Spring system, in particular for bicycles

• US 20070093096A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Inventors: Achenbach, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/584,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093096A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/140
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/048 with suspension manual adjustment details
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0209 Telescopic F16F9/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0236 characterised by having a hollow piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3235 of cylinders F16F9/483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/44 Means on or in the damper for manual or non-automatic adjustment; such means combined with temperature correction F16F9/53, F16F13/26 take precedence; temperature correction only F16F9/52

Abstract

A spring system, in particular for bicycles with a first spring and a second spring and a load-applying portion located to act therebetween. Between the first spring and the second spring a piston is located which is movably accommodated at a housing element. The housing element is made of a fibrous composite material and includes an inner wall. The first spring is a pneumatic spring and the inner wall of the housing element is the bearing surface of the piston.

Claims

1. A spring system, in particular for bicycles, comprising:

a first load applying portion and a second load applying portion;

at least one first spring and at least one second spring which are located to act between the first and the second load applying portion; and

at least one piston located between said first spring and said second spring and movably received at a housing element;

said housing element consists of a fibrous composite material and comprises an inner wall wherein said first spring is a pneumatic spring and the interior wall of the housing element forms the bearing surface of the piston which seals the pneumatic spring.

2. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the interior wall is configured to be cylindrical.

3. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein said second spring is an elastomeric spring.

4. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the housing element is at least in part composed of a fibrous composite material with a thermosetting matrix material.

5. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the housing element is at least in part composed of a fibrous composite material with a thermoplastic matrix material.

6. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the housing element is the bearing surface of the piston.

7. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston is mounted to float in the housing element.

8. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the housing element comprises a thread.

9. The spring system according to claim 8 wherein the thread is integrally formed at the housing element.

10. The spring system according to claim 8 wherein the housing element comprises an adjoined thread element.

11. The spring system according to claim 1 wherein the housing element comprises a lid.

12. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one damper means is provided.

13. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized by a first cylinder extending axially movably into the housing element formed as the second cylinder.

14. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston is fixedly connected with the first cylinder.

15. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized in that a third spring is supported on the floating piston and on the first cylinder.

16. The spring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston is supported on the radially outwardly surface of the casing wall of the first cylinder.

17. A suspension fork in particular for bicycles comprising a fork and at least one spring system arranged thereat, comprising

a first load applying portion and a second load applying portion;

at least one first spring and at least one second spring which are located to act between the first and the second load applying portions; and

at least one piston located between said first spring and said second spring and movably received at a housing element;

said housing element consists of a fibrous composite material and comprises an inner wall wherein said first spring is a pneumatic spring and the interior wall of the housing element forms the bearing surface of the piston which seals the pneumatic spring.