Absorber

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock, specifically hydraulic or pneumatic shock absorber.

Background of the invention:

[0002] Conventional telescopic forks are found on both front and rear suspension systems. The forks are adopted in a front suspension and a front brake that allows the front wheel to rotate about a steering axis, so that the bike may be steered. Handle bars are attached to the top clamp. The forks can be large hydraulic shock absorbers with internal coil springs. The forks allow the front wheel to react to imperfections in the road while isolating the rest of the bike from that motion. Springs, fork oil and air are provided inside the fork for creating a shock absorber.

[0003] Bikes are designed in way so that the springs are always under compression, even when the springs are fully extended-load on the spring is used to adjust the initial position of the suspension with the weight of the bike along with the rider, thereby providing easy ride on rough roads without any damages.

[0004] Till now, there are no methods or a system available, which can easily adjust the pre-load of the spring depending on the road condition and on load. Therefore, there is a need to provide a mechanism for adjusting preload on a spring of the, which will overcome the limitations of the existing technology.

Objects of the invention:

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber.

[0006] Further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber, which enables adjustment of the pre-load better shock absorbing capacity for different road conditions.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber, which can be operated manually. [0008] Further, object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber, which is simple in construction and economical in operation.

Summary of the invention:

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber. The telescopic shock absorber is a hydraulic or a pneumatic shock absorber. The mechanism includes a knob, a connecting member and a transition unit. The connecting member is coaxially extending from the knob. The transition unit is having at least one cylindrical member having a cam profile on at least one end.

[0010] The transition unit is arranged between the connecting member and the spring. Upon rotating the knob, the connecting member rotates, the transition unit along with the at least one cylindrical member converts a rotational movement of the connecting member to an axial movement for compressing or expanding the spring, thereby adjusting the pre-load on the spring of a telescopic shock absorber.

[0011] In an embodiment, the transition unit includes a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth cylinder. The first cylindrical member is having a cam profile on a free end. The first cylindrical member is coaxially connected with a distal end of the connecting member. The second cylindrical member is having a cam profile on both ends and one of the cam profile of the second cylindrical member is coaxially connected with the cam profile of the first cylindrical member.

[0012] The third cylindrical member is having a cam profile on both end and one of the cam profile of the third cylindrical member is coaxially connected with the cam profile of the second cylindrical member. The fourth cylindrical member is having a cam profile on a free end, the cam profile of the fourth cylindrical member is coaxially connected with the cam profile of the third cylindrical member. The fifth cylindrical member is extending from the fourth cylindrical member and connected with the spring.

[0013] When the knob rotates in a first direction, the connecting member rotates thereby rotating the first, second, third and fourth cylinders along the respective cam profiles in the first direction, thereby increasing the pre-load on the spring by compressing the spring by the fifth cylindrical member. In the present embodiment, the first direction is a clock wise rotation and the second direction is an anti-clock wise rotation. In an alternative embodiment, the first direction is an anti-clock wise rotation and the second direction is a clock wise rotation. Upon rotating the knob by a predefined angle of rotation in the first direction, the fifth cylindrical member compresses the spring by a predefined limit of compression. Similarly, upon rotating the knob by a predefined angle of rotation in the second direction, the fifth cylindrical member expands the spring by a predefined limit of expansion. [0014] When the knob is rotated in a second direction, the first, second, third and fourth cylinders rotates along the respective cam profiles in the second direction, thereby decreasing the pre-load on the spring by expanding the spring by the fifth cylindrical member.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the transition unit is having a cylindrical member with a cam profile on an end facing toward the knob, a second end of the cylindrical member is having uniform surface that connects with the spring. A pin is configured on the connecting member for moving along the cam profile of the cylindrical member. When the knob rotates in a first direction, the connecting member rotates thereby rotating the cylindrical member along the cam profile in the first direction, thereby increasing the pre-load on the spring by compressing the spring by the cylindrical member. Moreover, upon rotating the knob by a predefined angle of rotation in the first direction, the cylindrical member compresses the spring by a predefined limit of compression.

[0016] Similarly, upon rotation of the knob by a predefined angle of rotation in the second direction, the cylindrical member expands the spring by a predefined limit of expansion.

Brief Description of drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of components of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention; [0018] Figure 2a shows a front view of the mechanism shown in figure 1;

[0019] Figure 2b shows a sectional view along A-A of a mechanism shown in figure 2a. ;

[0020] Figure 3 shows a front view a first cylindrical member of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4a shows a top sectional view of a second cylindrical member of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4b shows a front view of a second cylindrical member of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5a shows a front view of a third cylindrical member of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5b shows a top sectional view of a third cylindrical member of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention; and [0025] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention:

[0026] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0027] The terms "first," "second," and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0028] The present invention provides a mechanism for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber. The mechanism enables adjustment of the pre-load better shock absorbing capacity on different roads. Further, the mechanism can be operated manually. Furthermore, the mechanism is simple and economical in operation. [0029] Referring now to figure 1, 2a and 2b various views of a mechanism 100 for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In the present embodiment, the telescopic shock absorber is a hydraulic or a pneumatic shock absorber. The telescopic shock absorber is attached to a front or back wheel of a two wheeled vehicle. The telescopic shock absorber connected to the front or back wheel is a telescopic fork. In an alternative embodiment, the telescopic shock absorber is attached to a wheel of an automobile.

