Methods and apparatus for managing pressurized gas in fluid dampers

a technology of fluid dampers and pressure gas, which is applied in the direction of shock absorbers, mechanical equipment, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of under-pressurized gas volume, difficult mounting of shocks, and under-pressured reservoirs

Inactive Publication Date: 2021-07-08
FOX FACTORY INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Facilitates the installation and operation of fluid dampers by maintaining appropriate gas pressure and providing a visual confirmation of pressure status, preventing underpressurization and simplifying the mounting process.

Problems solved by technology

Due to the physical size and weight of the damper and the tendency of the charged gas reservoir to extend the piston and rod, these shocks can be difficult to mount when the gas volume is charged with pressure, due to an individual's inability to compress the rod and piston by hand.
In some instances, however, the mere act of checking the pressure results in a gas volume which is under-pressurized due to the small gas volume and the necessity of utilizing at least a small part of the gas while checking the pressure.
Constant checking only exacerbates the issue and often results in an underpressured reservoir.

Method used

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  • Methods and apparatus for managing pressurized gas in fluid dampers
  • Methods and apparatus for managing pressurized gas in fluid dampers
  • Methods and apparatus for managing pressurized gas in fluid dampers

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0020]FIG. 1 is a section view of a fluid damper 100 embodiment, typically for a motor vehicle. The main parts for the damper include a fluid chamber 105 and a rod 110 with a piston 115 disposed at the end thereof for extending into the fluid chamber 105, thereby dividing the chamber into compression and rebound portions respectively on opposite sides of the piston 115. In FIG. 1, the rod and piston are shown in their fully extended position as they would appear at the beginning of a compression stroke (e.g. an uncompressed damper). The damper also includes a remote reservoir 125 or compensation chamber, constructed and arranged to receive damping fluid via a communication, or fluid flow, path 130. The remote reservoir is divided into a damping fluid 135 and a compressed gas portion 150 with the two portions separated by a floating piston 155 which, as described herein, is sealed with an O-ring 230 and moves against the volume of compressed gas in the gas portion 150 as fluid displa...

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve comingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and is a continuation of the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 159,403 filed on Oct. 11, 2018, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PRESSURIZED GAS IN FLUID DAMPERS” by John Marking, assigned to the assignee of the present application, having Attorney Docket No. FOX-0040US.CON3, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002]The application Ser. No. 16 / 159,403 claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 136,148 filed on Apr. 22, 2016, now U.S. Issued U.S. Pat. No. 10,124,642, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PRESSURIZED GAS IN FLUID DAMPERS” by John Marking, assigned to the assignee of the present application, having Attorney Docket No. FOX-0040US.CON2, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0003]The application Ser. No. 15 / 136,148 claims priority to and is a continuation of the U.S. patent application ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B60G13/08F16F9/06F16F9/43
CPCB60G13/08F16F9/062F16F9/3228F16F9/064F16F9/43F16F2230/0047B60G17/08
InventorMARKING, JOHN
OwnerFOX FACTORY INC