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US 9,120,362 B2Granted
Bypass for a suspension damper
AssigneeFox Factory, Inc.
InventorJohn Marking
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.
Claims27
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder and a piston assembly comprising a piston;
- a working fluid within the cylinder;
- a bypass having a fluid pathway between a first side and a second side of the piston;
- a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the bypass, the valve including a displaceable valve piston having a piston surface on one side thereof, the valve piston biasing a movable plug member towards a closed position when the valve piston is displaced;
- a biasing member disposed between the valve piston and the plug member, wherein the biasing member and the valve piston are operable in conjunction to urge the plug member towards the closed position;
- and
- at least two predetermined fluid volumes in selective communication with the piston surface for causing displacement of the valve piston;
- wherein each predetermined volume comprises a valve operating cylinder, the fluid contents of the valve operating cylinder injectable into the valve via a port in the valve to displace the valve piston and wherein the valve operating cylinders are substantially equal.
5 more elements
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder and a piston assembly comprising a piston;
- a working fluid within the cylinder;
- a bypass having a fluid pathway between a first side and a second side of the piston;
- a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the bypass, the valve including a displaceable valve piston having a piston surface, the valve piston urging a biasing member against a movable plug member such that the plug member is biased towards a closed position;
- and
- at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective communication with the piston surface via a port in the valve, the at least one predetermined fluid volume for causing displacement of the valve piston;
- wherein the at least one predetermined fluid volume is communicated through the port to the piston surface via at least one remotely-controllable solenoid-operated valve control cylinder.
4 more elements
A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder and a piston assembly comprising a piston;
- a working fluid within the cylinder;
- a bypass having a fluid pathway between a first side and a second side of the piston;
- a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the bypass, the valve including:
- a stationary shaft,
- a valve piston adjustable relative to the shaft, the valve piston having a piston surface, and
- a biasing member disposed on the shaft between the valve piston and a plug member, the biasing member and the plug member movable relative to the shaft, the biasing member configured and arranged to bias the plug member towards a closed position wherein the plug member blocks fluid flow through the bypass;
- and
- at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective communication with the piston surface via a port in the valve, the at least one predetermined fluid volume for adjusting a position of the valve piston,
- wherein the at least one predetermined fluid volume is communicated through the port to the piston surface via at least one remotely-controllable solenoid-operated valve control cylinder.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.