With Reservoir For Fluid Patents (Class 188/314)
  • Publication number: 20140196996
    Abstract: A boom vibration control device that is configured to suppress vibration of a boom that is cantilever-supported on a working vehicle includes a left-roll-direction biasing unit that biases the boom in the left roll direction with respective to the working vehicle and right-roll-direction biasing unit that biases the boom in the right roll direction with respective to the working vehicle. The boom is held at the roll angle at which the biasing force of the left-roll-direction biasing unit and the biasing force of the right-roll-direction biasing unit are balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuo ITO, Takanori INADA, Takanobu YOSHIDA, Tomomichi MIZUKAMI, Atsushi OOTA, Daiki SHIBASAKI, Masaki AKASHI, Yasuo TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8770360
    Abstract: A front bicycle suspension assembly having an inertia valve is described. The front bicycle suspension assembly may include at least upper and lower telescoping tubes and include a damping tube containing an inertia valve. The inertia valve may include an inertia mass movable along the outer surface of a valve shaft as the inertia valve moves between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Patent number: 8770359
    Abstract: A colloidal damper includes: a cylinder; a piston guided and supported by the cylinder and defining a closed space in association with the cylinder; a porous body having a multiplicity of first pores and being housed in the closed space; a liquid contained in the closed space together with the porous body, the liquid flowing into the first pores of the porous body when pressurized, and flowing out from the first pores of the porous body when the pressure is relieved. The damper may include a partition wall which has a multiplicity of second pores and which isolates the porous body from a frictional area, each of the second pores having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the porous body. The porous body may have an outer diameter larger than the size of the gap formed between the cylinder and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: School Juridical Person of Fukuoka Kogyo Daigaku
    Inventor: Claudiu Valentin Suciu
  • Publication number: 20140175773
    Abstract: A flow rectifier assembly including a manifold with a variable orifice disposed therein. Further, the flow rectifier assembly includes one or more valves disposed in the manifold and fluidly connected to the variable orifice to provide a uni-directional flow over the variable orifice. Each of the one or more valves includes a poppet. A fly-cut recess defined in the manifold includes a seat for resting the poppet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Ault, Moses I. Akpan, Michael A. Church, Landin T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8746661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydro-pneumatic piston accumulator (1), particularly for vehicle suspension systems, consisting of an accumulator housing (2) and a separating piston (6), which is disposed free-floating inside the accumulator housing in a displaceable manner in the direction of the movement axis (4). The separating piston separates an accumulator area (8) for a hydraulic medium from a pressure area (10) that is filled or is to be filled with a compressible medium, and is guided with an interior guide opening (30) on an elongated guide element (32), which is axially fixed within the accumulator housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hemscheidt Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Runkel
  • Patent number: 8714321
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes a fluid based shock absorber. The fluid based shock absorber includes a first assembly. The first assembly includes a first compression chamber. The first assembly also includes a first sliding member. At least a portion of the first sliding member is configured to remain within the first compression chamber and the first sliding member is configured to move in a first direction relative to the first compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas Hunter Powell
  • Patent number: 8701846
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a hydraulic compression stop. The hydraulic stop includes a pressure tube surrounding the pressure tube of the shock absorber and a piston in hydraulic communication with the interior of the pressure tube. The piston can be disposed within the pressure tube and can be attached to the pressure tube or to the shock absorber. The hydraulic stop can also include a hydraulic fluid chamber and the piston can be disposed within the hydraulic fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc
    Inventors: Koen Reybrouck, M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Simon Anne de Molina
  • Patent number: 8695765
    Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a damping cylinder pressurized by a system pressure and divided by a piston into a compression chamber and a return chamber. A resilient device is disposed in the return chamber. The resilient device comprises a pressurizing member or pressurizing medium disposed in an inner volume that is delimited from the return chamber. The resilient device acts upon the damping medium volume in the return chamber such that the pressure initially during a compression stroke does not fall below a predetermined minimum pressure. As long as the pressure in the return chamber is less than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device is able to absorb energy. When the pressure in the return chamber is greater than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device becomes inflexible. The resilient device compensates for pressure reduction in the return chamber that occurs under rapid damping movements and that can cause cavitation during a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ohins Racing AB
