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US 2025/0027552 A1Published application
Spring coupler and crossover damper
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsNathaniel Lundstrom, Edwin Blake Nicholas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual rate spring system is disclosed. The dual rate spring system can include a first spring and a spring coupler that have different spring rates. The dual rate spring system can include a two piece crossover ring, a two piece spring coupler, or both. The two piece crossover ring can include a first damper. The two piece spring coupler can include a second damper. The first and second damper can reduce a noise or harshness of jolt associated with a transition from the first spring to the second spring.
Claims22
A dual rate spring system with a two piece crossover ring, comprising:
- a damper body with an axial length and housing a damping chamber with fluid, said damper body comprising:
- a plurality of ports radially disposed about a surface of said damper body at a point along said axial length of said damper body for said fluid to move into and out of said damping chamber based in part on a position of a damping piston within said damping chamber;
- a spring coupler for coupling a first spring with a first spring rate to a second spring with a second spring rate, wherein said spring coupler has an annular structure disposed about a surface of said damper body and is capable of sliding axially along said surface of said damper body, said spring coupler comprising:
- a first spring seat for receiving said first spring;
- a second spring seat for receiving said second spring;
- a two piece crossover ring having an annular structure disposed about said damper body, said two piece crossover ring comprising:
- an upper ring portion fixed in a position relative to said damper body along said axial length of said damper body;
- a lower ring portion movable in an axial direction relative to said upper ring portion;
- and
- a cavity formed by said upper ring portion and lower ring portion, said cavity filled with said fluid and in fluid communication with said plurality of ports, wherein a position of said lower ring portion relative to said upper ring portion changes a volume of said cavity.
7 more elements
A dual rate spring system with a two piece spring coupler, comprising:
- a damper body with an axial length and housing a damping chamber with fluid;
- a crossover ring having an annular structure disposed about said damper body and fixed at a point along said axial length of said damper chamber;
- a two spring coupler for coupling a first spring with a first spring rate to a second spring with a second spring rate, wherein said two piece spring coupler has an annular structure disposed about a surface of said damper body and is capable of sliding axially along said surface of said damper body, said two piece spring coupler comprising:
- an upper coupler portion partially in contact with said first spring;
- a lower coupler portion comprising:
- a first spring seat for receiving said first spring;
- a second spring seat for receiving said second spring;
- a groove for receiving a portion of said upper coupler portion;
- an isolator configured to be positioned in said groove of said lower coupler portion, said isolator configured to deform during a compression event of said dual rate spring system when said upper coupler portion contacts said crossover ring and causes said upper coupler portion moves relative to said lower coupler portion.
6 more elements
A dual rate spring system with a two piece spring coupler, comprising:
- a damper body with an axial length and housing a damping chamber with fluid;
- a crossover ring having an annular structure disposed about said damper body and fixed at a point along said axial length of said damper chamber;
- a two spring coupler for coupling a first spring with a first spring rate to a second spring with a second spring rate, wherein said two piece spring coupler has an annular structure disposed about a surface of said damper body and is capable of sliding axially along said surface of said damper body, said two piece spring coupler comprising:
- an inner coupler portion with a first spring seat for said first spring;
- an outer coupler portion with a second spring seat for said second spring, said outer coupler portion partially in contact with said first spring;
- and
- a gas chamber formed between said inner coupler portion and said outer coupler portion and filled with gas that is pressurized, wherein said outer coupler portion can move relative to said inner coupler portion and change a volume of said gas chamber.
4 more elements
A dual rate spring system with a two piece crossover ring and a two piece spring coupler, comprising:
- a damper body with an axial length and housing a damping chamber with fluid,
- a two piece crossover ring having an annular structure disposed about a surface of said damper body, said two piece crossover ring comprising a first damper;
- and
- a two spring coupler for coupling a first spring with a first spring rate to a second spring with a second spring rate, wherein said two piece spring coupler has an annular structure disposed about a surface of said damper body and is capable of sliding axially along said surface of said damper body, said two piece spring coupler comprising a second damper.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.