US 12,496,867 B2
Hydraulically-adjustable preload and/or cross-over
Connor Randall, Salida, CO (US); and Regan Woelfel, Scotts Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed by Fox Factory, Inc., Duluth, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/507,357.
Application 17/507,357 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/185,691, filed on Feb. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,840,120.
Application 17/507,357 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/185,766, filed on Feb. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,718,137.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,204, filed on Nov. 5, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/105,796, filed on Oct. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/982,645, filed on Feb. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/982,629, filed on Feb. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0041029 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B60G 17/08 (2006.01); B60G 13/08 (2006.01); F15B 15/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/08 (2013.01) [F15B 15/1447 (2013.01); B60G 13/08 (2013.01); B60G 2202/24 (2013.01); B60G 2206/41 (2013.01); B60G 2500/10 (2013.01); B60G 2500/30 (2013.01); B60G 2800/162 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydraulically-adjustable preload system comprising:
a housing configured to couple with a main damper cylinder, said housing comprising:
a slave cylinder chamber;
a slave cylinder within a portion of said slave cylinder chamber, said slave cylinder telescopically movable with respect to said housing in a direction along an axis of said main damper cylinder;
a fluid chamber within a portion of said slave cylinder chamber; and
a fluid port configured to provide a fluid flow for said fluid chamber, wherein an increase in a fluid volume within said fluid chamber causes a portion of said slave cylinder to telescopically extend from said slave cylinder chamber in an axial direction along said main damper cylinder;
a preload flange coupled with said slave cylinder at an end of said housing, said preload flange disposed such that a change in a location of said slave cylinder causes a change in a location of said preload flange and a corresponding change in a preload applied to a coil spring coupled with said housing, said coil spring disposed surrounding an external surface of said main damper cylinder, said coil spring having a first end coupled with said preload flange and a second end coupled with a lower flange, said coil spring applying a pressure to said preload flange and said lower flange to maintain a length which a damping rod initially extends from said main damper cylinder, said preload flange providing an initial preload to said hydraulically-adjustable preload system, said initial preload occurring prior to any additional telescopic movement of said slave cylinder in said axial direction along said main damper cylinder occurring during operation of said main damper cylinder; and
an adjustable crossover coupled with said preload flange, said adjustable crossover disposed such that said change in said location of said preload flange causes a change in a location of said adjustable crossover.