    Inventors: Magnus Danek, Henrik Schiölde
  • Publication number: 20140083807
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for railway vehicle includes an actuator and a damper circuit that causes the actuator to function as a damper. The actuator includes a cylinder coupled to a truck of a railway vehicle, a piston, a rod coupled to the piston and a body, a rod-side chamber and a piston-side chamber inside the cylinder, a first on-off valve for a first passage that communicates between a rod-side chamber and a piston-side chamber, a second on-off valve for a second passage that communicates between the piston-side chamber and a tank, and a pump that supplies a hydraulic fluid into the rod-side chamber. The hydraulic fluid has such kinematic viscosity-temperature characteristics that a kinematic viscosity of the hydraulic fluid ranges from 7 mm2/s to 50 mm2/s in a temperature range of from 20° C. to 60° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ogawa, Jun Aoki, Tsutomu Suzuki, Masaru Uchida, Chie Yabuki
  • Patent number: 8672106
    Abstract: A self-regulating suspension includes a first suspension member movable relative to a second suspension member, a fluid reservoir having a volume, the volume variable in response to a relative movement between the first and second suspension members, and a fluid flow circuit having a first end in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir and a second end in fluidic communication with an isolated suspension location, the fluid flow circuit comprising a first valve, a second valve and a third valve, wherein said first and third valves are in parallel with each other and the second valve is in series with each of the first and third valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Laird, William Becker
  • Patent number: 8640835
    Abstract: A suspension unit, for example for a track-laying vehicle, comprises an oil-filled cylinder within which a piston, connected to a piston rod, is provided. The cylinder 4 is oil-filled, and communicates with an upper region of a spring chamber, the lower region 46 of which contains gas under pressure. The piston rod has a hollow interior filled with gas under pressure. The piston is connected by a connecting rod to a secondary piston which is slidable within the piston rod. On rebound the piston rod and the piston move relatively to each other between a retracted end position and an extended end position. During this movement and the return movement, oil is transferred, by way of apertures between damping chambers which serve to damp the relative movement of the piston and the piston rod so avoiding shock loading at the end positions of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Horstman Defence Systems Limited
    Inventors: Timothy J. Holman, Brian Stockford
  • Patent number: 8607942
    Abstract: A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William Becker, Robert C. Fox, Dennis K. Wootten
  • Patent number: 8608141
    Abstract: A gas spring capable of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Patent number: 8590679
    Abstract: A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube and divides the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber. A flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oneiric Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Everett A. Hall
  • Patent number: 8590676
    Abstract: A piston (8) of a fluid pressure shock absorber (D, D1) partitions a first fluid chamber (R1) and a second fluid chamber (R2) in a cylinder (5) filled with a fluid. A pipe member (3) inserted into a housing (2, 30) has a connection to one of the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2). The housing (2, 30) and the pipe member (3) form a space (4) there-between that connects the other of the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2) to the pipe member (3). The pipe member (3) and the space (4) form a long fluid path between the first fluid chamber (R1) and the second fluid chamber (R2). The shock absorber (D, D1) thereby generates a damping force proportional to the stroke speed of the piston (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Morita
  • Patent number: 8579092
    Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 8567576
    Abstract: A hydropneumatic telescopic strut includes a shock absorber having a damper cylinder filled with an incompressible damper fluid, a damper piston displaceable in the damper cylinder, and a damper piston rod. A gas pressure spring has a spring cylinder filled with a compressible suspension fluid and a spring piston arranged such that the spring piston is displaceable in the spring cylinder. The shock absorber and the gas pressure spring are connected in parallel with one another and the shock absorber and the gas pressure spring are movable telescopically upon spring deflection and rebound of the telescopic strut. An equalization reservoir is connected with the damper cylinder such that the damper fluid is provided for volume equalization of a time-variable displacement of the damper fluid by the damper piston rod upon spring deflection and rebound of the telescopic strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Ripa
