Eccentric Spring Adjuster for Front Fork Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional front forks lack adjusters for independently adjusting damping forces during extension and compression while maintaining vehicle height adjustment functionality.
Innovation Solution
The front fork is designed with a spring adjuster mounted eccentrically on the cap, featuring screw portions that protrude into the fork main body and a plate that changes the support positions of the suspension spring, allowing for independent adjustment of damping forces through first and second adjusters without obstructing the cap's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjusters are mounted on the cap for adjusting damping forces during extension and compression, then the adaptability of the front fork is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional components and their arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The spring adjuster is positioned eccentrically relative to the cap's central axis, creating an asymmetric arrangement. This asymmetric positioning allows the plate to rotate and change the suspension spring support position while providing clearance for multiple adjusters to be mounted on the cap without interfering with each other's operation
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment functions are segmented into separate adjusters: a spring adjuster for vehicle height adjustment and separate first/second adjusters for extension and compression damping forces. Each adjuster is independently mounted on the cap, allowing independent adjustment of each parameter without affecting the others
2Ease of operation
If the spring adjuster is positioned eccentrically to allow plate rotation for vehicle height adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the non-standard mounting position
Solution Approach 1:
The spring adjuster is deliberately positioned eccentrically (off-center) on the cap rather than at the central axis. This asymmetric positioning creates the necessary clearance for the plate to rotate freely when the spring adjuster is operated, enabling vehicle height adjustment without interfering with other components
Solution Approach 2:
The spring adjuster operates in a different spatial dimension (radial/rotational movement of the plate) compared to the axial movement of other adjusters. This dimensional separation allows the plate to rotate and change the suspension spring support position in the circumferential direction without conflicting with the axial adjustment operations of other adjusters
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
This configuration enables precise adjustment of damping forces during both extension and compression, maintaining vehicle height adjustment capabilities without interfering with the adjusters, thus enhancing the fork's damping characteristics and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a screw portion (35) disposed in an outer periphery of the spring adjuster body (31) and protruded into the fork main body (1)
Implementation Method 2
a suspension spring (S) housed in the fork main body (1), configured to bias the fork main body (1) in a direction of extension
Implementation Method 3
a damper cartridge (D) housed in the fork main body (1) so as to change damping forces generated by the damper cartridge (D)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a front fork provided with a plurality of adjusters, while including a spring adjuster. In order to achieve the above object, in a front fork F according to the means for solving the problem of the present invention, a spring adjuster A is rotatably mounted on a position eccentric to a center O of a cap 4 as viewed in an axial direction and includes a screw portion 35 disposed in an outer periphery protruded into a fork main body 1, and a plate P in which the screw portion 35 of the spring adjuster A is screwed to change support positions of a suspension spring S is brought into contact with a case (tubular member) 14a at two points on both sides in a circumferential direction of the normal of the case 14a that passes a mounting center of the spring adjuster A. Accordingly, while being prevented from rotating, the plate P can be downsized and can be disposed so as not to interfere with first and second adjusters 5, 6.