Air Spring Assembly With Annular Gas Volume for Suspension Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air spring systems struggle to adjust effectively to varying environments, vehicle types, performance requirements, and rider comfort, often compromising on suspension characteristics during transitions between different riding conditions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a fourth gas volume, the annular gas volume, within the air spring assembly, which is fluidly coupled with other volumes to enhance tuning capabilities, allowing for better balance and adjustment of suspension characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional air spring systems are used with fixed gas volumes, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the suspension characteristics cannot be adjusted for different environments and riding conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The air spring system is divided into multiple separate gas volumes (first, second, third, and fourth gas volumes) that can be independently controlled. Each volume can be adjusted separately to optimize suspension characteristics for different riding conditions, environments, and rider preferences, transforming a fixed single-volume system into a segmented multi-volume system with enhanced adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air spring system transitions from a static fixed-volume configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. The gas volumes can be dynamically adjusted through inflation and deflation operations, allowing the suspension characteristics to adapt in real-time to varying riding conditions, rider weight, and performance requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gas volumes are added to enable tuning, then suspension performance can be adjusted for different conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fourth gas volume is nested within the existing three gas volumes, with each volume containing an annular region that can be independently adjusted. This nested configuration allows multiple tuning parameters to be integrated within a compact structure, enabling complex suspension customization without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each gas volume serves multiple functions: providing suspension support, enabling performance tuning, and adapting to different rider weights and conditions. The multi-volume system universally addresses various riding scenarios (downhill, uphill, road, off-road) and rider requirements (comfort, performance, skill level) through a single integrated adjustment mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise tuning of suspension performance across different conditions, improving rider comfort and vehicle handling by balancing positive and negative gas volumes, reducing compromises in suspension behavior.
Implementation Method 1
a first gas volume, a second gas volume, a third gas volume, and a fourth gas volume. The fourth gas volume is fluidly coupled to at least one of the first, second, and third gas volumes
Implementation Method 2
The fourth gas volume is fluidly coupled to at least one of the first, second, and third gas volumes such that the fourth gas volume can be inflated and deflated to adjust a total effective air spring curve
Data Source
AI summary
An air spring assembly is disclosed. The air spring assembly includes an upper fork tube having a base lug on one end, a lower fork tube having an opening to receive the upper fork tube in a first axial end, and a fork tube gas seal to form a gas seal between the upper fork tube and the lower fork tube. A partial cartridge tube within a portion of the upper fork tube, the partial cartridge tube including a partial cartridge tube gas seal between an outer diameter (OD) of the partial cartridge tube and an inner diameter (ID) of the upper fork tube. An annular volume formed between the ID of the upper fork tube, the OD of the partial cartridge tube, the partial cartridge tube gas seal, and the base lug of the upper fork tube.