Bicycle shock assemblies with plunger operated valve arrangement

摘要

A shock absorber, which is particularly applicable to bicycles, includes a secondary chamber whose volume selectively contributes to a volume associated with a primary chamber of the shock. A piston is supported by a compression rod and cooperates with a shock tube to define the primary chamber. The secondary chamber is fluidly isolated from the primary chamber by a valve arrangement positioned proximate the piston. A plunger extends along a longitudinal length of the shock and forms or interacts with the valve arrangement such that the secondary chamber is selectively fluidly connected to the primary chamber so the primary and secondary chambers of the shock assembly contribute to the performance of the shock for a selected portion of shock travel.

主权项

1. A shock assembly for a bicycle comprising:
a first sleeve; a second sleeve engaged with the first sleeve such that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are connected in a telescopic manner and are configured to translate through a stroke; a piston enclosed by the first and second sleeves and defining a first positive gas volume on one side of the piston and a second positive gas volume on an opposite side of the piston, wherein the first positive gas volume and the second positive gas volume are configured to increase pressure in a same one direction of the translation and decrease pressure in the same other direction of the translation; a valve arrangement formed between the first and second positive gas volumes and configured to fluidly separate the first positive volume from the second positive volume; and a plunger configured to cooperate with the piston to selectively open the valve arrangement to fluidly connect the second positive gas volume to the first positive gas volume; wherein the valve arrangement and the plunger are configured to:
isolate the first positive gas volume and the second positive gas volume during a first translation range of the stroke of the first sleeve and the second sleeve;fluidly couple the first positive gas volume and the second positive gas volume during a second translation range of the stroke of the first sleeve and the second sleeve;the stroke traverses a distance from a state where the second sleeve is fully compressed into the first sleeve to a state where the second sleeve is fully extended from the first sleeve;the stroke includes the first translation range and the second translation range; andthe first translation range and the second translation range do not overlap in single direction of the stroke.