Fluid flow control structure
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorToyoto Shirai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid flow control structure for a bicycle device is basically provided with a main body, at least one port and a plug. The main body has a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber. The at least one port is in fluid communication with the first chamber. The plug is moved toward a first axial direction to close the port, and is moved toward a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction to open the port. The plug includes a dividing portion dividing the second chamber and the third chamber such that the third chamber widens as the plug moves to close the port and the third chamber shrinks as the plug moves to open the port. The plug includes a passage fluidly connecting the first chamber to the third chamber.
Claims13
A fluid flow control structure for a bicycle device comprising:
- a main body having a first chamber containing a liquid, a second chamber containing a gas and a third chamber containing a liquid, the second chamber and the third chamber being fluid tight with respect to each other;
- at least one port in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- and
- a plug being moved toward a first axial direction to close the port and being moved toward a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction to open the port,
- the plug including a dividing portion dividing the second chamber and the third chamber such that the third chamber expands as the plug moves to close the port and the third chamber shrinks as the plug moves to open the port, and a passage fluidly connecting the first chamber to the third chamber.
A fluid flow control structure for a bicycle device comprising:
- a main body having a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber;
- at least one port in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- and
- a plug being moved toward a first axial direction to close the port and being moved toward a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction to open the port,
- the plug including a first axial side portion, a second axial side portion, a dividing portion and a passage,
- the first axial side portion having a first maximum outer width and being coupled to the dividing portion on a first axial direction side of the dividing portion for selectively closing and opening the port,
- the second axial side portion having a second maximum outer width larger than the first maximum outer width and being coupled to the dividing portion on a second axial direction side of the dividing portion, and
- the dividing portion having a third maximum outer width larger than the second maximum outer width and dividing the second chamber and the third chamber such that the third chamber expands as the plug moves to close the port and the third chamber shrinks as the plug moves to open the port,
- the passage fluidly connecting the first chamber to the third chamber,
- the first axial side portion, the second axial side portion and the dividing portion having substantially constant outer cross section shapes with respect to the first and second axial directions, and the first axial side portion, the second axial side portion and the dividing portion being linearly arranged in the first and second axial directions,
- the first maximum outer width of the first axial side portion, the second maximum outer width of the second axial side portion, and the third maximum outer width of the dividing portion being dimensioned such that
- π(D3)2−π(D2)2=π(D1)2,
- where
- D1 refers to the first maximum outer width
- D2 refers to the second maximum outer width, and
- D3 refers to the third maximum outer width.
A fluid flow control structure for a bicycle device comprising:
- a main body that includes a first tube having a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber located within the first tube, and further includes a blocking member disposed in the first tube and dividing the first tube into the first chamber and a fourth chamber;
- at least one port in fluid communication with the first chamber;
- and
- a plug being moved toward a first axial direction to close the port and being moved toward a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction to open the port,
- the plug including a dividing portion dividing the second chamber and the third chamber such that the third chamber expands as the plug moves to close the port and the third chamber shrinks as the plug moves to open the port, and a passage fluidly connecting the first chamber to the third chamber,
- the blocking member including the port that fluidly connects the first and fourth chambers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.