Methods and apparatus for selective spring pre-load adjustment

• US 10,414,236 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Cox, Christopher Paul, Marquez, Michael David, Ericksen, Everet
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Bradley T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsiao, James K
• Application Number:
  US15/623,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20170282669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/14 having helical, spiral or coil springs only B60G11/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/063 characterised by the mounting of the spring on the damper B60G15/065, B60G15/066 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/021 the mechanical spring being a coil spring B60G17/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1242 on a damper, e.g. MacPerson strut
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/61 Adjustable during maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/121 adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2228/08 pre-stressed
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3264 Arrangements for indicating, e.g. fluid level; Arrangements for checking dampers F16F9/3292 takes precedence; testing of vehicle damping G01M17/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/56 Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.

Claims

1. A suspension system comprising:

a cylindrical body having a threaded portion;

a spring coaxially disposed around said cylindrical body;

an adjuster assembly disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said spring;

a follower nut disposed coaxially around said cylindrical body and coupled to said adjuster assembly, said follower nut disposed in threaded engagement with said threaded portion of said cylindrical body and abutting an end of said spring, said follower nut constructed and arranged to affect compression of said spring while said follower nut translates axially along said threaded portion of said cylindrical body, wherein an axial position of said follower nut is indicated relative to a piggyback reservoir operable with a damper; and

a visual indicator and a scale coupled with said piggyback reservoir, said visual indicator and said scale operable to indicate an amount of compression of said spring, said visual indicator and said scale together comprising;

a longitudinal wire coil;

a permanent magnet; and

wherein said position of said permanent magnet relative to said longitudinal wire coil is indicated by a state of current through said longitudinal wire coil.