Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

• Main Authors: ERICKSEN, EVERET OWEN, MARKING, JOHN, FOX, ROBERT C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 08.01.2014
• Subjects: BLASTING; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; CYCLES; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORCYCLES; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; SPRINGS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A vehicle suspension damper (1410) comprising: a damping chamber (35) containing a damping fluid, and a piston and a piston rod moveable in the damping cylinder; a valve (1500) for controlling movement of said damping fluid in compression and/or rebound of said vehicle suspension damper, the valve having: a primary valve member (1540) for resisting damping fluid flow along a first fluid flow path from a first side of the valve (1500) to a second side of the valve; a first pressure reducing means (1515) and a second pressure reducing means (1510) in a second fluid flow path between said first and second sides of the valve; wherein a surface (1580) of the primary valve member is exposed to damping fluid in said second fluid flow path between said first and second pressure reducing means; the arrangement being such that, in use, during compression and/or rebound of said vehicle suspension damper damping fluid is urged to flow through said first fluid flow path at a first fluid pressure resisted by said primary valve member (1540), and at the same time pressure of damping fluid in the second fluid flow path is reduced by the first and second pressure reducing means to a second fluid pressure lower than said first fluid pressure; and the second fluid pressure acts on a said surface (1580) of said primary valve member (1540) so that the primary valve member increases its resistance to damping fluid flow along said first fluid flow path.