# US 11,299,233 B2 · Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

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- Number: US 11,299,233 B2
- Document ID: US11299233B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/938,484
- Filed: 2020-07-24
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2009-01-07
- Assignees: Fox Factory, Inc.
- Applicants: Fox Factory, Inc.
- Inventors: Everet Ericksen; Robert C. Fox; David Batterbee; John Marking
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299233B2

## CPC

- B62K 25/08: for front wheel
- B60G 17/08: Characteristics of fluid dampers (adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53)
- F16F 9/465: {using servo control, the servo pressure being created by the flow of damping fluid, e.g. controlling pressure in a chamber downstream of a pilot passage (self-adjustment of damping F16F9/50)}
- F16F 9/5126: {Piston, or piston-like valve elements (F16F9/504 takes precedence)}
- B60G 2202/322: the damper being controllable
- B60G 2204/61: Adjustable during maintenance
- B60G 2300/12: Cycles; Motorcycles
- B60G 2500/10: Damping action or damper
- B60G 2500/11: Damping valves
- B60G 2600/20: Manual control or setting means
- B62K 2025/044: {Suspensions with automatic adjustment}
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
a primary valve;
a pilot valve assembly, said pilot valve assembly comprising:
an adjustable pilot spool configured for controlling a pressure inside said primary valve;
a bleed passage; and
a flow control orifice for limiting flow through into said bleed passage;
an externally-adjustable adjuster, wherein said pilot valve assembly meters fluid to said primary valve, and movement of said externally-adjustable adjuster varies an effective orifice size of said adjustable pilot spool, said externally-adjustable adjuster disposed at a top cap of said vehicle suspension damper, and wherein said adjuster moves said primary valve in response to a current delivered from a power source; and
a set of shims coupled to said primary valve, wherein a position of said adjustable pilot spool corresponds to an increase of pressure inside said primary valve and an increase of an axial force on said set of shims by said primary valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1, wherein said externally-adjustable adjuster moves said primary valve in response to a current delivered from a power source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1, further comprising:
an armature coupled with said externally-adjustable adjuster and said pilot valve assembly; and
a coil, wherein said coil electromagnetically interacts with said armature in response to a current delivered from a power source, wherein when said armature moves, an adjustable pilot spool of said pilot valve assembly moves in corresponding axial positions relative to said coil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 3, wherein an amount of said current to be delivered by said power source is predetermined.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 4, wherein said power source comprises:
a solenoid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 further comprising:
a latching solenoid coupled to said pilot valve assembly, said latching solenoid configured to adjust said pilot valve assembly.