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US 12,409,697 B2Granted
Self-pumping spring preload system
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorConnor Randall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring preload system comprising a cylinder with an outer diameter, a body to house at least the cylinder, a piston shaft, and a main damping piston. The main damping piston is coupled to the piston shaft and configured for operation within the cylinder. The main damping piston is further configured to divide the cylinder into a compression side and a rebound side. The spring preload system further comprises a preload cylinder and a valve that is fluidly disposed between the compression side and the preload cylinder.
Claims20
A spring preload system comprising:
- a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an outer diameter;
- a body to house at least said cylinder;
- a piston shaft;
- a main damping piston, said main damping piston coupled to said piston shaft and configured for operation within said cylinder, said main damping piston configured to divide said cylinder into a compression side and a rebound side;
- a reservoir fluidly coupled with said cylinder via a pair of parallel fluid flow pathways, said parallel fluid flow pathways comprising:
- a first fluid flow pathway comprising a base valve fluidly disposed between said cylinder and said reservoir;
- and
- a second fluid flow pathway comprising:
- a preload cylinder to provide for a change in a suspension preload, wherein said suspension preload is changed by a pressure change of a fluid in said preload cylinder;
- an orifice fluidly disposed between said compression side and said preload cylinder;
- and
- a valve fluidly disposed between said preload cylinder and said reservoir, wherein a flow passage of said valve is larger than a flow passage of said orifice, and wherein said valve is configured to control a pressure of said fluid in said preload cylinder.
9 more elements
A spring preload system comprising:
- a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an outer diameter;
- a body to house at least said cylinder;
- a piston shaft;
- a main damping piston, said main damping piston coupled to said piston shaft and configured for operation within said cylinder, said main damping piston configured to divide said cylinder into a compression side and a rebound side;
- a reservoir fluidly coupled with said cylinder via a pair of parallel fluid flow pathways, said parallel fluid flow pathways comprising:
- a first fluid flow pathway comprising a base valve fluidly disposed between said cylinder and said reservoir;
- and
- a second fluid flow pathway comprising:
- a preload cylinder to provide for a change in a suspension preload, wherein said suspension preload is changed by a pressure change of a fluid in said preload cylinder;
- an orifice fluidly disposed between said compression side and said preload cylinder;
- and
- a valve fluidly disposed between said preload cylinder and said reservoir, wherein a flow passage of said valve is larger than a flow passage of said orifice, and wherein said valve is configured to control a pressure of said fluid in said preload cylinder;
- and
- wherein said preload cylinder comprises;
- a preload flange, wherein said preload flange is disposed around said outer diameter, wherein said preload flange moves along said cylinder;
- a cavity, said cavity formed by said cylinder, said preload flange, and said body;
- and
- a spring, wherein said spring is braced against said preload flange.
15 more elements
A suspension system comprising:
- a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an outer diameter;
- a body to house at least said cylinder;
- a piston shaft;
- a main damping piston, said main damping piston coupled to said piston shaft and configured for operation within said cylinder, said main damping piston configured to divide said cylinder into a compression side and a rebound side;
- a reservoir fluidly coupled with said cylinder via a pair of parallel fluid flow pathways, said parallel fluid flow pathways comprising:
- a first fluid flow pathway comprising a base valve fluidly disposed between said cylinder and said reservoir;
- and
- a second fluid flow pathway comprising a spring preload system, said spring preload system comprising:
- a preload cylinder to provide for a change in a suspension preload, wherein said suspension preload is changed by a pressure change of a fluid in said preload cylinder;
- an orifice fluidly disposed between said compression side and said preload cylinder;
- and
- a valve fluidly disposed between said preload cylinder and said reservoir, wherein a flow passage of said valve is larger than a flow passage of said orifice, and wherein said valve is configured to control a pressure of said fluid in said preload cylinder.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.