Inline Shock Absorber Suspension for Cycle Wheel Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telescopic front suspension forks for two-wheeled vehicles face issues such as high stiction, reduced stability due to mechanical trail reduction during compression, lack of leverage ratio, and undesirable braking reactions, which affect handling and traction.
Innovation Solution
A suspension assembly with a steering fork, shock link, shock absorber in an inline configuration, coil spring, and control link, arranged in a trailing configuration to increase mechanical trail distance during compression, providing a greater than 1:1 leverage ratio and improved stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If telescopic fork architecture is used, then suspension compression is achieved, but mechanical trail reduces causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional telescopic fork architecture by using a shock absorber with inline configuration where the coil spring and damper are arranged in series along the same axis. This inversion allows the suspension to compress while maintaining or increasing mechanical trail, thereby improving stability during compression rather than reducing it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary linkage system between the wheel and the shock absorber. This linkage mechanism mediates the relationship between wheel movement and shock absorber compression, enabling the suspension to compress while maintaining mechanical trail through the intermediate mechanical connection rather than direct attachment.
2Strength
If large diameter stantions are used to support fore/aft loads, then structural support is improved, but stiction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the large diameter stantion structure from the design, eliminating the need for oversized structural components. By using the inline shock absorber configuration with proper linkage, the system achieves adequate structural support with smaller components, thereby reducing the sliding surfaces and seals that generate stiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional telescopic fork mechanical system with an inline shock absorber and linkage system. This substitution eliminates the need for large stantions with multiple sliding surfaces, reducing mechanical friction and stiction while maintaining structural support capabilities.
3Force
If bushings are enlarged to support higher loads, then load bearing capacity is improved, but stiction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for large bushings by replacing the telescopic fork architecture with an inline shock absorber system. The linkage mechanism distributes loads differently, allowing smaller bushings with reduced sliding surfaces that generate less stiction while maintaining adequate load bearing capacity.
4Ease of operation
If telescopic fork compresses linearly, then simple compression is achieved, but leverage ratio is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic leverage ratio characteristics through the linkage system. As the suspension compresses, the leverage ratio between wheel travel and shock absorber compression changes dynamically rather than remaining constant. This provides mechanical advantage and improved comfort while maintaining operational simplicity through the automated mechanical linkage.
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, increases stability during braking and cornering, and enhances traction by maintaining or increasing mechanical trail distance as the suspension compresses, unlike traditional telescopic forks.
Implementation Method 1
coil spring
Implementation Method 2
shock absorber
Data Source
AI summary
A trailing link, multi-link 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 coil 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. A mechanical trail distance increases as the suspension assembly compresses relative to a fully extended state.