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US 8,550,223 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for position sensitive suspension dampening
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Paul Cox, Everet Owen Ericksen, Wesley E. Allinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening. 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 adjustable fluid meter controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
Claims19
A damper for a shock absorber comprising:
- a damper chamber divided by a piston and shaft into a compression and rebound portions;
- a bottom out cup formed at an end of the compression portion;
- and
- a fluid flow path formed in the bottom out cup for providing fluid communication from the cup to the compression portion of the chamber during a compression stroke of the damper;
- wherein the capacity of the fluid flow path is adjustable.
2 more elements
A fluid damper comprising:
- a damper chamber divided by a piston mounted on a movable rod, into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber;
- a bottom out cup in fluid communication with the damper chamber;
- a bottom out piston formed on the movable rod for sealingly engaging an interior of the bottom out cup, the damper including a first position in which the bottom out piston is not housed in the bottom out cup and a second position in which the bottom out piston is housed therein;
- and
- an adjustable fluid flow path formed in the cup, the flow path providing fluid communication between the cup and the primary compression chamber in a compression stroke of the damper.
2 more elements
A shock absorber comprising:
- a spring;
- a chamber operatively connected to the spring;
- a piston shaft extending into the chamber;
- a first piston connected to the shaft, the piston for metering fluid during movement of the shaft in the chamber between a compression side and a rebound side of the chamber;
- a second piston formed at an end of the shaft for moving into sealing engagement with a bottom out cup at an end of a compression stroke of the shock absorber;
- a blow off valve in a fluid path formed in the bottom out cup for fluid communication with compression side, the blow off valve operable depending upon the pressure of fluid in the bottom out cup during a compression stroke of the shock absorber;
- and
- a user-adjustable metering valve in a second fluid path for metering fluid from the bottom out cup to the compression side, the valve externally accessible to increase or decrease dampening.
5 more elements
A damper for a shock absorber comprising:
- a fluid;
- a compression chamber;
- a bottom out cup;
- a valve wherein;
- in a compression stroke of the damper, the fluid flows from the bottom out cup to the compression chamber at a first rate with the valve in a first position and at a second rate with the valve in a second position where the first rate is greater than the second rate and the valve includes an adjuster accessible from an exterior of the shock absorber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.