Bypass for a suspension damper
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
- a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said vehicle suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction;
a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston;
a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising;
a valve body;
a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface;
a shaft extending from said valve piston;
a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft;
a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and
a manual pre-load adjustment coupled to said valve piston, said manual pre-load adjustment configured to adjust a position of said valve piston; and
at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein the valve is remotely controllable.
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Accused Products
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.
535 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle suspension damper comprising:
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a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said vehicle suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction; a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston; a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising; a valve body; a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface; a shaft extending from said valve piston; a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft; a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and a manual pre-load adjustment coupled to said valve piston, said manual pre-load adjustment configured to adjust a position of said valve piston; and at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein the valve is remotely controllable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A suspension damper comprising:
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a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction; a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston; a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising; a valve body; a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface; a shaft extending from said valve piston; a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft; and a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein the valve is remotely controllable, wherein operation of said at least one predetermined fluid volume does not require use of a pressurized hydraulic system of a vehicle to which said suspension damper is coupled. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A suspension damper comprising:
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a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction; a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston; a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising; a valve body; a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface; a shaft extending from said valve piston; a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft; and a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein said valve is remotely controllable based upon data corresponding to said suspension damper, said data selected from the group consisting of;
speed of a damper piston rod of said suspension damper, compression strain of said damper piston rod of said suspension damper, and eyelet strain of said suspension damper. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A suspension damper comprising:
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a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction; a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston; a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising; a valve body; a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface; a shaft extending from said valve piston; a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft; and a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein said valve is remotely controllable based upon vehicle operation variables corresponding to a vehicle to which said suspension damper is coupled, said vehicle operation variables selected from the group consisting of;
vehicle speed, vehicle accelerometer data, vehicle wheel speed, steering wheel rotation for said vehicle, vehicle tire pressure, axle/tie rod forces for said vehicle, braking pressure, and vehicle trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A suspension damper comprising:
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a cylinder containing a fluid and a damping piston operable to travel within said fluid in said cylinder, said suspension damper further including a passageway through said damping piston and limiting a flow rate of said fluid through said damping piston in at least one direction; a bypass pathway in fluid communication with said cylinder, said bypass pathway providing a path for said fluid to travel between a first side and a second side of said damping piston; a valve for controlling a flow of said fluid through said bypass pathway, said valve comprising; a valve body; a valve piston housed within said valve body, said valve piston having a valve piston surface; a shaft extending from said valve piston; a valve member coupled to said shaft, said valve member telescopically mounted to said shaft and said valve member movable with respect to said shaft wherein a gap is formed between said valve member and an end of said shaft; and a spring member mounted on said shaft between said valve member and said valve piston, said spring member biasing said valve member away from said valve piston; and at least one predetermined fluid volume in selective fluid communication with said valve piston surface for causing displacement of said valve piston;
wherein said valve is remotely controllable based upon data corresponding to said suspension damper, said data selected from the group consisting of;
speed of a damper piston rod of said suspension damper, compression strain of said damper piston rod of said suspension damper, and eyelet strain of said suspension damper; andwherein said valve is remotely controllable based upon vehicle operation variables corresponding to said vehicle, said vehicle operation variables selected from the group consisting of;
vehicle speed, vehicle accelerometer data, vehicle wheel speed, steering wheel rotation for said vehicle, vehicle tire pressure, axle/tie rod forces for said vehicle, braking pressure, and vehicle trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification