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US-12623748-B2 - Controllable cycle suspension

US12623748B2US 12623748 B2US12623748 B2US 12623748B2US-12623748-B2

Abstract

A suspension component for a bicycle is provided. The suspension component includes a first tube having a first end and a second tube having a second end, the first tube and the second tube configured in a telescopic arrangement having the first end as a first distal end of the telescopic arrangement and the second end forming a second distal end of the telescopic arrangement, the telescopic arrangement having an interior space bounded by inner walls of the first tube and the second tube. The suspension component also includes a fluid damper disposed in the interior space, the fluid damper having a plurality of operational states configured to dampen or resist movement of the first tube relative to the second tube. Characteristics of the suspension component are controllable and/or the suspension component is configured to operate in different states.

Inventors

  • Geoff Nichols

Assignees

  • SRAM, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20180924

Claims (16)

  1. 1 . A suspension component for a bicycle, the suspension component comprising: a first tube having a first end and a second tube having a second end, the first tube and the second tube configured in a telescopic arrangement along a movement axis with the first end as a first distal end of the telescopic arrangement and the second end forming a second distal end of the telescopic arrangement, the telescopic arrangement having an interior space bounded by inner walls of the first tube and the second tube; and a fluid damper disposed in the interior space, the fluid damper having a plurality of operational states configured to resist movement of the first tube relative to the second tube, the fluid damper comprising: an internal fluid portion exposed to damping fluid, an internal dry portion isolated from the damping fluid, an actuating member disposed in both the internal fluid portion and the internal dry portion, and an obstructing member; wherein the actuating member is configured such that movement of the actuating member causes the obstructing member to move along the movement axis relative to the actuating member to enact one of the plurality of operational states of the fluid damper, and wherein the fluid damper further comprises a power supply and a motion controller, the motion controller causing the movement of the actuating member, the power supply including a battery configured to provide power to the motion controller and configured to mount to the suspension component in a manner that disposes the power supply rearward of the suspension component.
  2. 2 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the actuating member comprises movement in both the internal fluid portion and the internal dry portion.
  3. 3 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the actuating member is formed as a single piece.
  4. 4 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the actuating member is a rotational movement.
  5. 5 . The suspension component of claim 4 , wherein the rotational movement is about a central axis of the telescopic arrangement.
  6. 6 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the actuating member comprises an input coupling.
  7. 7 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the change of enacted operational state comprises a change in flow characteristics of fluid within the fluid damper.
  8. 8 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the fluid damper comprises at least two available operational states.
  9. 9 . The suspension component of claim 8 , wherein the available operational states include an open flow state.
  10. 10 . The suspension component of claim 9 , wherein the available operational states further include a restricted flow state.
  11. 11 . The suspension component of claim 10 , wherein the restricted flow state fully constrains the movement of the movement of the first distal end relative to the second distal end.
  12. 12 . The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein motion controller further comprises a motor and a gearbox disposed in the internal dry portion, the gearbox having an output coupling rotatably coupled to an input coupling of the actuating member.
  13. 13 . The suspension component of claim 12 , wherein the gearbox is removably coupled to the input coupling.
  14. 14 . The suspension component of claim 12 , wherein the internal dry portion is defined by an internal space of a first housing, and the internal fluid portion comprises a second housing, the first housing coupled to the second housing.
  15. 15 . The suspension component of claim 14 , wherein the actuating member is disposed in both the first housing and the second housing.
  16. 16 . The suspension component of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication interface configured to receive wireless signals for control of the motion controller.

Description

The present application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/546,740, filed Sep. 28, 2017. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application generally relates to suspension systems for cycles, and more particularly to a controllable suspension system for a bicycle. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Bicycles are known to have suspension components. Suspension components have been used for various applications, such as cushioning impacts, vibrations, or other disturbances experienced by the bicycle during use. A common application for suspension components on bicycles is for cushioning impacts or vibrations experienced by the rider when the vehicle is ridden over bumps, ruts, rocks, pot holes and/or other obstacles. These suspension components include rear and/or front wheel suspension components. Suspension components may also be used in other locations, such as a seat post or handlebar, to insulate the rider from impacts. For a front wheel, a front fork may include suspension elements such as springs and dampers. Such suspension elements have values and characteristics associated with use in a suspension system. For example, a spring element, such as a coil spring, elastomeric spring, air spring, and/or other spring element will have a spring force value, which may be constant or variable along an established curve depending on the input force or displacement value. It is often desirable to control the effect of such spring elements using a damping element or system. Damping elements in suspensions will also include characteristic values. For example, damping rates, such as rebound and compression rates, may be established based on the physical characteristics of the particular damper and/or suspension system. The degree of desired damping depends on a variety of variables, such as the speed of the bicycle, the terrain over which the bicycle is being ridden, the structure of the bicycle, the wheel width, and the weight and particular preferences of the rider. It therefore has been desirable to provide adjustable damping characteristics to achieve the widest possible range of damping performance for all classes of bicycles, riders, and terrains. Thus, damping systems have been provided with mechanisms for adjusting the damping rates. These mechanisms have been configured to cause the adjustment of the damping system through cable, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic, and/or other actuation techniques. Traditionally these mechanisms have involved cumbersome cables, hoses, and/or wires to allow for connection. In addition, these mechanisms have been integrated with sealed pressure and/or fluid chambers, or inadequately configured, thus difficult to service and maintain. Further, many of these mechanisms have involved slow response times when changes to the system are requested and/or initiated. SUMMARY In an embodiment, a suspension component for a bicycle is provided. The suspension component includes a first tube having a first end and a second tube having a second end, the first tube and the second tube configured in a telescopic arrangement having the first end as a first distal end of the telescopic arrangement and the second end forming a second distal end of the telescopic arrangement, the telescopic arrangement having an interior space bounded by inner walls of the first tube and the second tube. The suspension component also includes a fluid damper disposed in the interior space, the fluid damper having a plurality of operational states configured to dampen or resist movement of the first tube relative to the second tube. The fluid damper includes an internal fluid portion exposed to damping fluid, an internal dry portion isolated from the damping fluid, and an actuating member disposed in both the internal fluid portion and the internal dry portion, the actuating member configured such that movement of the actuating member causes a change of state of the damper. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a side view of one example of a bicycle. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a front suspension component of a bicycle constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure; FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 shows a top view of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIGS. 6A-6B show a power adapter of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a damper device of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the front suspension component of FIG. 2; FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the sectional view of the region indicated in FIG. 8; FIGS. 10-12 shows an enlarged view of the sectional view of the region indicated in FIG. 9; FIG. 13