Back to results
US 11,279,198 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for controlling a fluid damper
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorJohn Marking
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims14
A damper comprising:
- a damper body having a longitudinal axis and at least partially defining a fluid chamber containing damping fluid;
- a piston rod, a portion of said piston rod movable along the longitudinal axis of, and within, said damper body, wherein during a compression stroke, said portion of said piston rod moves further into said damper body at least partially within a first portion of said fluid chamber;
- an enclosed fluid chamber disposed within said damper, said enclosed fluid chamber at least partially bounded by a first movable member separating said first portion of said fluid chamber from said enclosed fluid chamber, said enclosed fluid chamber at least partially bounded by a second movable member;
- a gas-filled chamber disposed within said damper, said second movable member separating said enclosed fluid chamber from said gas-filled chamber;
- said enclosed fluid chamber having a variable rheology fluid disposed therein, said enclosed fluid chamber at least partially displaceable by said damping fluid wherein movement of said enclosed fluid chamber causes a volume change in said gas-filled chamber;
- and
- a magnet disposed within said enclosed fluid chamber, said magnet configured to provide a magnetic field which affects said variable rheology fluid.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.