| CPC B62J 45/20 (2020.02) [B62J 45/41 (2020.02); B62K 25/04 (2013.01); B62L 3/00 (2013.01); F16F 9/16 (2013.01); B60G 2300/12 (2013.01); B62K 2025/045 (2013.01); F16F 2230/18 (2013.01); F16F 2230/22 (2013.01)] | 9 Claims |
|
1. A pre-load adjusting apparatus for shock absorbers on a two-wheeled vehicle, the shock absorbers capable of correspondingly increasing or decreasing pre-load with the increasing or decreasing of fluid to the shock absorbers, and a reservoir external to the shock absorbers for holding fluid reserves, comprising:
a manifold block having a first port configured to be fluidly connected to the reservoir, a second port configured to be fluidly connected to a front shock absorber of the shock absorbers, and defining a number of fluid passages therebetween;
a pump having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the number of fluid passages, the pump configured to, when activated, move fluid in the number of fluid passages;
a first solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the number of fluid passages between the first port and the inlet of the pump, configured to control fluid flow between the reservoir and the inlet of the pump;
a second solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the number of fluid passages between the outlet of the pump and the first port, configured to control fluid flow between the outlet of the pump and the reservoir;
a third solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the number of fluid passages between the second port and the inlet of the pump, configured to control fluid flow between the front shock absorber and the inlet of the pump;
a fourth solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the number of fluid passages between the outlet of the pump and the second port, configured to control fluid flow between the outlet of the pump and the front shock absorber;
a pressure sensor fluidly disposed in the number of fluid passages proximate the second port, configured to provide a pressure signal corresponding to a pressure of the fluid in the front shock absorber;
a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first, second, third, and fourth solenoid valves, and the pump, configured to receive the pressure signal and engage the solenoid valves and the pump to move fluid in the number of fluid passages to control the pre-load of the front shock absorber;
the manifold block having a third port configured to be fluidly connect to the reservoir, a fourth port configured to be fluidly connected to a rear shock absorber of the shock absorbers, and defining a second number of fluid passages therebetween and in find communication with the pump;
a fifth solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the second number of fluid passages between the third port and the inlet of the pump, configured to control fluid flow between the reservoir and the inlet of the pump;
a sixth solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the second number of fluid passages between the outlet of the pump and the third port, configured to control fluid flow between the outlet of the pump and the reservoir;
a seventh solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the second number of fluid passages between the fourth port and the inlet of the pump, configured to control fluid flow between the rear shock absorber and the inlet of the pump;
an eighth solenoid valve fluidly disposed in the second number of fluid passages between the outlet of the pump and the fourth port, configured to control fluid flow between the outlet of the pump and the rear shock absorber; and
a second pressure sensor fluidly disposed in the second number of fluid passages proximate the fourth port, configured to provide a pressure signal corresponding to a pressure of the fluid in the rear shock absorber,
wherein the controller in communication with the second pressure sensor, the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth solenoid valves, and the pump is configured to receive signals and engage the solenoids and pump to move fluid in the second number of fluid passages to modulate and control the pre-load of the rear shock absorber.
|