  • Publication number: 20130249175
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a suspension system includes a housing having a control port, a first accessory port, and a second accessory port. The housing defines a first flow path extending between the control port and the first accessory port and a second flow path extending between the control port and the second accessory port. The valve assembly also includes a first check valve having a first crack pressure positioned within the housing along the first flow path and a second check valve having a second crack pressure positioned within the housing along the second flow path. A difference between the first crack pressure and the second crack pressure provides a corresponding difference in pressures at the first accessory port and the second accessory port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: OSHKOSH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Erik S. Ellifson
  • Patent number: 8511445
    Abstract: A damper for a bicycle having a primary unit and a remote unit that, in some arrangements, is substantially entirely outside of the primary unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber and, in some arrangements, an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McAndrews, Anthony Trujillo
  • Patent number: 8474582
    Abstract: A cushion device includes a shock absorber and an accumulator. As a piston moves in a certain direction in a cylinder so that the shock absorber is compressed, oil in an oil chamber is discharged to the accumulator through an oil hose. The compression operation of the piston allows a slide member to slide and the capacity of an oil chamber is reduced. The oil in the oil chamber is discharged to a regulation unit through an oil hose. The regulation unit controls a valve by the pressure of the oil coming in from the oil chamber and applies resistance to the oil discharged from an oil chamber to an oil chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamasa Kamioka
  • Patent number: 8469162
    Abstract: A piston with a piston rod coupled thereto is inserted in a cylinder, which sealingly contains oil. An oil flow generated by movement of the piston is controlled by a damping force generation mechanism, thereby generating a damping force. A separator tube is disposed around the cylinder, and the oil is transmitted to the damping force generation mechanism through a branch tube integrally formed on a cylindrical sidewall of the separator tube. The branch tube is tapered at the outer circumferential portion thereof with the outer diameter thereof reducing toward the distal end of the branch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nishimura, Jin Yamasaki, Shinichi Kagawa, Tetsuo Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130153348
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a shock absorber main body composed of a vehicle-body side tube and a wheel side tube and formed with a lubrication clearance, a damper including a cylinder, a piston which partitions the interior of the cylinder into two working chambers, and a rod, a reservoir chamber composed of an air chamber and a working fluid chamber, a partition wall member for partitioning the working fluid chamber into an upper working fluid chamber and a lower working fluid chamber, a flow path having a check valve for permitting only a movement of the working fluid from the upper working fluid chamber to the lower working fluid chamber, and a communication path for allowing communication between the lower working fluid chamber and the lubrication clearance. A cross-sectional area of the lubrication clearance and that of the rod are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Sumida
  • Patent number: 8459418
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman
  • Patent number: 8453809
    Abstract: A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube and divides the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber. A flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Oneiric Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Everett A. Hall
  • Patent number: 8453808
    Abstract: A bicycle shock absorber and methods for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael McAndrews
  • Patent number: 8448759
    Abstract: A single cylinder type hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle (100) includes a cylinder (1), a free piston (2) that is inserted slidably into the cylinder (1) and delimits a fluid chamber (7) and a gas chamber (8) in the cylinder (1), a piston (3) that is inserted slidably into the cylinder (1) and delimits the fluid chamber (7) into two pressure chambers (7a, 7b), a rod (4), one end of which is connected to the piston (3), and an elastic member (9) that is accommodated in the gas chamber (8) and biases the free piston (2) in the direction of the fluid chamber (7). The elastic member (9) is set such that a spring constant thereof increases during contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihisa Ota
  • Patent number: 8434771
    Abstract: A vehicular fluid damper system comprises a piston-type actuator, a static fluid damper, first and second flow passages, a first flow control valve, and a controller. The piston-type actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston that cooperate with one another to define first and second chambers. The static fluid damper defines first, second, and third dampening chambers. The first and second dampening chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The second and third dampening chambers are in fluid communication with each other. The first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber. The second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber. The controller is configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Hiroyuki Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20130093158
