Compression sensitive suspension dampening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533732-B2
Application number	US-201514981274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 25, 2011
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

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

What is claimed is:

1. A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, wherein said primary portion includes at least a portion of an upper leg tube and said secondary portion includes at least a portion of said lower leg tube;
a riser tube extending centrally through said lower leg tube, wherein a lower end of said riser tube is connected to said lower leg tube and fixed relative thereto, wherein said riser tube comprises a tapered outer diameter comprising:
a narrowed section;
a widened section that is greater in diameter than said narrowed section; and
an area in between said narrowed section and said widened section, wherein said area is tapered to gradually increase in diameter between said narrowed section and said widened section;

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:
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; and
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, wherein said valve plate slides with a movement of said primary portion, wherein said movement causes said inner seal to slide over said narrowed section and engage with at least one of said widened section and said area in between said narrowed section and said widened section.

2. The spring of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one aperture through a wall of said 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.

3. The spring of claim 2 , wherein said at least one aperture is positioned within said at least one of said widened section and said area in between said narrowed section and said widened section, such that, upon said movement, said inner seal covers said at least one aperture in said riser tube such that a sealed relationship is formed.

4. 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.

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

6. 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.

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

8. The spring of claim 6 , wherein an upper portion of said oil bath chamber holds a compressible fluid.

9. 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.

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Pelot Sante

Classifications

• B60G11/27

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• B60G2202/32

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

• B62K2201/08

  Fluid springs · CPC title

• B60G2300/12

  Cycles; Motorcycles · 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