METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT OF VEHICLE SUSPENSION MEMBERS

摘要

A method and apparatus for assembling a suspension. In one embodiment, a method includes altering a temperature of a first suspension component and then pressing the first suspension component and a second suspension component into engagement while the temperature remains substantially altered.

主权项

1. A method of creating a vehicle suspension fork comprising:
conditioning a first portion of said vehicle suspension fork to a non-ambient temperature; precisely positioning and engaging said first portion with at least one second portion of said vehicle suspension fork while said non-ambient temperature remains substantially as conditioned, wherein after said precisely positioning and engaging said first portion relative with said at least one second portion said vehicle suspension fork comprises:
a crown having a first fork tube opening and a second fork tube opening;a first fork tube engaged in said first fork tube opening; anda second fork tube engaged in said second fork tube opening; holding and moving said at least one second portion with respect to said first portion via one or more retainers as a part of said precisely positioning and engaging; and returning assembled portions to a substantially ambient temperature, wherein said returning assembled portions to said substantially ambient temperature creates a compressive hoop stress in said first fork tube and a tensile hoop stress in said first fork tube opening but creates no substantial axial stress in either of said first fork tube or said first fork tube opening, and creates a compressive hoop stress in said second fork tube and a tensile hoop stress in said second fork tube opening but creates no substantial axial stress in either of said second fork tube or said second fork tube opening.