    Abstract: A suspension system for use with a motorcycle includes a single body having two pneumatic cylinders in axial alignment therein. The suspension system may be sold in a kit, and may be installed in an existing front wheel fork.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Schwindt
  • Publication number: 20130048402
    Abstract: A technique capable of suppressing a rise in the temperature of a shock-absorber. A motorcycle includes a swing arm having a front end swingably supported by a body frame. A shock-absorber includes a rear end supported by the swing arm via a link and an upper end supported by the body frame via a support hole. A cylindrical reserve tank is connected to the shock-absorber for reserving the hydraulic operating fluid flowing into the shock-absorber, the reserve tank is arranged such that an axis thereof is positioned above the axis of the support hole provided in the upper end of the shock-absorber and extends in the width direction of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Yotaro MORI, Yusaburo Tani, Akihiko Matsukawa, Tatsuya Saski
  • Patent number: 8382076
    Abstract: A support column with a vertical tube has a coaxially installed gas spring including a cylinder divided by a piston into first and second working chambers. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber in a sealed manner to the outside, where it is attached to a bottom support piece of the vertical tube. The cylinder projects out of the vertical tube and is guided with freedom to slide back and forth in a guide sleeve installed in the end of the vertical tube opposite the bottom support piece. A connection between the first and second working chambers can be blocked by a manually actuatable valve. A second valve between the chambers, which is closed when the gas spring is under load, can be switched to the open position after the load on the gas spring has been absent for a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Etzkorn, Manfred Metzdorf, Thomas Müller
  • Patent number: 8381463
    Abstract: The invention is an energy absorbing system for safeguarding structures from disruptive forces, which may be implemented into structures or devices to provide protection from seismic motion, blasts or other disruptive forces, due to the system's displacement and damping characteristics. The system's performance can be better molded analytically to predict performance of the structure under earthquake and wind motions, for example. By utilizing cost effective materials and a simple design, the present invention provides a more efficient cost-effective system for absorbing unwanted energy, for example, a base isolation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Martin A. Muska
  • Patent number: 8371424
    Abstract: Yaw damper for damping yaw motions between two vehicle parts. This includes in the customary manner a piston part and a cylinder part, wherein that piston part is provided with a piston which divides that cylinder part into two chambers. Between these two chambers, connecting lines are present. The embodiment of these connecting lines determines the damping characteristic which governs the motion between the piston and the cylinder part. Especially for vehicle parts which move at higher speeds and/or high frequencies, such as train sets, it is desirable to provide a damper which is as stiff as possible. For this purpose, the present invention proposes the installation of pumping elements which, as far as possible, increase the pressure in the chambers which are formed by the piston in the cylinder part. Preferably, this construction is realized such that this pressure automatically decreases at lower speeds and/or low frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 8342488
    Abstract: An improvement to damping cylinders in which the damping fluid needs to be separated from a gas is disclosed. In particular, an annular bladder is used. An annular bladder allows for a control shaft to extend at least a portion of the length of the damping cylinder. This configuration effectively and simply reduces most issues that result from when an IFP is used for the same purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Becker
  • Patent number: 8342302
    Abstract: A damper for a bicycle having a primary unit and a remote unit that, in some arrangements, is substantially entirely outside of the primary unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber and, in some arrangements, an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McAndrews, Anthony Trujillo
  • Patent number: 8336683
    Abstract: A damper for a bicycle having a primary unit and a remote unit that, in some arrangements, is substantially entirely outside of the primary unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber and, in some arrangements, an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McAndrews, Anthony Trujillo
  • Publication number: 20120319376
