Spring devices – Coil – Including end thrust member
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2002-10-29
Graham, Matthew C. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Coil
Including end thrust member
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471197
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a spring device, particularly to a spring device having a coil spring comprising an adjusting facility, as well as to an application of a spring device having an adjusting facility for the spring suspension of a vehicle, especially for the spring suspension of a motor vehicle or a bicycle.
Spring devices are employed, for example, in vehicles such as bicycles or motor vehicles, or in machines, particularly in order to improve their dynamic characteristics or to adapt them to dynamics, respectively. In so doing, various components are connected by means of spring elements for an at least partial mechanical isolation. In addition, absorber elements may be provided which influence the dynamic behavior of the overall system, and in particular prevent the overall system from over vibration.
Spring devices are employed, for example, in order to mechanically isolate the wheels of vehicles relative to the vehicle body. Spring devices are used, for example, for the wheel suspension of motor vehicles. Spring elements are also used—often in combination with absorber elements—in the wheel suspension of two-wheeled vehicles, especially bicycles. Spring elements are thus disposed in so-called spring forks.
For example, spring devices are disposed inside each fork cross bar which work in concert with an elastomer shock absorber. The fork cross bar is thus mechanically isolated from the stem tube by means of this spring absorbing arrangement.
Without limitation to the invention, the invention will now be described in greater detail in the following, in particular with respect to the example of a bicycle Wheel suspension, whereby it should be noted that a spring device according to the invention is likewise preferable in various other possible applications, for example in machines such as machine tools, in motor vehicle wheel suspensions and other similar contrivances.
In accordance with the present invention, a spring device is proposed having a spring, a load transmission means, as well as an adjusting means at least partially encompassed by said load transmission means, said adjusting means being provided for adjusting the position of at least one load transmission section.
The spring is disposed with load transmission sections which are encompassed by the spring surface, and within which external forces may be introduced in at least two positions respectively from at least one embracing member, said embracing members preferably being mechanically isolated by means of the spring.
Reference to load transmission sections must be hereby particularly understood as areas of the spring surface. Thus, the load transmission sections may be, dependent upon predetermined conditions, disposed at various positions on the spring surface, or at various spring surface areas, respectively. The external forces in each case are thus introduced in particular by at least one embracing member.
The term “embracing member” is hereby to be understood in a broad sense. An embracing member in this case is especially a component coupled with the spring device, said component in contact with the spring device such that forces applied to the spring device by said embracing member are at least partially isolated. For example, an embracing member may be understood as a cap placed on the spring, or an absorber device adjoined to the spring, or a fork cross bar of a bicycle, or a stem tube, or any such component being in each case solidly affixed thereto.
The external forces which are introduced may be of the most diverse kinds. For example, in a corresponding application of a spring device according to the present invention, which, for example, is mounted in a fork cross bar or in a stem tube of a bicycle, or which is mounted in a corresponding manner on a bicycle rear wheel for the purpose of its suspension and which receives said induced forces from the wheel via the rider and/or from the rider alone on the one hand and, on the other hand, also those forces thereby coupled with the spring which are introduced thereupon from the ground via the bicycle wheel. Thereby, the spring device may at least partially isolate dynamic loads, in particular such as those induced by, for example, changing ground surface conditions such as rocks, curbs, pot holes and other similar environmental conditions, so that they are not transmitted on to the rider.
The adjusting means is configured such that, for example, one of the spring ends is solidly mounted in a cap-like element such as a rotating knob, whereby the cap with the spring is rotatably mounted about the spring axis. At a second position, the spring is positioned with its coils in a thread, which is disposed, for example, on the casing of an absorber cover or the like. A turning of the rotating knob induces the coils of the spring to rotate helically in the thread, the thread of the absorber cover for example, so that the thread displaces relative to the spring. Hereby, the distance between the spring end disposed with the rotating knob and the section of the spring coils presently lodged in said thread, changes, so that the spring—without being additionally stressed or relaxed—changes its effective length, hence, the length between two points of contact changes. Hereby, an embracing member, which is solidly connected to the thread, is mechanically isolated from an embracing member which is solidly coupled—at least in the spring axis direction—to the cap.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotatably mounted bicycle seat tube has a female thread disposed in its lower section or, respectively, is solidly connected with a component such as a sleeve having a female thread. Said female thread is capable of receiving a coil spring, so that the coil spring forms a screwed-type of connection with the female thread. The coil spring is supported at one end against a fork cross bar which is mounted axially displaceable relative to the seat tube, or against another component being solidly connected thereto. Preferably, a rotary lock which is disposed between said fork cross bar and spring, or which is formed by said components respectively, prevents the end section of the spring from rotating relative to the fork cross bar. A rotation of the seat tube causes the spring, which represents a type of male thread, to move within the female thread of the seat tube so that the effective spring length changes, meaning a change is effected in the length between the coil section of the spring which is received in the female thread of the seat tube and the point of support of the spring on the fork cross bar. In this way, the effective spring length may be changed without thereby changing the initial spring tension in the effective spring length section.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, which likewise may be employed for example on a bicycle, a setting knob is connected with a type of shaft having a male thread.
It is further preferred that instead of a shaft having a male thread, a type of tube comprising a female thread is provided. A combination of these two possibilities is equally preferred as well.
Said thread or said threads engage/s in the coils of the spring so that the spring forms a type of counter-thread. The spring end distal the rotating knob is supported on an embracing member such as, for example, a fork cross bar and is preferably secured at this position against rotation relative the embracing part. For example, the rotating knob including shaft, hollow shaft respectively, is inserted into the fork cross bar. Upon turning of the rotating knob, said knob including shaft retracts relative to the fork cross bar or, respectively, draws nearer thereto. Thereby, the thread connected with the setting knob screws further into the spring or, respectively, rotates out therefrom. The free end of the spring supported against the embracing part, such as the fork cross bar, elongates so that the effective spring length changes. Since the fork cross bar is disposed axially displaceable relative to the setting kno
Denk Peter
Ebersbach Wolfgang
Denk Engineering GmbH
Graham Matthew C.
Pearne & Gordon LLP
LandOfFree
Spring device for shock absorber with adjuster does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Spring device for shock absorber with adjuster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spring device for shock absorber with adjuster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2936507