Vehicle suspension system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body;
a vehicle wheel; and
a shock absorber operably positioned between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel;
whereinthe shock absorber comprises an air chamber containing air, and at least a first pressure adjustment valve that introduces air at atmospheric pressure into the air chamber from the atmosphere when air pressure in the air chamber is below a lower threshold value;
the first pressure adjustment valve includes a first check valve including a spring arranged to automatically adjust the air pressure in the air chamber during extension and compression movement of the shock absorber;
the air chamber includes a first air chamber that reduces in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that increases in volume upon compression of the shock absorber, and a second air chamber that increases in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that reduces in volume upon compression of the shock absorber; and
the shock absorber further includes a third pressure adjustment valve arranged to discharge air from the first air chamber to the atmosphere when the air pressure in the first air chamber becomes larger than an upper threshold value as a result of air in the first air chamber being compressed upon extension of the shock absorber, and the third pressure adjustment valve is not coaxial with the first pressure adjustment valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system that inhibits a pressure within a gas chamber from reducing below a threshold value. In one arrangement, the suspension system includes a shock absorber associated with a motorcycle. The shock absorber includes an upper gas chamber that is filled with air. An air pressure adjustment valve operates to supply air into the upper gas chamber from a supply of air outside of the shock absorber when the air pressure in the upper gas chamber becomes smaller than a lower threshold value.
18 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body; a vehicle wheel; and a shock absorber operably positioned between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel;
whereinthe shock absorber comprises an air chamber containing air, and at least a first pressure adjustment valve that introduces air at atmospheric pressure into the air chamber from the atmosphere when air pressure in the air chamber is below a lower threshold value; the first pressure adjustment valve includes a first check valve including a spring arranged to automatically adjust the air pressure in the air chamber during extension and compression movement of the shock absorber; the air chamber includes a first air chamber that reduces in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that increases in volume upon compression of the shock absorber, and a second air chamber that increases in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that reduces in volume upon compression of the shock absorber; and the shock absorber further includes a third pressure adjustment valve arranged to discharge air from the first air chamber to the atmosphere when the air pressure in the first air chamber becomes larger than an upper threshold value as a result of air in the first air chamber being compressed upon extension of the shock absorber, and the third pressure adjustment valve is not coaxial with the first pressure adjustment valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body; a vehicle wheel; and a shock absorber operably positioned between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel, wherein the shock absorber comprises; a first portion; a second portion movable relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged to define a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber, and the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber vary in volume as a result of relative movement of the first portion and the second portion of the shock absorber to provide a suspension spring force; at least a first pressure adjustment valve arranged to introduce a gas into the first gas chamber from a supply of gas other than the second gas chamber when pressure in the first gas chamber is below a lower threshold value; the first pressure adjustment valve includes a first check valve including a spring arranged to automatically adjust the pressure in the first gas chamber during extension and compression movement of the shock absorber; and a second pressure adjustment valve including a second check valve arranged to only supply gas to the second gas chamber from the first gas chamber, and when pressure in the second gas chamber becomes less than the pressure in the first gas chamber as a result of expansion of the gas in the second gas chamber upon extension of the shock absorber, gas is supplied from the first gas chamber to the second gas chamber by the second check valve; wherein the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber are arranged such that there is no back flow of gas from the second gas chamber to the first gas chamber; and the shock absorber further includes a third pressure adjustment valve arranged to discharge gas from the first gas chamber when the pressure in the first gas chamber becomes larger than an upper threshold value.
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body; a vehicle wheel; and a shock absorber operably positioned between the vehicle body and the vehicle wheel;
whereinthe shock absorber comprises an air chamber containing air, and at least a first pressure adjustment valve that introduces air at atmospheric pressure into the air chamber from the atmosphere when air pressure in the air chamber is below a lower threshold value; the first pressure adjustment valve includes a first check valve including a spring arranged to automatically adjust the air pressure in the air chamber during extension and compression movement of the shock absorber; the air chamber includes a first air chamber that reduces in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that increases in volume upon compression of the shock absorber, and a second air chamber that increases in volume upon extension of the shock absorber and that reduces in volume upon compression of the shock absorber; and the shock absorber further includes a third pressure adjustment valve arranged to discharge air from the first air chamber to the atmosphere when the air pressure in the first air chamber becomes larger than an upper threshold value as a result of air in the first air chamber being compressed upon extension of the shock absorber, and the third pressure adjustment valve is not coaxial with the first pressure adjustment valve.
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Specification