Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080277218 | DAMPER WITH PRESSURE-SENSITIVE COMPRESSION DAMPING - A damper includes a piston rod, a damping piston, at least one cylinder containing a damping liquid, a fixed partition member for partitioning the interior of the damper into two liquid chambers, a pressure source, and a valve in communication with the pressure source which reacts as a function of the pressure. The valve can also be in communication with additional forces, such as mechanical spring forces, which can be adjustable. The valve can include a pressure intensifier. The valve generates fluid flow resistance during flow of liquid in a first direction through the partition member. The fluid flow resistance in the first direction varies according to the amount of force communicated to the valve by the pressure source and any additional forces. The partition member can include means for providing low-resistance return flow of liquid in a second direction. | 11-13-2008 |
20080296814 | GAS SPRING WITH TRAVEL CONTROL - In one embodiment, a gas spring having a travel control includes positive and negative chambers and a valve mechanism that controls the fluid communication between the chambers. The valve mechanism includes a valve bore that while only moving a small amount, allows for large changes in gas spring travel length. | 12-04-2008 |
20090236807 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING VEHICLES - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for use in vehicle suspension. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus useful for variable spring rate and/or variable damping rate vehicle suspension. In one embodiment, a shock absorber for a vehicle includes a gas spring having first and second gas chambers. The first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. The shock absorber further includes a fluid isolated damper for regulating the speed of travel throughout both portions of travel. | 09-24-2009 |
20100044975 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION DAMPER - A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate. The vehicle suspension damper comprises a first damping mechanism having a variable first threshold pressure, a second damping mechanism having a second threshold pressure, and a compressible chamber in communication with a damping fluid chamber, wherein the second damping mechanism is responsive to a compression of said compressible chamber. | 02-25-2010 |
20100181709 | ADJUSTABLE BLOW-OFF SUSPENSION - Altering the damping rate of a vehicle suspension damper. A pressure of a damping fluid is exerted against a second valve mechanism connected to the vehicle suspension damper. The pressure of the damping fluid is increased beyond a threshold of the second valve mechanism that is adjustable by an adjustment member. The adjustment member is exposed through a high pressure side of the vehicle suspension damper. The second valve mechanism is then opened. | 07-22-2010 |
20100244340 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINED VARIABLE DAMPING AND VARIABLE SPRING RATE SUSPENSION - Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user. | 09-30-2010 |
20100263974 | INTEGRATED AND SELF-CONTAINED SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAVING AN ON-THE-FLY ADJUSTABLE AIR SPRING - An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate. | 10-21-2010 |
20100276906 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damping assembly operatively connected to an actuator; a controller for controlling movement of said actuator whereby a damping rate of said damping assembly is adjusted by movement of the actuator; and a signal generating device remote from said damping assembly, which device, in use, provides an output electric signal representing a desired user adjustment to the damping rate of said damping assembly, said controller adapted to receive said electric signal and control said actuator to adjust said damping rate according to said electric signal, whereby said damping rate may be remotely altered during use of said vehicle. | 11-04-2010 |
20110031076 | FRONT BICYCLE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY WITH INERTIA VALVE - A front bicycle suspension assembly having an inertia valve is described. The front bicycle suspension assembly may include at least upper and lower telescoping tubes and include a damping tube containing an inertia valve. The inertia valve may include an inertia mass movable along the outer surface of a valve shaft as the inertia valve moves between first and second positions. | 02-10-2011 |
20110202236 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT - Methods and apparatus of a system for vehicles comprising a vehicle suspension, a sensor operable to measure an operational characteristic of the vehicle suspension, and a processor in communication with the sensor that is operable to suggest an operational setting of the vehicle suspension in response to an input from the sensor corresponding to the operational characteristic. A method for adjusting a suspension of a vehicle may comprise receiving suspension data with a processor, calculating a suspension setting suggestion with the processor, communicating the suspension setting suggestion to a user interface device, and adjusting the suspension based on the suspension setting suggestion. | 08-18-2011 |
20110204549 | GAS SPRING CURVE CONTROL IN AN ADJUSTABLE VOLUME GAS PRESSURIZED DEVICE - A gas spring curve control valve for a adjustable-volume gas-pressurized device is described. The valve allows for selection from among at least four spring curves and can be packaged in small spaces/devices. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotary cam having grooves and lobes that interact with spring loaded ball bearings and an external adjuster knob are used to easily change the gas spring curve “on-the-fly” and with minimal user effort. | 08-25-2011 |
20110248434 | TRAVEL CONTROL FOR A GAS SPRING AND GAS SPRING HAVING VERY SHORT TRAVEL MODES - A gas spring capable of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%. | 10-13-2011 |
20130292218 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ADJUSTABLE DAMPER - A system for controlling vehicle motion is described. The system includes: a first set of sensors coupled with a vehicle, the first set of sensors configured for sensing the vehicle motion; and a vehicle suspension damper coupled with the first set of sensors, the vehicle suspension damper configured for adjusting a damping force therein, the vehicle suspension damper comprising: a primary valve; a pilot valve assembly coupled with the primary valve, the pilot valve assembly configured for metering a flow of fluid to the primary valve, in response to at least the sensing; and an orifice block coupled with the primary valve and comprising a control orifice there through, the control orifice configured for operating cooperatively with the pilot valve assembly in the metering the flow of fluid to the primary valve. | 11-07-2013 |
20140102839 | SUSPENSION DAMPER HAVING INERTIA VALVE AND USER ADJUSTABLE PRESSURE-RELIEF - A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools. | 04-17-2014 |