FRONT FORK

Abstract

A front fork (F) comprises: a fork main body (1) including a vehicle body-side tube (2), an axle-side tube (3), and an axle bracket (4) including a cylindrical portion (4a) having a bottomed cylindrical shape, the axle bracket (4) being attached to an outer periphery of a lower end of the axle-side tube; a damper cartridge (D); a boot (30) including a seal ring (30e) having an annular shape and coming into close contact with the axle-side tube (3), the boot (30) being clamped between the axle-side tube (3) and the axle bracket (4), the boot (30) being housed in the cylindrical portion (4a);and a connecting screw (40) connecting a lower cap (13) to the collar (30), the connecting screw (40) comprising a head portion (40a) inserted into a screw insertion hole (4c) of the axle bracket (4), and a screw shaft (40b) inserted into an inner periphery of the collar (30) and screwed and fixed to the lower cap (13) fixed to a lower end of the damper cartridge (D);

Claims

[1] Front fork, which includes: a fork main body capable of extension and contraction, the fork main body including a vehicle body-side tube and an axle-side tube movable in the axial direction with respect to the vehicle body-side tube, and an axle bracket including a cylindrical portion having a bottomed cylindrical shape, the axle bracket being attached to an outer periphery of a lower end of the axle-side tube; a damper cartridge housed in the fork main body, the damper cartridge comprising a cylinder and a piston rod movably inserted into the cylinder in the axial direction, one end of the piston rod being connected to the vehicle body-side pipe, a piston connected to the piston rod, the piston being movably inserted into the cylinder in the axial direction, the piston being configured to divide an interior of the cylinder into an extension-side chamber and a compression-side chamber, and a bottom cap fixed to a lower end of the cylinder and closing the lower end of the cylinder; a sleeve comprising a sealing ring having an annular shape and coming into close contact with the axle-side tube, the sleeve being clamped between the axle-side tube and the axle bracket, the sleeve being housed in the cylindrical portion; and a connecting bolt connecting the lower cap to the collar, the connecting bolt including a head portion inserted into a bolt insertion hole penetrating a bottom portion of the cylindrical portion of the axle bracket, and a bolt shank inserted into an inner periphery of the collar and screwed and fixed to the lower cap. [2] Front fork according to claim 1, wherein the lower cap comprises, on an outer periphery of a lower end of the lower cap, a conical surface or a curved surface whose diameter is reduced at a lower end side, and the sleeve includes a recessed portion at an inner periphery of an upper end of the sleeve adapted to fit the conical surface or the curved surface to align the lower cap. [3] A front fork according to claim 1, comprising a seal having an annular shape and adapted to an outer circumference of the screw shaft of the connecting screw, wherein the sleeve includes an annular recess portion at an inner periphery of a lower end of the sleeve in which the seal is housed. [4] Front fork according to claim 1, wherein a reservoir is formed in a space between the fork main body and the damper cartridge, and the front fork further comprises a base valve held by the lower cap and fitted into the interior of the cylinder, the base valve being configured to divide the interior of the cylinder into the compression-side chamber and a chamber communicating with the reservoir.

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