Compression sensitive suspension dampening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254887-B2
Application number	US-201414270273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2014
Priority date	Feb 25, 2011
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

First claim

I claim:

1. A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion;
a fluid flow path coupled with and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, said fluid flow path comprising a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within said fluid flow path in response to a compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism comprises:
at least one aperture through a wall of a riser tube disposed within and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, wherein said at least one aperture enables fluid communication between an exterior of said riser tube and an interior of said riser tube; and
a valve, wherein said valve automatically closes in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said valve comprises:
a valve plate that is annular, surrounds an exterior surface of said riser tube, and is axially slidable in relation said riser tube, wherein said valve plate slides with a movement of said primary portion, wherein said movement causes said valve plate to slide over and cover said at least one aperture in said riser tube such that a sealed relationship is formed.

2. The spring of claim 1 , further comprising:
an annular bushing coupled to an outer surface of said primary portion and an inner surface of said secondary portion, said annular bushing configured for holding said primary portion centrally within said secondary portion.

3. The spring of claim 1 , wherein a first fluid within said fluid flow path is a compressible fluid.

4. The spring of claim 1 , wherein said valve further comprises:
an inner seal disposed on an interior surface of said valve plate, said inner seal configured for dynamically sealing between said interior surface of said valve plate and an exterior surface of said riser tube.

5. The spring of claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises:
an outer seal disposed on an outer surface of a valve plate, said outer seal configured for sealing between an interior surface of said primary portion and said outer surface of said valve plate such that said spring chamber is isolated from an oil bath chamber positioned below and coupled with said primary portion, wherein said oil bath chamber is configured for holding a second fluid.

6. The spring of claim 5 , wherein said second fluid is a substantially incompressible fluid and has an upper surface level.

7. The spring of claim 5 , wherein an upper portion of said oil bath chamber holds a compressible fluid.

8. The spring of claim 1 , wherein said primary portion is at least a portion of an upper leg tube and said secondary portion is at least a portion of a lower leg tube.

9. A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion;
a combination of a compressible fluid and an incompressible fluid, wherein said combination is configured for automatically providing a portion of resistance in response to a compressing movement of said suspension;
a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing a second portion of resistance within a fluid flow path in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism comprises:
at least one aperture through a wall of a riser tube disposed within and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, wherein said at least one aperture enables fluid communication between an exterior of said riser tube and an interior of said riser tube; and
a valve, wherein said valve automatically closes in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said valve comprises:
a valve plate that is annular, surrounds an exterior surface of said riser tube, and is axially slidable in relation said riser tube, wherein said valve plate slides with a movement of said primary portion, wherein said movement causes said valve plate to slide over and cover said at least one aperture in said riser tube such that a sealed relationship is formed.

10. The spring of claim 9 , further comprising:
an annular bushing coupled to an outer surface of said primary portion and an inner surface of said secondary portion, said annular bushing configured for holding said primary portion centrally within said secondary portion.

11. The spring of claim 9 , wherein said spring is disposed in a right-side-up fork, said spring comprising:
a fluid flow path coupled with and between said primary portion and said secondary portion.

12. The spring of claim 9 , wherein said valve further comprises:
an outer seal disposed on an outer surface of a valve plate, said outer seal configured for sealing between an interior surface of said primary portion and said outer surface of said valve plate such that said spring chamber is isolated from an oil bath chamber positioned below and coupled with said primary portion, wherein said oil bath chamber is configured for holding a second fluid.

13. The spring of claim 12 , wherein said second fluid is a substantially incompressible fluid and has an upper surface level.

14. The spring of claim 12 , wherein an upper portion of said oil bath chamber holds a compressible fluid.

15. The spring of claim 12 , wherein said valve further comprises:
an inner seal disposed on an interior surface of said valve plate, said inner seal configured for dynamically sealing between said interior surface of said valve plate and an exterior surface of a riser tube.

16. A vehicle suspension comprising:
a gas chamber having a first portion and a second portion;
a gas flow by-pass, having an open condition allowing a gas flow between the first portion and the second portion, and having a closed condition substantially denying said gas flow, wherein said gas flow by-pass automatically provides a resistance within a fluid flow path in response to a compressing movement of said suspension, and wherein said gas flow by-pass comprises:
at least one aperture through a wall of a riser tube disposed within and between a first telescopic member and a second telescopic member, wherein said at least one aperture enables fluid communication between said first portion and said second portion, wherein said second telescopic member is slidably engaged with said first telescopic member, said first and second telescopic members having a relatively extended position in which said gas flow by-pass is in said open condition, and a relatively compressed position in which said gas flow by-pass is in said closed condition; and
a valve, wherein said valve automatically closes in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said valve comprises:
a valve plate that is annular, surrounds an exterior surface of said riser tube, and is axially slidable in relation said riser tube, wherein said valve plate slides with a movement of said first telescopic member, wherein said movement causes said valve plate to slide over and cover said at least one aperture in said riser tube such that a sealed relationship is former.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Pelot Sante

Classifications

• B60G2202/32

  The spring being in series with the damper and/or actuator · CPC title

• B60G11/27

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• B62K25/08 Primary

  for front wheel · 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

• B60G15/12

  and fluid damper · CPC title