with a low coefficient of friction provided about said OD of said anti-tipping feature.

25. A telescopic assembly comprising:
a chamber;
a piston coupled to a piston shaft, said piston disposed in said chamber and axially movable relative to said chamber, said piston separating a compression portion from a rebound portion within said chamber; and
an internal floating piston (IFP) comprising:
a sealing channel formed axially about an outer diameter (OD) of said IFP, said sealing channel configured to retain a seal, said seal configured to provide a fluid seal between said IFP and said chamber when said IFP is installed within said chamber, said sealing channel comprising:
at least two walls, said at least two walls of said sealing channel having a smaller OD than an inner diameter (ID) of said chamber; and
a channel formed between said at least two walls; and

an anti-tipping feature fixedly coupled with at least a portion of one wall of said sealing channel, said anti-tipping feature increasing a length of said IFP, wherein said anti-tipping feature comprises:
a circumferential feature comprising a contact surface, said circumferential feature formed axially about said OD of said IFP and having a similar diameter as said sealing channel, said circumferential feature having at least one fluid pathway disposed at least partially therein; and
a stand-off fixe

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Coaplen Joshua
• Otterness Christopher
• Pollock Thomas

Classifications

• F15B1/24

  with rigid separating means, e.g. pistons · CPC title

• F15B2201/312

  Sealings therefor, e.g. piston rings · CPC title

• F16J1/09

  with means for guiding fluids (F16J1/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16J1/02

  Bearing surfaces · CPC title

• F16F9/368

  Sealings in pistons · CPC title