[0030] The mechanism 100 includes a knob 10, a connecting member 20 and a transition unit 30. The knob 10 is attached to the connecting member 20. The connecting member 20 is coaxially extended from the knob 10. The transition unit 30 is having at least one cylindrical member having a cam profile on at least one end. The transition unit 30 is arranged between the connecting member 20 and the spring. Upon rotating the knob 10, the connecting member 20 rotates the transition unit 30 along with the at least one cylindrical member and converts a rotational movement of the connecting member 20 to an axial movement for compressing or expanding the spring, thereby adjusting the pre-load on the spring of a telescopic shock absorber.

[0031] In an embodiment, the transition unit 30 includes a first cylindrical member 32 (refer figure 3) with a cam profile 32a, a second cylindrical member 34 (refer figure 4a & 4b) with a cam profile 34a and 34b, a third cylindrical member 36 (refer figure 5a & 5b) with a cam profile 36a, a fourth cylindrical member 38 with a cam profile 38a and a fifth cylindrical member 40. The first cylindrical member 32 is having the cam profile 32a on a free end. The second cylindrical member 34 is having the cam profile 34a and 34b on both ends.

[0032] The third cylindrical member 36 is coaxially connected with the cam profile 36a of the second cylindrical member 34. The fourth cylindrical member 38 having a cam profile 38a on a free end and a fifth cylindrical member 40 connecting with the spring. The fifth cylindrical member 40 is extended from the fourth cylindrical member 38 and connected with the spring. When the knob 10 rotates in a first direction, the connecting member 20 rotates thereby rotating the first, second, third and fourth cylinders along the respective cam profiles in the first direction, thereby increasing the pre-load on the spring by compressing the spring by the fifth cylindrical member.

[0033] When the knob 10 is rotated in a second direction, the first, second, third and fourth cylinders rotates along the respective cam profiles in the second direction, thereby decreasing the pre-load on the spring by expanding the spring by the fifth cylindrical member 40. In the present embodiment, the first direction is a clock wise rotation and the second direction is an anti-clock wise rotation. Also, upon rotating the knob 10 by a predefined angle of rotation in the first direction, the fifth cylindrical member 40 compresses the spring by a predefined limit of compression.

[0034] Similarly, upon rotating the knob 10 by a predefined angle of rotation in the second direction, the fifth cylindrical member 40 expands the spring by a predefined limit of expansion. Also, the transition unit 30 includes a housing 60 for enclosing the first, second, third, fourth and fifth cylinders and the connecting member.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the transition unit 30 is having a cylindrical member 70 (refer figure 6) with a cam profile 70a on an end facing toward the knob 10. A second end of the cylindrical member 70 is having uniform surface that connects with the spring. A pin 50 (shown in figure 6) is configured on the connecting member 20 for moving along the cam profile 70a of the cylindrical member 70. Also, when the knob 10 is rotated in a first direction, the connecting member 20 is rotated, thereby rotating the cylindrical member 70 along the cam profile 70a in the first direction, thereby increasing the pre-load on the spring with compressing the spring by the cylindrical member 70.

[0036] Similarly, the knob 10 is rotated in a second direction, the connecting member 20 is rotated, thereby rotating the cylindrical member 70 along the cam profile 70a in the second direction, thereby decreasing the pre-load on the spring by expanding the spring by the cylindrical member 70.

[0037] The mechanism 100 is adopted in the telescopic shock absorbers with different modes of adjustments. For example, the elements of the mechanism 100 can be configured for the modes of adjustments. The knob 10 is provided with three modes a soft mode, a medium mode and a hard mode.

[0038] When the knob 10 is rotated at an angle 120 degrees a clockwise direction (soft mode), the connecting member 20 also rotates in the clockwise direction, thereby rotating the elements the first cylindrical member 32, the second cylindrical member 34, the third cylindrical member 36, the fourth cylindrical member 38 and the fifth cylindrical member 40 in the clock wise direction. The fifth cylindrical member 40 increases the pre-load on the spring by compressing the spring to a pre- defined limit of compression. It may be obvious knowledge to person skilled in the art to configure the fifth cylindrical member 40 and the spring to compress the spring at the predefined limit of compression upon the rotation of the fifth cylindrical member 40 by 120 degree.

[0039] Similarly, when the knob 10 is rotated at an angle 240 degrees (medium mode), the connecting member 20 also rotates clockwise further, thereby rotating the elements of the transition unit 30. The fifth cylinder member 40 increases the pre-load further on the spring by compressing the spring to a predefined limit of compression.

[0040] Further, when the knob 10 is rotated at an angle 360 degrees (hard mode), the connecting member 20 rotates the elements of the transition unit 30 furthermore. The fifth cylinder member 40 increases the pre-load furthermore on the spring by compressing the spring to a pre-defined limit of compression.

[0041] The knob 10 is rotated at an angle 240 degrees in the second direction, the fifth cylindrical member 40 is rotated in the second direction, thereby decreasing the pre-load on the spring by expanding the spring by a predefined limit of expansion, thereby bringing back to the medium mode. Also, when the knob 10 is rotated at an angle 120 in the second direction, the fifth cylindrical member 40 is rotated further, thereby decreasing the pre-load on the spring and expanding the spring further by a predefined limit of expansion thereby bringing back to the soft mode.

[0042] The advantage of the present invention is to provide a mechanism 100 for adjusting pre-load on a spring of a telescopic shock absorber. The mechanism 100 can be adapted in the telescopic fork for adjusting the preload on a spring of the telescopic fork in two wheeler. The mechanism 100 enables adjustment of the pre-load better shock absorbing capacity on different roads. Further, the mechanism 100 can be operated manually. Furthermore, the mechanism 100 is simple and economical in operation.

[0043] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.