US 11,951,793 B2
Methods and apparatus for vehicle suspension having multiple gas volumes
Mario Galasso, Sandy Hook, CT (US); Joshua Benjamin Yablon, Oakland, CA (US); Andrew Laird, Los Gatos, CA (US); William M. Becker, Aptos, CA (US); Joseph Franklin, Vancouver, WA (US); and Dennis K. Wootten, Milford, NH (US)
Assigned to Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/723,215.
Application 17/723,215 is a division of application No. 16/453,474, filed on Jun. 26, 2019, granted, now 11,312,203.
Application 16/453,474 is a continuation of application No. 15/828,230, filed on Nov. 30, 2017, granted, now 10,384,509, issued on Sep. 20, 2019.
Application 15/828,230 is a continuation of application No. 14/848,947, filed on Sep. 9, 2015, granted, now 9,855,812, issued on Jan. 2, 2018.
Application 14/848,947 is a continuation of application No. 13/005,474, filed on Jan. 12, 2011, granted, now 9,156,325, issued on Oct. 13, 2015.
Application 13/005,474 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/717,867, filed on Mar. 4, 2010, abandoned.
Application 12/717,867 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/509,258, filed on Jul. 24, 2009, granted, now 8,869,959, issued on Oct. 28, 2014.
Application 12/509,258 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/407,610, filed on Mar. 19, 2009, granted, now 8,894,050, issued on Nov. 25, 2014.
Application 13/005,474 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/407,610, filed on Mar. 19, 2009, granted, now 8,894,050, issued on Nov. 25, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/294,458, filed on Jan. 12, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/227,775, filed on Jul. 22, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/157,541, filed on Mar. 4, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/038,015, filed on Mar. 19, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242191 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B60G 17/052 (2006.01); B60G 11/27 (2006.01); B60G 13/10 (2006.01); F15D 1/00 (2006.01); F16F 9/02 (2006.01); F16F 9/16 (2006.01); F16F 13/00 (2006.01); B62K 25/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/052 (2013.01) [B60G 11/27 (2013.01); B60G 13/10 (2013.01); F15D 1/00 (2013.01); F16F 9/02 (2013.01); F16F 9/0218 (2013.01); F16F 9/16 (2013.01); F16F 13/00 (2013.01); B60G 2300/12 (2013.01); B62K 25/08 (2013.01); Y10T 137/87161 (2015.04)] 1 Claim
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gas spring system for use in a suspension system, comprising:
a first chamber having a mechanical spring member therein, said mechanical spring member compressible in a compression stroke of said suspension system, said main chamber fillable through a first fill valve located at a lower end of said suspension system;
a spring guide integrated into said suspension system, said spring guide configured to ensure said mechanical spring member remains centered in said first chamber;
a second chamber isolated from the first chamber, the second chamber having pressurized gas therein, the gas compressible in the compression stroke, said second chamber isolated from said first chamber such that said pressurized gas in said second chamber is not permitted to flow into said first chamber during operation of said gas spring system, wherein a second fill valve provides a path with apertures for pressurizing said secondary chamber;
wherein the mechanical spring member and the pressurized gas both operate to form a spring rate in the compression stroke;
wherein said first chamber includes pressurized gas, said first chamber isolated from said second chamber such that said pressurized gas in said first chamber is not permitted to flow into said second chamber during operation of said gas spring system;
wherein said mechanical spring member primarily forms said spring rate over a first half of said compression stroke and said pressurized gas primarily forms said spring rate over a second half of said compression stroke; and
wherein a shaft extends along a center of said suspension system and through said second chamber and terminates in a top out ring disposed in a piston, said shaft and said top out ring configured to retain said piston in an initial position prior to said compression stroke.