Methods and apparatus for suspension lock out and signal generation

• US 10,550,909 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fox Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Haugen, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sahni, Vishal R
• Application Number:
  US16/048,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20180335102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/14 having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4604 mechanically, e.g. using a hook as anticreep mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/61 Adjustable during maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/7162 Fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/104 continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/72 Cooling or warming means
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/00 Spring motors spring-driven toys A63H; springs in general F16F; precision time mechanisms, e.g. for clocks or watches, G04B
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/06 using both gas and liquid F16F9/486 take precedence; self-pumping fluid springs B60G17/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/18 with a closed cylinder and a piston separating two or more working spaces therein
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/42 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/18 Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.

Claims

1. A vehicle suspension damper comprising:

a hydraulic damping cylinder comprising an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall and said outer wall defining an annular space therebetween;

a cooling circuit having an attachment to an said hydraulic damping cylinder, wherein said attachment is configured to facilitate heat transfer between said cooling circuit and said hydraulic damping cylinder; and

a power conditioner coupled to said cooling circuit and a set of winding terminals that are attached to said hydraulic damping cylinder and a wire motor winding positioned in said annular space between said inner wall and said outer wall, wherein said power conditioner is configured to power said cooling circuit, and wherein conditioned power is conducted, via a set of conduits, from a set of output terminals of said power conditioner to a set of input terminals of said cooling circuit.