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US 12,504,054 B2Granted
Position sensitive suspension damping with an active valve
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Paul Cox, John Marking, Everet Owen Ericksen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening with an active valve. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an active valve controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
Claims12
A damper for a shock absorber comprising:
- a damper chamber having a compression portion and a rebound portion;
- a dampening piston coupled to a piston shaft, said dampening piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber, said dampening piston separating said compression portion from said rebound portion;
- a bottom out piston coupled to said piston shaft, said bottom out piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber;
- a bottom out cup formed at a lower end of said damper chamber;
- said bottom out cup to hold a working fluid and receive said bottom out piston during a compression stroke of said shock absorber, wherein said bottom out cup comprises an upper end having a diameter that tapers outwards;
- a blow-off valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a first fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said blow-off valve to selectively allow a first portion of said working fluid to flow from said bottom out cup, through said first fluid path and to said compression portion;
- an active valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a second fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said active valve to meter a fluid flow of a second portion of said working fluid from said bottom out cup, through said second fluid path and to said compression portion;
- an external reservoir in fluid communication with the rebound portion of the damper chamber via a third fluid path,
- the external reservoir to receive and supply the working fluid as the damping piston moves in and out of the damper chamber;
- and
- a non-active valve coupled with said third fluid path,
- the non-active valve having a flow path therethrough,
- the non-active valve manually adjustable to meter a flow of said working fluid through said third fluid path.
10 more elements
A damper for a shock absorber comprising:
- a damper chamber having a compression portion and a rebound portion;
- a dampening piston coupled to a piston shaft, said dampening piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber, said dampening piston separating said compression portion from said rebound portion;
- a bottom out piston coupled to said piston shaft, said bottom out piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber;
- a bottom out cup formed at a lower end of said damper chamber;
- said bottom out cup to hold a working fluid and receive said bottom out piston during a compression stroke of said shock absorber, wherein said bottom out cup comprises an upper end having a diameter that tapers outwards;
- a blow-off valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a first fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said blow-off valve to selectively allow a first portion of said working fluid to flow from said bottom out cup, through said first fluid path and to said compression portion;
- a first active valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a second fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said first active valve to meter a fluid flow of a second portion of said working fluid from said bottom out cup, through said second fluid path and to said compression portion;
- an external reservoir in fluid communication with the rebound portion of the damper chamber via a third fluid path,
- the external reservoir to receive and supply the working fluid as the damping piston moves in and out of the damper chamber;
- and
- a second active valve coupled with said third fluid path,
- the second active valve having a flow path therethrough,
- the second active valve to meter a flow of said working fluid through said third fluid path.
10 more elements
A damper for a shock absorber comprising:
- a damper chamber having a compression portion and a rebound portion;
- a dampening piston coupled to a piston shaft, said dampening piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber, said dampening piston separating said compression portion from said rebound portion;
- a bottom out piston coupled to said piston shaft, said bottom out piston disposed in said damper chamber and axially movable relative to said damper chamber;
- a bottom out cup formed at a lower end of said damper chamber;
- said bottom out cup to hold a working fluid and receive said bottom out piston during a compression stroke of said shock absorber, wherein said bottom out cup comprises an upper end having a diameter that tapers outwards;
- a blow-off valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a first fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said blow-off valve to selectively allow a first portion of said working fluid to flow from said bottom out cup, through said first fluid path and to said compression portion;
- a non-active valve coupled with said bottom out cup via a second fluid path and coupled to said compression portion, said non-active valve manually adjustable to meter a fluid flow of a second portion of said working fluid from said bottom out cup, through said second fluid path and to said compression portion;
- an external reservoir in fluid communication with the rebound portion of the damper chamber via a third fluid path,
- the external reservoir to receive and supply the working fluid as the damping piston moves in and out of the damper chamber;
- and
- an active valve coupled with said third fluid path,
- the active valve having a flow path therethrough,
- the active valve to meter a flow of said working fluid through said third fluid path.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.