Compression isolator for a suspension damper
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle suspension comprising:
- a fluid chamber enclosed by a cylindrical wall, the fluid chamber comprising;
a compression side;
a rebound side; and
a piston dividing the fluid chamber into the compression side and the rebound side, wherein the piston comprises;
a first fluid pathway enabling fluid communication between the compression side and the rebound side;
an annular bypass chamber providing a second fluid pathway between the compression side and the rebound side, the annular bypass chamber being co-axially disposed between an outer surface of the cylindrical wall of the fluid chamber and an inner surface of a wall of an outer housing of the vehicle suspension damper and being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber via a set of ports disposed in the cylindrical wall of the fluid chamber; and
a compression isolator disposed at and sealing an end of the compression side between the compression side and a fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a floating piston that movably seals a fluid-fillable portion of the fluid reservoir from a gas pocket of the vehicle suspension damper, wherein the fluid-fillable portion of the reservoir collects fluid from the annular bypass chamber, via a third fluid pathway, as a fluid capacity of the compression side of the fluid chamber decreases due to a volume of an encroaching piston rod during a compression stroke, wherein the floating piston transfers pressure between fluid in the fluid-fillable portion of the reservoir and the gas pocket, wherein the third fluid pathway is disposed between the compression isolator and the outer housing.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.
156 Citations
6 Claims
-
1. A vehicle suspension comprising:
-
a fluid chamber enclosed by a cylindrical wall, the fluid chamber comprising; a compression side; a rebound side; and a piston dividing the fluid chamber into the compression side and the rebound side, wherein the piston comprises; a first fluid pathway enabling fluid communication between the compression side and the rebound side; an annular bypass chamber providing a second fluid pathway between the compression side and the rebound side, the annular bypass chamber being co-axially disposed between an outer surface of the cylindrical wall of the fluid chamber and an inner surface of a wall of an outer housing of the vehicle suspension damper and being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber via a set of ports disposed in the cylindrical wall of the fluid chamber; and a compression isolator disposed at and sealing an end of the compression side between the compression side and a fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a floating piston that movably seals a fluid-fillable portion of the fluid reservoir from a gas pocket of the vehicle suspension damper, wherein the fluid-fillable portion of the reservoir collects fluid from the annular bypass chamber, via a third fluid pathway, as a fluid capacity of the compression side of the fluid chamber decreases due to a volume of an encroaching piston rod during a compression stroke, wherein the floating piston transfers pressure between fluid in the fluid-fillable portion of the reservoir and the gas pocket, wherein the third fluid pathway is disposed between the compression isolator and the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
Specification