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US 8,800,973 B2Granted
Compression sensitive suspension dampening
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorSante Pelot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.
Claims22
A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
- a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion;
- a fluid flow path coupled with and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, said fluid flow path comprising a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within said fluid flow path in response to a compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism is a tapered outer diameter on a riser tube disposed within and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, wherein said tapered outer diameter comprises a narrowed section positioned at a top of a stroke of said compressing movement and a widened section positioned at a bottom of said stroke;
- and
- a dynamic seal configured for, during said stroke, moving over said narrowed section until engaging with said widened section, such that dynamic seal friction is avoided at said top of said stroke.
1 more element
A spring for a suspension, said spring comprising:
- a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion;
- a combination of a compressible fluid and an incompressible fluid, wherein said combination is configured for automatically providing a portion of resistance in response to a compressing movement of said suspension;
- a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing a second portion of resistance within a fluid flow path in response to said compressing movement of said suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism is a tapered outer diameter on a riser tube disposed within and between said primary portion and said secondary portion, wherein said tapered outer diameter comprises a narrowed section positioned at a top of a stroke of said compressing movement and a widened section positioned at a bottom of said stroke;
- and
- a dynamic seal configured for, during said stroke, moving over said narrowed section until engaging with said widened section, such that dynamic seal friction is avoided at said top of said stroke.
2 more elements
A vehicle suspension comprising:
- a gas chamber having a first portion and a second portion;
- a gas flow by-pass, having an open condition allowing a gas flow between the first portion and the second portion, and having a closed condition substantially denying the gas flow;
- and
- a first telescopic member and a second telescopic member being slidably engaged and having a relatively extended position wherein the gas flow by-pass is in the open condition, and a relatively compressed position wherein the gas flow by-pass is in the closed condition;
- a bypass mechanism, wherein said bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within said gas flow by-pass in response to a compressing movement of said vehicle suspension, wherein said bypass mechanism is a tapered outer diameter on a riser tube disposed within and between said first portion and said second portion, wherein said tapered outer diameter comprises a narrowed section positioned at a top of a stroke of said compressing movement and a widened section positioned at a bottom of said stroke;
- and
- a dynamic seal configured for, during said stroke, moving over said narrowed section until engaging with said widened section, such that dynamic seal friction is avoided at said top of said stroke.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.