Methods and apparatus for suspension adjustment

• US 9,186,949 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Wootten, Dennis K., Franklin, Joseph, Galasso, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US14/569,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20150100206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 188/282.1, 188/282.7, 188/282.8, 188/301, 188/318, 188/319.1, 188/319.2, 188/322.21, 188/322.13, 280/5.507, 280/6.158, 280/6.159
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/10 and mechanical damper or dynamic damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/12 and fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/015 the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements B60G17/002, B60G17/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/93 Tools used for adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/142 Visual Display Camera, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/28 with pivoted chain-stay
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/003 Dampers characterised by having pressure absorbing means other than gas, e.g. sponge rubber
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0209 Telescopic F16F9/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3292 Sensor arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/34 Special valve constructions F16F9/44, F16F9/50 take precedence; filtering details F16F9/3285 ; valves in general F16K; Shape or construction of throttling passages
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/43 Filling or drainage arrangements, e.g. for supply of gas filling vessels with, or discharging from vessels, compressed, liquefied, or solidified gases F17C
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle

Abstract

A shock absorber includes a gas spring cylinder containing a piston moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder. A mechanical actuator is arranged whereby a bleed port is automatically closed when the gas spring is compressed to a predetermined position corresponding to a desired sag setting. In one embodiment, the position corresponds to a predetermined sag setting whereby the gas spring is partially compressed. In another embodiment, a proper sag setting is determined through the use of a processor and sensor that in one instance measure a position of shock absorber components to dictate a proper sag setting and in another instance calculate a pressure corresponding to a preferred sag setting.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a gas spring including a cylinder containing a piston, the piston being moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder;

a sensor operable to measure an operational characteristic of the gas spring, wherein said operational characteristic comprises;

a pressure Psag of the gas spring at a point of pressure equilibrium;

and a computer processor in communication with the sensor, wherein the computer processor includes instructions that cause the computer processor to recommend an operational setting of the gas spring in response to an input from the sensor corresponding to the operational characteristic, wherein said operation setting that is recommended comprises;

a preferred initial pressure using the formula;

Pi=Psag×

(1−

sag fraction).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor measures a location of gas spring components at an extended position Di and at a sag position Dsag and thereafter, using a known initial pressure Pik, determines Psag using the formula:

PikDi=PsagDsag and thereafter, a preferable sag position is determined using the formula;

Pi=Psag×

(1−

sag fraction).

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor is an optical device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical device is a camera.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor is further configured to:

receive a value from the sensor that represents a measured operational characteristic of the gas spring at a first state of the gas spring,

compute a suggested operational setting of the gas spring in response to receiving the value from the sensor, and

cause the suggested operational setting to be displayed on a user interface.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a pump operable by the computer processor to inflate the gas spring.