    Abstract: A vehicular fluid damper system comprises a piston-type actuator, a static fluid damper, first and second flow passages, a first flow control valve, and a controller. The piston-type actuator comprises a cylinder and a piston that cooperate with one another to define first and second chambers. The static fluid damper defines first, second, and third dampening chambers. The first and second dampening chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The second and third dampening chambers are in fluid communication with each other. The first flow passage is in fluid communication with the first dampening chamber and the first chamber. The second flow passage is in fluid communication with the second dampening chamber and the second chamber. The controller is configured to facilitate operation of the first flow control valve to change a flow rate of fluid through the first flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Hiroyuki Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 8297417
    Abstract: A front bicycle suspension assembly having an inertia valve is described. The front bicycle suspension assembly may include at least upper and lower telescoping tubes and include a damping tube containing an inertia valve. The inertia valve may include an inertia mass movable along the outer surface of a valve shaft as the inertia valve moves between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Publication number: 20120255822
    Abstract: A rotary member that displaces a valve member in an axial direction in accordance with a rotation operation is supported on an adjuster case coaxially with the valve member. A detent mechanism is constituted by a fluid chamber that applies a fluid pressure to the rotary member in a direction for separating from the valve member, a pressure-applying member fixed to the rotary member, and a pressure-receiving member that is fixed to the adjuster to support the pressure-applying member against a pressure of the fluid chamber. By forming an engagement portion that engages with the pressure-applying member in the pressure-receiving member, a dimension of the rotary member of the adjuster and an operation input can be suppressed to be small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Kayaba Industry Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Mikio Ito
  • Patent number: 8276719
    Abstract: A damper for a bicycle having, in one arrangement, a primary unit and a remote unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber and an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle. A fluid flow control arrangement within the remote unit utilizes compression fluid flow to delay closing of the inertial valve after acceleration forces acting on the inertial valve diminish. In some arrangements, the inertial valve and fluid flow control arrangement may reside in the primary unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Trujillo, Michael McAndrews
  • Patent number: 8225913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a damper for continuously variably adjusting a damping force that includes: a cylinder; a piston rod that is inserted into the cylinder and moves back and forth; a piston valve that is coupled to a bottom portion of the piston rod and moves back and forth in the cylinder according to the movement of the piston rod; a MR fluid that fills the cylinder and moves between a tension space over the piston valve and a compression space below the piston valve; and a volume compensation means that is located in the cylinder and compensates for a volume change of an inner space of the cylinder due to the movement of the piston rod, the volume compensation means including: a floating plunger that is configured to be below the piston valve and capable of moving up and down; a coil spring that is coupled to a bottom surface of the floating plunger and supports the floating plunger; and a support cup that is fixed onto the cylinder, coupled to a bottom portion of the coil spring to support the coil spring, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: S & T Daewoo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Rak Lee, Min-Ho Chin
  • Patent number: 8220604
    Abstract: A damping force variable valve includes a retainer having a main body connected at a central portion thereof to a high pressure part or portion of a shock absorber and having an outer peripheral region enlarging outwardly, and a spool rod integrally extending from the central portion and formed at a center thereof with a hollow portion having a spool inserted therein. The variable valve further includes a main disc disposed adjacent the retainer, a solenoid unit provided adjacent the spool rod and including a push rod for moving the spool when electrical power is applied, and an operating block installed adjacent the solenoid unit and including an enlarged portion coupled to the outer peripheral region of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Young Whan Jee, Kyu Shik Park
  • Patent number: 8220602
    Abstract: Damping movement device of pieces of furniture which are movable relative to stationary parts. The device has a cylinder with a piston movable in a longitudinal direction, forming a modifiable working chamber filled with liquid medium. The liquid medium is transferred in a throttled manner. A piston rod is sealingly guided and connected to one side of the piston. The movement of the parts of furniture which is to be damped is transmitted to the piston via the outer end of the piston rod facing away from the piston. A volume compensating mechanism is provided. The piston rod is coupled to the piston with overflow ports. The non-return disk with overflow port is moved into sealing contact with the facing piston face. A spring biasing the facing faces of the non-return disk and the piston into the spaced-apart position is arranged between the non-return disk and the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Alfit AG
