Inline Gas Spring Shock Absorber for Cycle Wheel Suspension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telescopic front suspension forks in two-wheeled vehicles face issues with high stiction, reduced stability due to mechanical trail reduction during compression, lack of leverage ratio, and undesirable braking reactions, leading to compromised handling and traction.

Innovation Solution

A wheel suspension assembly with a shock absorber in an inline configuration, utilizing a multi-bar linkage and control link system that allows for variable leverage and increased mechanical trail, reducing stiction and improving stability through a trailing configuration of pivots and a gas spring with a larger radial cross-sectional area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If telescopic fork stantions are made larger to support fore/aft loads, then load bearing capacity is improved, but stiction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload bearing capacityVSAvoidstiction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional telescopic fork mechanical system with a linkage suspension system that uses a shock absorber mounted to the frame. This substitution eliminates the need for large-diameter stantions and their associated bushings, thereby reducing stiction while maintaining load bearing capacity through the linkage mechanism and frame mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the shock absorber mounting point from the fork stantions and relocates it to the frame itself. By taking out the shock absorber mounting function from the fork assembly and placing it on the frame, the design eliminates the need for large stantions with high stiction, achieving both load support and reduced friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Force

If telescopic fork compression increases to absorb bumps, then shock absorption is improved, but mechanical trail reduces causing instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidmechanical trail

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the suspension function from the steering function by mounting the shock absorber to the frame rather than integrating it into the fork assembly. This segmentation allows the shock absorber to provide vertical shock absorption independently while the fork assembly maintains mechanical trail for steering stability, resolving the contradiction between shock absorption and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If fork stantion angle is made slacker to improve angle of attack stability, then bump response is improved, but bushing load increases causing greater stiction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of attack stabilityVSAvoidstiction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the shock absorption function from the fork stantions and relocates it to a frame-mounted shock absorber. This extraction eliminates the bushing loads in the stantions that cause stiction, while the slacker fork stantion angle can be used to improve angle of attack stability without the penalty of increased friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Strength

If telescopic fork compresses during braking to support load transfer, then load bearing is improved, but suspension stiffens reducing traction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload bearingVSAvoidtraction loss

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic suspension system where the linkage mechanism allows the shock absorber to compress independently of the fork assembly during braking. This dynamic response maintains wheel contact and traction by allowing controlled suspension movement to accommodate load transfer, while the frame-mounted shock absorber provides the necessary load bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution reduces stiction, enhances stability during braking and cornering, and provides improved shock absorption by increasing mechanical trail and offering a greater than 1:1 leverage ratio, addressing the limitations of telescopic forks.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS10526040B2Inline shock absorber with gas spring for a cycle wheel suspension assembly

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS INC

AI summary

A trailing link multi-bar suspension assembly for a cycle having improved stability includes a first arm having a first arm fixed pivot and a first arm shock pivot. A shock link has a shock link fixed pivot and a shock link floating pivot. A shock absorber has an inline configuration, a gas spring, a first shock mount, and a second shock mount. A wheel carrier has a wheel carrier first pivot and a wheel carrier second pivot spaced apart from one another, and a wheel mount that is adapted to be connected to a wheel. A control link has a control link floating pivot and a control link fixed pivot, the control link floating pivot being pivotably connected to the wheel carrier second pivot, and the control link fixed pivot being pivotably connected to the first arm control pivot.