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US 9,033,122 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorsEveret Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
Claims5
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a set of valve shims through which a damping fluid compression flows;
- a valve body configured for exerting a closing force of said set of valve shims proportionate to a damping fluid pressure acting through and in a annulus on an interior of said valve body;
- a pilot spool of a pilot valve assembly, said pilot spool acting on said damping fluid pressure;
- and
- a latching solenoid assembly configured for using power to facilitate a change in a position of said pilot spool, said latching solenoid assembly comprising:
- an armature coupled to a power source, wherein said power source uses power to facilitate a change in a position of said pilot spool relative to said armature;
- a magnetically active material of said pilot valve assembly;
- a spring biasing said pilot spool toward a position obstructing a set of ports;
- and
- a permanent magnet configured for exerting a magnetic force on a magnetic component of said pilot spool, wherein upon an exertion of said magnetic force, said pilot spool is retained next to said permanent magnet, said magnetic force opposes said spring biasing said pilot spool toward said position that obstructs said set of ports, and said magnetic force holds said spring in a compressed state.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.