Suspension fork for vehicle suspension

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a suspension fork (10) for a vehicle suspension (100), the suspension fork (10) comprising an attachment portion (11), a first leg (20) and a second leg (30). The present disclosure also relates to a suspension (100) comprising a suspension fork (10), a damper (40) attached to an attachment portion (11) of the suspension fork (10), a control arm (50) attached to two legs (20, 30) of the suspension fork (10), and a drive shaft (60) extending lengthwise through a space (18) between the two legs (20, 30).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a suspension fork for a vehicle suspension and a vehicle suspension. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, suspension forks for vehicle suspensions have one or two permanently attached legs. Suspension forks with two legs have a good stiffness to weight ratio, but make it difficult to mount and dismount the drive shaft of the vehicle suspension. However, single leg suspension forks are heavier, but allow better access to the drive shaft. SUMMARY

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a suspension fork for a vehicle suspension, the suspension fork comprising: an attachment portion configured for attachment to a damper of the vehicle suspension; a first leg having a first end portion attached to the attachment portion and a second end portion configured for attachment to a control arm of the vehicle suspension; and a second leg having a first end portion configured for releasable attachment to the attachment portion and a second end portion configured for releasable attachment to the control arm, the first leg and the second leg being spaced apart from each other for a drive shaft of the vehicle suspension to be inserted through a space formed between the two legs.

[0004] The suspension fork according to the first aspect of the present disclosure combines the good stiffness to weight ratio of a suspension fork with two legs, with the easy mounting and dismounting of the drive shaft by means of the releasable attachment of the second leg to the control arm and the attachment portion. Furthermore, with the design of the suspension fork, the suspension fork can remain very close to the drive shaft itself when the drive shaft is mounted. This can make the load path between the damper and the control arm very straight. This further provides the opportunity to optimize the weight of the suspension fork without any additional constraints (except the packaging towards the drive shaft in the mounted state).

[0005] The suspension fork can provide a restriction of the drive shaft. This restriction can be formed by the two legs between which the space for the drive shaft is formed. Thus, the drive shaft can be surrounded by the two legs, which are opposite each other and have the drive shaft between them in the mounted state.

[0006] The suspension fork can be in an assembled state or an unassembled state. In the assembled state, respective components of the suspension fork, such as the attachment portion and the legs, which are configured for attachment to each other, can be attached to each other. In the unassembled state, respective components of the suspension fork, which are configured to be attached to each other, can not be attached to each other or not completely attached to each other. The term configured for attachment thus includes both cases of attachment to each other or attachability to each other provided by the configuration of the respective components. The configuration for attachment can be provided as follows. For example, each of the respective components to be attached to each other can have an attachment means, such as a through-hole, the two attachment means corresponding to each other for attaching the respective components to each other. Further attachment means, for example a screw, can be provided to attach the two components to each other.

[0007] Similarly, the vehicle suspension can have a mounted and an unmounted state. In the mounted state, respective components of the vehicle suspension can be mounted and / or positioned relative to each other in a defined manner. In the unmounted state, respective components of the vehicle suspension can still need to be mounted and / or positioned relative to each other.

[0008] The releasable attachment as described herein refers to an attachment which can be released or in other words detached, in particular without destruction and / or repeated attachment and release. The releasable attachment is in contrast to a permanent attachment or in other words to a fixed attachment, in which the respective connected components can not be released or detached from each other at least without a destructive method. The releasable attachment of the second leg to the attachment portion and the control arm has the advantage that it can be easily assembled after mounting the vehicle suspension, for example for positioning the drive shaft in the space between the two legs. Moreover, when the second leg can be easily detached from the attachment portion and the control arm, it is convenient to service the vehicle suspension or the suspension fork.

[0009] The second leg can be configured for releasable attachment to the attachment portion by means of the first through-hole of the attachment portion and the first screw configured to be fastened inside the first through-hole. This achieves a simple and effective releasable attachment, which can be fastened with widely available screw tools. Furthermore, the first screw can be provided for use as an axis of rotation, so that the second leg can be rotated at the axis of rotation. This can facilitate the release or detachment of the second end portion from the control arm, so that the removal of the drive shaft from the space between the two legs does not necessarily have to completely release the attachment of the second leg to the attachment portion.

