Back to results
US 2010/0244340 A1Published application
Methods and apparatus for combined variable damping and variable spring rate suspension
OwnerDennis K. Wootten, Robert C. Fox +2inventors
InventorsDennis K. Wootten, Robert C. Fox, Josh Yablon, David M. Haugen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.
Claims20
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder and a piston assembly comprising a piston and piston rod;
- working fluid within said damper, the damper comprising a compression chamber and a receiving chamber;
- a pressure-sensitive valve disposed in the damper between the compression chamber and the receiving chamber, the valve including:
- a first valve surface in communication with a pressurized gas;
- an opposing valve surface in communication with the working fluid.
2 more elements
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder and piston assembly comprising a piston and piston rod;
- working fluid within said cylinder;
- a valve disposed in the piston, the valve including:
- a first piston surface in communication with a first source of pressurized gas;
- a second piston surface in communication with a second source of pressurized gas;
- and
- a piston surface in communication with the working fluid, whereby the first and second piston surfaces are opposed.
4 more elements
A vehicle suspension damper, comprising:
- a housing with working fluid, a piston and a rod designed to move into the housing in a compression stroke of the piston;
- a remotely located reservoir for housing excess fluid during the compression stroke;
- a fluid path connecting the housing and the remotely located reservoir;
- a pressure-sensitive valve located in the fluid path, the valve having at least one movable surface acted upon by a gas, the gas housed in a chamber and the chamber in fluid communication with ambient air pressure.
1 more element
A damper for a vehicle comprising:
- a chamber with a piston and rod constructed and arranged to extend into the chamber in a compression stroke of the damper;
- a valve operable with the damper, the valve permitting and restricting operation of the damper and having a first surface formed on a movable valve member, the surface operable with a working fluid of the damper and a second surface formed on the member, the second surface operable with gas pressure whereby;
- in the compression stroke, the fluid pressure exerted on the first surface increases while the gas pressure exerted on the second surface remains constant.
A shock absorber comprising:
- a damper having a compression chamber and a piston and rod for moving into the chamber during a compression stroke;
- a valve for permitting and impeding working fluid from passing from the compression chamber of the damper to a receiving chamber of the damper, the valve having a first surface acted upon by working fluid and a second surface acted upon by a user-settable pressurized gas;
- a spring, the spring working in conjunction with the damper to affect the movement of the shock absorber during the compression stroke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.