# US 2013/0154209 A1 · Methods and apparatus for suspension lock out and signal generation

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- Number: US 2013/0154209 A1
- Document ID: US20130154209A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/761,555
- Filed: 2013-02-07
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-25
- Assignees: Fox Factory, Inc.
- Inventors: David Haugen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154209A1

## CPC

- F16F 9/42: Cooling arrangements
- B60G 13/14: having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air {(fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30)}
- B62K 25/08: for front wheel
- F03G 1/00: Spring motors (spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B)
- F03G 1/024: {using helical springs}
- F16F 9/06: using both gas and liquid {(F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044)}
- F16F 9/18: with a closed cylinder and a piston separating two or more working spaces therein
- H02K 7/18: Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
- B60G 2204/4604: mechanically, e.g. using a hook as anticreep mechanism
- B60G 2204/61: Adjustable during maintenance
- B60G 2300/12: Cycles; Motorcycles
- B60G 2300/60: Vehicles using regenerative power
- B60G 2400/7162: Fluid damper
- B60G 2500/104: continuous
- B60G 2600/72: Cooling or warming means
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle suspension comprising:
a first support member;
a second support member, the first and second support members movable relative to one another and including a damper having a damping fluid therein between the first and second members;
a damping adjuster that alters a damping rate of the damping fluid in response to a change in a characteristic of the damping fluid; and
a power generating assembly comprising:
a sensor that senses the change in the characteristic of the damping fluid caused by the relative movement between the first support member and the second support member, generates electrical power in response to the change, and transmits the generated electrical power to a processor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the first support member comprises a piston rod and the second support member comprises a cylinder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the first and second support members are movable relative to one another along a substantially common axis, the vehicle suspension further comprising:
a gripping member operationally interposed between the first and the second support members and configured to selectively immobilize the first and second support members relatively along the substantially common axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:
at least one of a motor winding and a magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:
a piezoelectric structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:
a thermo-electric generator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:
at least two of a thermo-electric generator, a piezoelectric structure, and a motor winding in conjunction with a magnet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises:
at least one of a bimetallic structure, a shape memory structure, a thermo-electric generator, a piezoelectric generator, and a motor winding in conjunction with a magnet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises:
at least one of pressure and heat.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the damping adjuster comprises:
at least one of a valve member and a thermo-electric generator.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the damping fluid comprises:
liquid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle suspension of claim 1, wherein the damping fluid comprises:
gas.