Suspension damper having inertia valve and user adjustable pressure-relief
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A suspension damper operable between a compressed position and an extended position, comprising:
- a compression chamber having a volume reducing in response to operation of the suspension damper from the extended position to the compressed position;
a rebound chamber having a volume reducing in response to operation of the suspension damper from the compressed position to the extended position;
a reservoir chamber for receiving fluid from the compression chamber via a first fluid path, a second fluid path, and a third fluid path;
an inertia valve having an inertia mass slideably moveable relative to the first fluid path, the inertia mass at least substantially closing the first fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to acceleration of at least a portion of the suspension damper;
a blowoff valve at least substantially closing the second fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to pressure in the compression chamber equaling or exceeding a first pressure threshold; and
a pressure relief valve at least substantially closing the third fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to pressure in the compression chamber equaling or exceeding an adjustable second pressure threshold.
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Abstract
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.
218 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A suspension damper operable between a compressed position and an extended position, comprising:
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a compression chamber having a volume reducing in response to operation of the suspension damper from the extended position to the compressed position; a rebound chamber having a volume reducing in response to operation of the suspension damper from the compressed position to the extended position; a reservoir chamber for receiving fluid from the compression chamber via a first fluid path, a second fluid path, and a third fluid path; an inertia valve having an inertia mass slideably moveable relative to the first fluid path, the inertia mass at least substantially closing the first fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to acceleration of at least a portion of the suspension damper; a blowoff valve at least substantially closing the second fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to pressure in the compression chamber equaling or exceeding a first pressure threshold; and a pressure relief valve at least substantially closing the third fluid path when in a closed position and movable to an open position in response to pressure in the compression chamber equaling or exceeding an adjustable second pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A suspension damper operable between a compressed position and an extended position, comprising:
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a damper body defining a compression chamber and a rebound chamber; a reservoir body defining a reservoir chamber for receiving fluid from the compression chamber via a first fluid path, a second fluid path, and a third fluid path; an inertia valve having an inertia mass slideably movable relative to the first fluid path to open and close fluid communication between the first fluid path and the reservoir chamber, wherein the inertia mass is movable in response to acceleration of at least a portion of the suspension damper; a blowoff valve operable to open and close fluid communication between the second fluid path and the reservoir chamber, wherein the blowoff valve includes a chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid path; and a pressure relief valve operable to open and close fluid communication between the third fluid path and the reservoir chamber, wherein the pressure relief valve is coupled to the blowoff valve such that pressure in the chamber of the blowoff valve operates the pressure relief valve. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification