Front fork shock absorber and its hydraulic adjustment device

Abstract

This invention discloses a front fork shock absorber comprising a front fork spring and a hydraulic adjustment device. One end of the front fork spring is connected to the hydraulic adjustment device. The hydraulic adjustment device includes a preload adjustment mechanism, a connecting pipe, a hydraulic adjustment mechanism, and a working fluid. The preload adjustment mechanism includes a preload adjustment element. The preload adjustment element is movably disposed within the preload adjustment mechanism and connected to one end of the front fork spring. The connecting pipe communicates with the preload adjustment mechanism. The hydraulic adjustment mechanism is disposed at the other end of the connecting pipe and includes a hydraulic adjustment element. The hydraulic adjustment element is disposed within the hydraulic adjustment mechanism. The working fluid flowably fills the preload adjustment mechanism, the connecting pipe, and the hydraulic adjustment mechanism, thereby allowing the user to adjust the hydraulic adjustment element to compress the front fork spring by the working fluid pushing the preload adjustment element without disassembling the vehicle body.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a shock absorber, and more particularly to a front fork shock absorber and its hydraulic pressure adjustment device. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Existing front fork shock absorbers have an outer tube, a front fork spring, and an inner tube. The outer tube is fitted over the top of the inner tube and has a top cover, with the top cover and inner tube located at opposite ends of the outer tube. The front fork spring is housed within the outer tube and rests against the inner tube and top cover. When the front fork shock absorber compresses, the inner tube pushes upwards towards the interior of the outer tube, compressing the front fork spring. When the front fork shock absorber rebounds, the inner tube moves downwards away from the interior of the outer tube, releasing the front fork spring.

[0003] To prevent the fork spring from compressing immediately upon vibration, users typically add preload to the fork spring. Specifically, users can rotate the top cover to compress the fork spring closer to the inner tube. However, most existing fork shock absorbers are installed inside the chassis. If users want to adjust the preload, they need to remove the chassis first to adjust the top cover, which is very inconvenient.

[0004] In view of this, a better improvement solution is an urgent problem to be solved in this industry. [Summary of the Invention]

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a front fork shock absorber and its hydraulic adjustment device, which solves the problem that existing front fork shock absorbers are mostly installed in the vehicle body, and if the user wants to adjust the preload, the vehicle body needs to be disassembled first to adjust the top cover, which is inconvenient.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a hydraulic pressure adjustment device for mounting on a front fork shock absorber, wherein the front fork shock absorber has an outer tube, an inner tube, and a front fork spring; the inner tube is movably inserted through one end of the outer tube, and the front fork spring is disposed within the outer tube; the hydraulic pressure adjustment device comprises: a preload adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the outer tube relative to the inner tube, and having: a preload adjustment housing disposed on the outer tube and having a preload internal space; a preload adjustment member movably disposed in the preload internal space, protruding outside the preload internal space, and connected to one end of the front fork spring; a connecting pipe, one end of which is connected to a side of the preload adjustment mechanism, and the connecting pipe communicates with the preload internal space of the preload adjustment housing; and a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the connecting pipe relative to the preload adjustment mechanism, and having: A hydraulic adjustment housing having a hydraulic internal space; a hydraulic adjustment member disposed on the hydraulic adjustment housing and capable of adjusting the size of the hydraulic internal space; a working fluid flowably filling the preload internal space, the connecting pipe, and the hydraulic internal space, wherein when the hydraulic adjustment member compresses the hydraulic internal space, the working fluid can push the preload adjustment member; wherein the preload adjustment housing has an inner cover and an outer cover; the inner cover is located inside the outer pipe, and the preload internal space is located in the inner cover; the inner cover has: an annular groove disposed on the side of the inner cover near the outer cover; at least one inner preload channel communicating with the annular groove and the preload internal space; the outer cover is detachably connected to the inner cover and communicating with the connecting pipe and the preload internal space; the outer cover has: at least one outer preload channel communicating with the connecting pipe and the annular groove; The outer cover and the inner cover can rotate relative to each other, and when the outer cover and the inner cover rotate relative to each other, the outer cover and the inner cover remain in communication.

[0007] As described above, the preload adjustment mechanism has: a sealing member disposed between the preload adjustment housing and the outer tube, and sealingly fitted to the preload adjustment housing and the outer tube.

[0008] As described above, the hydraulic pressure adjusting device includes: a hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft that passes through one end of the hydraulic pressure adjusting housing; and a hydraulic pressure moving member that is screwed onto the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft and located in the hydraulic internal space, and can move axially along the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft as the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft rotates.

[0009] As described above, the hydraulic pressure adjusting device includes a manual knob that is fitted onto the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft and can rotate the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft.

[0010] The fork shock absorber proposed in this invention comprises: an outer tube; an inner tube movably inserted through one end of the outer tube; a fork spring disposed in the outer tube; a hydraulic adjustment device disposed on the outer tube and having a preload adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the outer tube relative to the inner tube, and comprising: a preload adjustment housing disposed on the outer tube and having a preload internal space; a preload adjustment member movably disposed in the preload internal space and protruding outside the preload internal space, and connected to one end of the fork spring; a connecting pipe, one end of which is connected to a side of the preload adjustment mechanism, and the connecting pipe communicates with the preload internal space of the preload adjustment housing; and a hydraulic adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the connecting pipe relative to the preload adjustment mechanism and comprising: a hydraulic adjustment housing having a hydraulic internal space. A hydraulic pressure adjusting component is disposed on a hydraulic pressure adjusting housing and is capable of adjusting the size of the hydraulic internal space; a working fluid is flowably filled in the preload internal space, the connecting pipe, and the hydraulic internal space, and when the hydraulic pressure adjusting component compresses the hydraulic internal space, the working fluid can push the preload adjusting component; wherein, the preload adjusting housing has an inner cover and an outer cover; the inner cover is located inside the outer pipe, and the preload internal space is located in the inner cover; the inner cover has: an annular groove disposed on the side of the inner cover near the outer cover; at least one inner preload channel communicating with the annular groove and the preload internal space; the outer cover is detachably connected to the inner cover and communicates with the connecting pipe and the preload internal space; the outer cover has: at least one outer preload channel communicating with the connecting pipe and the annular groove; the outer cover and the inner cover are rotatable relative to each other, and when the outer cover and the inner cover rotate relative to each other, the outer cover and the inner cover remain in communication.

[0011] In use, the front fork shock absorber and preload adjustment mechanism are installed inside the vehicle body, while the connecting pipe connected to the preload adjustment mechanism is pulled out of the vehicle body, leaving the hydraulic adjustment mechanism at the other end of the connecting pipe outside the vehicle body. When the user wants to compress the front fork spring, the hydraulic moving member is adjusted to move axially along the hydraulic adjustment shaft, compressing the internal hydraulic space. At this time, the working fluid is squeezed from the internal hydraulic space to the internal preload space, expanding the internal preload space and pushing the preload adjustment member to compress the front fork spring. In this way, the user can adjust the hydraulic adjustment member without disassembling the vehicle body, and use the change in hydraulic pressure to push the preload adjustment member to compress the front fork spring.

Implementation Method

[0012] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. This invention proposes a front fork shock absorber, which includes an outer tube 10, an inner tube 20, a front fork spring 30, and a hydraulic pressure adjusting device 40. The inner tube 20 is movably inserted through one end of the outer tube 10. The front fork spring 30 is disposed within the outer tube 10. The hydraulic pressure adjusting device 40 is connected to the other end of the outer tube 10 relative to the inner tube 20, and the front fork spring 30 is disposed between the inner tube 20 and the hydraulic pressure adjusting device 40.

[0013] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3. The hydraulic pressure adjustment device 40 has a preload adjustment mechanism 41, a connecting pipe 42, a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 43, and a working fluid 44. The preload adjustment mechanism 41 is located at the other end of the outer pipe 10 relative to the inner pipe 20, and has a preload adjustment housing 411, a preload adjustment component 412, and a sealing component 413.

[0014] Please refer to Figures 3, 7, and 8. A preload adjustment housing 411 is disposed on the outer tube 10 and has a preload internal space. In this embodiment, the preload adjustment housing 411 has an inner cover 4111 and an outer cover 4112. The inner cover 4111 is located inside the outer tube 10, and the preload internal space is located within the inner cover 4111. The inner cover 4111 has an annular groove 4113 and at least one inner preload channel 4114. The annular groove 4113 is disposed on the side of the inner cover 4111 near the outer cover 4112, and the inner preload channel 4114 communicates with the annular groove 4113 and the preload internal space.

[0015] The outer cover 4112 is detachably connected to the inner cover 4111 and communicates with the connecting pipe 42 and the preload internal space. The outer cover 4112 and the inner cover 4111 are rotatable relative to each other, and the outer cover 4112 has at least one outer preload channel 4115. The outer preload channel 4115 communicates with the connecting pipe 42 and the annular groove 4113. When the outer cover 4112 and the inner cover 4111 rotate relative to each other, the outer preload channel 4115 remains connected to the annular groove 4113 even as the outer cover 4112 rotates, thereby allowing the outer cover 4112 to maintain communication with the inner cover 4111.

[0016] The preload adjustment member 412 is movably disposed in the preload internal space and protrudes outside the preload internal space, and is connected to one end of the fork spring 30. The seal member 413 is disposed between the preload adjustment housing 411 and the outer tube 10, and is sealed and fitted to the preload adjustment housing 411 and the outer tube 10.

[0017] Please refer to Figure 5. The hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 43 is located at the other end of the connecting pipe 42 relative to the preload adjustment mechanism 41, and has a hydraulic pressure adjustment housing 431 and a hydraulic pressure adjustment component 432. The hydraulic pressure adjustment housing 431 has an internal hydraulic space. The hydraulic pressure adjustment component 432 is disposed on the hydraulic pressure adjustment housing 431 and can adjust the size of the internal hydraulic space. In this embodiment, the hydraulic pressure adjustment component 432 has a hydraulic pressure adjustment shaft 4321, a hydraulic pressure moving component 4322, and a manual knob 4323.

[0018] A hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 passes through one end of the hydraulic adjustment housing 431. A hydraulic moving part 4322 is screwed onto the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 and is located within the hydraulic internal space, and can move axially along the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 as the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 rotates. A manual knob 4323 is sleeved on the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 and can rotate the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321. In other embodiments, the hydraulic adjustment part 432 may not have a manual knob 4323, and a tool may be used to rotate the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 to adjust the size of the hydraulic internal space.

[0019] The working fluid 44 can flowably fill the preload internal space, the connecting pipe 42 and the hydraulic internal space. When the hydraulic adjustment member 432 compresses the hydraulic internal space, it can push the preload adjustment member 412 through the working fluid 44.

[0020] In use, the front fork shock absorber and preload adjustment mechanism 41 are installed inside the vehicle body, while the connecting pipe 42 connected to the preload adjustment mechanism 41 is pulled out of the vehicle body, so that the hydraulic adjustment mechanism 43 at the other end of the connecting pipe 42 is located outside the vehicle body. Please refer to Figures 4 and 5. When the user wants to compress the front fork spring 30, he can turn the manual knob 4323 or use a tool to turn the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321, so that the hydraulic moving part 4322 moves along the axial direction of the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 and compresses the hydraulic internal space. At this time, the working fluid 44 will start from the hydraulic internal space, pass through the connecting pipe 42, the outer preload channel 4115 of the outer pipe 10, the annular groove 4113 of the inner cover 4111, and the inner preload channel 4114 of the inner cover 4111 in sequence, flow to the preload internal space, expand the preload internal space, and push the preload adjustment part 412 to compress the front fork spring 30. Please refer to Figures 3 and 6. To extend the fork spring 30, the manual knob 4323 can be turned in the opposite direction or a tool can be used to rotate the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321, causing the hydraulic moving part 4322 to move axially along the hydraulic adjustment shaft 4321 and expand the internal hydraulic space. At this time, the working fluid 44 will flow back from the preload internal space to the internal hydraulic space due to the reduction in the internal hydraulic space, thereby reducing the pressure on the fork spring 30.

[0021] The advantage of the present invention is that the hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism 43 that controls the compression of the front fork spring 30 can be installed outside the vehicle body through the connecting pipe 42. Therefore, the user can adjust the hydraulic pressure adjustment member 432 without disassembling the vehicle body, and push the preload adjustment member 412 to compress the front fork spring 30 by the change of hydraulic pressure. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a preload adjustment mechanism of the present invention when the fork spring is extended; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the preload adjustment mechanism of the present invention when the fork spring is compressed; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a hydraulic adjustment mechanism of the present invention when the fork spring is compressed; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hydraulic adjustment mechanism of the present invention when the fork spring is extended; Figure 7 is a partially exploded view of the present invention; Figure 8 is an exploded view of a preload adjustment housing of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hydraulic pressure adjustment device for mounting on a front fork shock absorber, the front fork shock absorber having an outer tube, an inner tube, and a front fork spring; the inner tube movably passes through one end of the outer tube, and the front fork spring is disposed in the outer tube; the hydraulic pressure adjustment device comprises: a preload adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the outer tube relative to the inner tube, and having: a preload adjustment housing disposed on the outer tube and having a preload internal space; a preload adjustment member movably disposed in the preload internal space, protruding outside the preload internal space, and connected to one end of the front fork spring; a connecting pipe, one end of which is connected to a side of the preload adjustment mechanism, and the connecting pipe communicates with the preload internal space of the preload adjustment housing; and a hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the connecting pipe relative to the preload adjustment mechanism, and having: a hydraulic pressure adjustment housing having a hydraulic internal space. A hydraulic pressure adjusting component is disposed on the hydraulic pressure adjusting housing and is capable of adjusting the size of the internal hydraulic space; a working fluid is flowably filled in the preload internal space, the connecting pipe, and the internal hydraulic space, and when the hydraulic pressure adjusting component compresses the internal hydraulic space, the working fluid can push the preload adjusting component; wherein... The preload adjustment housing has an inner cover and an outer cover; the inner cover is located inside the outer tube, and the preload internal space is located in the inner cover; the inner cover has: an annular groove disposed on the side of the inner cover near the outer cover; at least one inner preload channel communicating with the annular groove and the preload internal space; the outer cover is detachably connected to the inner cover and communicates with the connecting tube and the preload internal space; the outer cover has: at least one outer preload channel communicating with the connecting tube and the annular groove; the outer cover and the inner cover are rotatable relative to each other, and when the outer cover and the inner cover rotate relative to each other, the outer cover and the inner cover remain in communication.

2. The hydraulic pressure regulating device as described in claim 1, wherein, The preload adjustment mechanism has: a sealing element disposed between the preload adjustment housing and the outer tube, and sealingly fitted to the preload adjustment housing and the outer tube.

3. The hydraulic pressure regulating device as described in claim 1, wherein, The hydraulic adjustment component includes: a hydraulic adjustment shaft that passes through one end of the hydraulic adjustment housing; and a hydraulic moving component that is screwed onto the hydraulic adjustment shaft and located in the internal space of the hydraulic housing, and can move axially along the hydraulic adjustment shaft as the hydraulic adjustment shaft rotates.

4. The hydraulic pressure adjusting device as described in claim 3, wherein, A manual knob is fitted onto the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft and can rotate the hydraulic pressure adjusting shaft.

5. A front fork shock absorber comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube movably inserted through one end of the outer tube; a front fork spring disposed within the outer tube; a hydraulic adjustment device disposed on the outer tube and having a preload adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the outer tube relative to the inner tube, and comprising: a preload adjustment housing disposed on the outer tube and having a preload internal space; a preload adjustment member movably disposed in the preload internal space and protruding outside the preload internal space and connected to one end of the front fork spring; a connecting tube, one end of which is connected to a side of the preload adjustment mechanism and communicating with the preload internal space of the preload adjustment housing; and a hydraulic adjustment mechanism disposed at the other end of the connecting tube relative to the preload adjustment mechanism and comprising: a hydraulic adjustment housing having a hydraulic internal space. A hydraulic pressure adjusting component is disposed on the hydraulic pressure adjusting housing and is capable of adjusting the size of the internal hydraulic space; a working fluid is flowably filled in the preload internal space, the connecting pipe, and the internal hydraulic space, and when the hydraulic pressure adjusting component compresses the internal hydraulic space, the working fluid can push the preload adjusting component; wherein... The preload adjustment housing has an inner cover and an outer cover; the inner cover is located inside the outer tube, and the preload internal space is located in the inner cover; the inner cover has: an annular groove disposed on the side of the inner cover near the outer cover; at least one inner preload channel communicating with the annular groove and the preload internal space; the outer cover is detachably connected to the inner cover and communicates with the connecting tube and the preload internal space; the outer cover has: at least one outer preload channel communicating with the connecting tube and the annular groove; the outer cover and the inner cover are rotatable relative to each other, and when the outer cover and the inner cover rotate relative to each other, the outer cover and the inner cover remain in communication.

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