    Inventor: Guenter Grabher
  • Publication number: 20120160624
    Abstract: A frequency-dependent mechanism provided at the lower end of a piston rod includes a tubular housing displaceable in an inner tube, together with the piston rod as one unit, and further includes a free piston and O-rings. A shutter of a passage area varying mechanism is provided with an axially extending inner hole, orifices, and oil grooves. The opening area between oil holes 3C and the orifices 33B is changed according to the rotational position of the shutter. The opening area between oil holes 3D and 3E and the oil grooves 33C and 33D and the opening area between oil holes 3F and 3G and the oil grooves 33E and 33F are also variably adjusted according to the rotational position of the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Yohei KATAYAMA, Takao Nakadate, Kenji Noda, Mikio Yamashita, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 8205730
    Abstract: A damper (400) including a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber (406a) to a second chamber (448). A piston (410) is supported for reciprocation to vary a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston (429) is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston tending to move the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force is greater than the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin F. Janes
  • Patent number: 8191693
    Abstract: A vibration damper has a working cylinder and a working piston axially displaceable therein. A compensation cylinder has a compensation piston axially displaceable therein. The compensation cylinder is situated at the longitudinal end of the working cylinder and diagonally thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guenter Poetsch, Michael Klandt, Achim Schulz
  • Patent number: 8181757
    Abstract: An adjustable damping valve including an actuator, which exerts an actuating force on a valve body against the force of a spring to influence the throttle cross section which determines the damping force, where an emergency valve is connected in parallel with the throttle cross section with respect to the flow direction of the damping medium, where the two control surfaces of the valve body move in the axial direction and can thus can come to rest alternately on the two valve seating surfaces, and where the valve body is divided into two parts in the longitudinal direction, and each valve body assembly has its own control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Heyn, Bernd Zeissner
  • Patent number: 8151953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension and damping device (1) for load bearing and sprung wheel support and for damping suspension movements in a motor vehicle, having at least one spring cylinder (2) having a piston (6) which is guided in a cylinder (4) so as to be movable relative to the cylinder and which acts counter to an elastically compressible spring medium (FM) in order to generate a load bearing supporting spring force (F). A separate circuit of a hydraulic damping medium (DM) which is independent of the spring medium (FM) is provided for damping. The piston (6) separates two working chambers (10, 12) from one another within the cylinder (4). One working chamber (10) is assigned to the spring medium (FM) and the other working chamber (12) is assigned to the damping medium (DM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter Runkel
  • Publication number: 20120051909
    Abstract: A rotary wing system with a troublesome motion when rotating about a rotation axis, including a fluid tubular damper with a damper fluid for controlling the troublesome motion. The damper has an inboard and an outboard end, the inboard end attached to a rotary wing system inboard member proximate the rotation axis and the outboard end attached to a rotary wing system outboard member. The damper is terminated with a nonelastomeric end cap and contains damper fluid in at least an inboard and an outboard variable volume nonelastomeric working chamber which is worked by a nonelastomeric damper piston and a relative motion between the rotary wing system members. The damper includes a dynamically variable elastomeric volume compensator chamber in fluid communication with the working chambers, with the communication a controlled communication with the fluid flowed through control valves towards the working chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Dennis P. McGuire
  • Patent number: 8118144
    Abstract: A suspension damper includes a housing bounding a main chamber. A hydraulic fluid is disposed within the main chamber. A piston rod is selectively movable between an advanced position wherein a portion of the piston rod is advanced into the main chamber and a retracted position wherein the portion of the piston rod is retracted from the main chamber, wherein as the piston rod is moved a fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases and a portion of the hydraulic fluid passes through a passage within the housing. A control valve is at least partially disposed within the main chamber, the control valve being moved by the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid so as to progressively restrict the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the passage as the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Turner Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy A. Turner
  • Publication number: 20120018265
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman