Patent ID: 6026939
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: B60G,B62K,F16F

Abstract:
A dampener for a shock absorber including a stanchion tube, comprising:(a) a fluid chamber defined at least partially within the stanchion tube and containing fluid;(b) a piston disposed within the fluid chamber for movement within the fluid chamber under the force of a shock acting on the shock absorber, the piston having a first side and a second side;(c) a bypass channel in fluid communication with the fluid chamber on the first side of the piston and on the second side of the piston, the bypass channel permitting fluid to operably bypass the piston while flowing from the first side of the piston to the second side of the piston; and(d) a valve disposed within the stanchion tube and operable to control the flow of the fluid through the bypass channel, wherein the valve includes a bender having a response material embedded within at least a portion thereof, the bender moving during displacement of the piston to control the flow of fluid through the bypass channel.