[0010] The first end portion of the second leg can comprise two second arms, which are spaced apart from each other, and each of which has a second through-hole therein for inserting the first screw therein. This makes it possible for a section of the attachment portion having the first through-hole to be positioned between the spacing formed between the two second arms of the second leg. The fastening of the two second arms by the first screw through the second through-holes of the two second arms provides a particularly secure attachment of the second leg to the attachment portion.

[0011] The attachment portion can comprise a first protrusion with the first through hole, the first protrusion being configured to fit into the space between the two second arms. Designing the section of the attachment portion with the first through hole to provide the first protrusion at the attachment portion provides a low weight design of the suspension fork, while still having sufficient stiffness at the required section to provide a secure attachment. A protrusion as described herein can generally be understood as a section protruding from a component of the attachment portion or its overall shape, in particular a clamp as further described below, and can have a circular shape. For example, the attachment portion can generally have a section of a cylindrical, in particular ring shape, which can form a clamp, the first protrusion adding a section protruding from the general shape of this section of the attachment portion.

[0012] The attachment portion can comprise a clamp for the damper. In particular, the attachment portion can be designed as a clamp. It can have a general cylindrical or ring shape, which can have a slit interrupting this shape, or in other words, separating the clamp. By increasing and decreasing the size of the slit through a basically elastic deformation of the clamp, the diameter of the attachment portion can be widened and tightened to receive the damper therein.

[0013] The clamp can be configured to be tightened when the first screw is fastened within the first through hole. Conveniently, the first protrusion can extend over the slit, such that by fastening the first screw, the slit can be closed and the damper is locked inside the attachment portion.

[0014] The first leg can be permanently attached to the attachment portion. This has the advantage that the first leg is very securely attached and that this attachment can be provided very cost effectively and with a relatively small weight compared to a releasable attachment, which usually requires additional material and / or components. For example, the attachment portion and the first leg can be designed as one piece.

[0015] Each of the second end portions of the two legs can comprise a third through hole for attaching the two legs at their second end portions to the control arm by a second screw. Thus, the two second end portions of the two legs can be conveniently fastened by a single second screw, further reducing the weight of the suspension by not requiring any further fastening means.

[0016] The second end portion of the second leg can have a second protrusion, the third through hole of the second leg extending through the second protrusion. This provides the possibility to design the second leg with a thickness that is thinner than a required or advantageous thickness for the third through hole at the section of the second end portion of the second leg to establish a secure attachment. This further reduces the weight of the suspension fork without reducing the capabilities of the suspension fork.

[0017] The second end portion of the first leg can comprise two first arms spaced apart from each other. This allows the second end portion of the first leg to be securely attached to the control arm, in particular by means of the second screw.

[0018] The second end of the first leg can have an h-shaped profile formed by the first arms. The h-shaped profile provides a lightweight and high-stiffness design of the second end in the first leg.

[0019] The space between the two first arms can be designed such that the control arm is configured to be inserted between the two first arms. Configured to be inserted means that the control arm can be inserted between the first arms or it can be provided to be inserted between the first arms. This enables the design of the first leg to be particularly firmly attached to the control arm by means of the two first arms at opposite sides of the control arm.

[0020] The second end of the second leg can be positioned adjacent to one of the two first arms when the second leg is attached to the control arm. In particular, the second end of the second leg can be positioned directly adjacent to or at one of the two first arms when the second leg is attached to the control arm. Thus, one of the two first arms together with the second end of the second leg, in particular by means of the second screw, is firmly attached to the control arm.

[0021] The thickness of the one of the two first arms that is positioned adjacent to the second leg can be smaller than the thickness of the other one of the two first arms. Thus, the first arm of the second leg that is positioned opposite to the second leg can be provided with a greater thickness and thus has a high stiffness, while the other first arm can be provided with a smaller thickness and stiffness as it is supported by the second leg. This provides a firm but lightweight attachment of the first leg to the control arm.

[0022] According to a second aspect, a vehicle suspension is provided, comprising a suspension fork according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a damper attached to the attachment portion of the suspension fork, a control arm attached to the two legs of the suspension fork, and a drive shaft extending in length through the space between the two legs.

