Patent ID: 6105987
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A suspension system for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising:a telescoping strut comprising a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member, said first and second telescoping members being telescopingly and coaxially engaged with each other, said telescoping strut being compressible by relative movement of said first and second telescoping members toward each other, and being expandable by relative movement of said first and second telescoping members away from each other;a spring assembly positioned within said first telescoping member of said telescoping strut; anda damping system positioned within said telescoping strut, said damping system comprising a damping fluid and an inertia-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism;said damping system further comprises a compression fluid flow path and a rebound fluid flow path;said compression fluid flow path comprises an inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit that is regulated by said inertia-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism;said inertia-activated compression fluid flow control mechanism comprises a valve body and a valve spring;said valve spring biases said valve body into a first position in which said valve body substantially prevents said damping fluid from flowing through said inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit;said valve body is movable against said valve spring to a second position in which said damping fluid is able to flow through said inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit;a piston having an axial piston port extending therethrough, said inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit extending into said axial piston port;said valve body having a first end and a second end, and said piston having a first end and a second end;said first position of said valve body being such that said first end of said valve body is in engagement with said second end of said piston;said second end of said piston has a radial piston port extending towards said first end of said valve body;said inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit further extends at least from said axial piston port, to said radial piston port; andsaid first position of said valve body being such that said first end of said valve body is seated in a position over said radial piston port and substantially blocks said radial piston port, thereby substantially preventing fluid flow through said inertia-activated compression fluid flow circuit.