[0023] It is noted that the above-mentioned aspects, examples and features can be combined with each other, irrespective of the aspects concerned.

[0024] The above-mentioned and other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from and will be elucidated with respect to the examples described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, shown schematically: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle suspension in an installed state, Figure 2 is Figure 1 a perspective view of the vehicle suspension of Figure 3 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view of the vehicle suspension of Detailed Implementation

[0026] The accompanying drawings are merely schematic representations and are intended to illustrate this disclosure only. In principle, identical or equivalent elements have the same reference numerals.

[0027] As provided herein, the designation of components such as legs, ends, arms, screws, etc., as first, second, third, etc., is merely intended to make the corresponding components referable and distinguishable from one another. The designation of components described herein does not in any way constitute a limitation on the scope of this disclosure. For example, when this disclosure describes a second screw, the presence of a first screw is not mandatory unless it is explicitly stated to be necessary or non-optional.

[0028] Figures 1 to 3 In different views of the installation state ( Figure 1 , Figure 3 ) and not installed ( Figure 2 The diagram shows a vehicle suspension 100 with suspension forks 10. The suspension forks 10 shown have a design that combines lightweight and assembly advantages, which will be explained further below.

[0029] In addition to the suspension fork 10, the vehicle suspension 100 is... Figure 1 In its installed state, the suspension includes a damper 40 attached to the suspension fork 10 and a lower control arm 50 attached to the suspension fork 10. Furthermore, the drive shaft 60 of the vehicle suspension 100 extends through the space 18 formed between the two support legs 20 and 30 of the suspension fork 10.

[0030] The first leg 20 of the suspension fork 10 is permanently attached at its first end 21 to the attachment portion 11 of the suspension fork 10. The first leg 20 is further releasably attached at its second end 22 to the control arm 50. The attachment portion 11 is configured for releasable attachment to the damper 40.

[0031] In this example, the attachment 11 includes a clamp 12 and a first protrusion 13 extending lengthwise over a slit 15 separating the clamp 12 and the first protrusion 13. The clamp 12 has a cylindrical or annular shape corresponding to the outer shape of the damper 40. The clamp 12 may have an inner diameter substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the damper 40. The first protrusion 13 includes a first through-hole 14 extending along the length of the first protrusion 13. A first screw 16 can be inserted through the first through-hole 14 and secured therein to tighten the clamp 12, thereby releasably attaching the damper 40 to the attachment 11.

[0032] The first end 31 of the second leg 30 is divided into two second arms 32, 34 with a space (unnamed) between them. The dimensions of the second arms 32, 34 and the space (particularly the distance between the two second arms 32, 34) are designed such that the first protrusion 13 can engage with its first through hole 14, particularly in a form-fitted manner, within the space between the two second arms 32, 34. Each of the two second arms 32, 34 includes a second through hole 33, 35, which can be aligned with the first through hole 14 when the two second arms 32, 34 engage with the first protrusion 13. Either or both of the first through hole 14 and the second through holes 33, 35 may have an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the first screw 16, allowing the first screw 16 to be fastened through the corresponding thread. The first screw 16 can be inserted into the interior of the first through hole 14 and the second through holes 33 and 35, not only attaching the damper 40 to the attachment part 11, but also releasably attaching the first end 31 of the second leg 30 to the attachment part 11.

[0033] The second end 36 of the second leg 30 is configured for releasable attachment to the control arm 50, which can... Figure 1 It can be seen in the attachment and in Figure 2 The separation (disassembly) can be seen in the image. For this purpose, the second end 36 includes a second protrusion 38, through which a third through hole 37 extends. The third through hole 37 can be aligned with a through hole (unnamed) inside the control arm 50 and third through holes 24 and 26 at the second end 22 of the first leg 20. Any or all of the third through holes 24, 26, 37 and the through holes inside the control arm 50 can have internal threads corresponding to the external threads on the second screw 17. Figure 1 and Figure 3 The image shows that the two outriggers 20 and 30 are fastened to the control arm 50.

[0034] The second end 22 of the first leg 20 has two first arms 23, 25, each of which has one of the third through holes 24, 26 of the first leg 20. Figure 3 In a cross-sectional view of the vehicle suspension 100, the second end 22 can be seen to have a substantially h-shaped profile. The first arm 23 is designed to have a greater thickness than the first arm 25.

[0035] In particular, from Figure 3 As can be seen, by first introducing the drive shaft 60 into the space 18 between the two support legs 20 and 30, and then releasably attaching the second support leg 30 to the attachment portion 11 and the control arm 50, the drive shaft 60 can be easily installed in the vehicle suspension 100. Similarly, it is easy to remove the drive shaft 60 by releasing the second support leg 30 from the attachment portion 11 and / or the control arm 50.

[0036] By studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed examples in practice with respect to the claimed disclosure. In the claims, the words "comprising" or "having" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0037] List of reference numerals 10 suspension forks 11. Attachment 12 Fixtures 13 First protrusion 14 First through hole 15 Slits 16 First screw 17 Second screw 18 Space 20 First leg 21 First end 22 Second end 23, 25 First Arm 24, 26 Third through holes 30 Second leg 31 First end 32, 34 Second Arm 33, 35 Second through hole 36 Second end 37 Third through hole 38 Second protrusion 40 Dampers 50 control arms 60 drive shaft 100 Vehicle Suspension

Claims

1. A suspension fork (10) for a vehicle suspension (100), the suspension fork (10) comprising: - an attachment portion (11) configured for attachment to a damper (40) of the vehicle suspension (100), - a first leg (20) having a first end portion (21) attached to the attachment portion (11) and a second end portion (22) configured for attachment to a control arm (50) of the vehicle suspension (100), and - a second leg (30) having a first end portion (31) configured for releasable attachment to the attachment portion (11) and a second end portion (36) configured for releasable attachment to the control arm (50), the first leg (20) and the second leg (30) being spaced apart from each other for insertion of a drive shaft (60) of the vehicle suspension (100) through a space (18) formed between the two legs (20, 30).

2. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 1, the second leg (30) being configured for releasable attachment to the attachment portion (11) by a first through hole (14) of the attachment portion (11) and a first screw (16) configured to be fastened within the first through hole (14).

3. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 2, the first end portion (31) of the second leg (30) comprising two second arms (32, 34) which are spaced apart from each other and each of which has a second through hole (33, 35) therein for insertion of the first screw (16) therethrough.

4. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 3, the attachment portion (11) comprising a first protrusion (13) having the first through hole (14), the first protrusion (13) being configured for fitting into the space between the two second arms (32, 34).

5. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the attachment portion (11) comprising a clamp (12) for the damper (40).

6. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4 and according to claim 5, the clamp (12) being configured to be tightened when the first screw (16) is fastened within the first through hole (14).

7. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the first leg (20) being permanently attached to the attachment portion (11).

8. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, each of the second end portions (22, 36) of the two legs (20, 30) comprising a third through hole (24, 26, 37) for attachment of the two legs (20, 30) at their second end portions (22, 36) to the control arm (50) by a second screw (17).

9. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 8, the second end portion (36) of the second leg (30) having a second protrusion (38), the third through hole (37) of the second end portion (36) extending through the second protrusion (38).

10. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the second end portion (22) of the first leg (20) comprising two first arms (23, 25) spaced apart from each other.

11. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 10, the second end portion (22) of the first leg (20) having an h-shaped profile formed by the first arms (23, 25).

12. The suspension fork (10) according to claim 10 or 11, the space between the two first arms (23, 25) being designed such that the control arm (50) is configured to be inserted between the two first arms (23, 25).

13. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, the second end portion (36) of the second leg (30) being positioned adjacent to one of the two first arms (23, 25) when the second leg (30) is attached to the control arm (50).

14. The suspension fork (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, the thickness of the one of the two first arms (25) positioned adjacent to the second leg (30) being smaller than the thickness of the other one of the two first arms (23).

15. A vehicle suspension (100) comprising a suspension fork (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, a damper (40) attached to the attachment portion (11) of the suspension fork (10), a control arm (50) attached to the two legs (20, 30) of the suspension fork (10), and a drive shaft (60) extending in length through the space (18) between the two legs (20, 30).

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