Muffler device for a bicycle suspension system
A muffler device for use in a bicycle suspension system that has an axis is presented. The device includes a flow path permitting a pressurized fluid to flow therethrough, and a muffler member having a porous surface that at least partially defines the flow path. The device is provided to dampen the acoustic energy of the system.
1 . A muffler device adapted for use in a bicycle suspension system, the muffler device comprising:
a flow path permitting a damping fluid to flow therethrough from a second chamber to a first chamber during a rebound action; and
a muffler member comprising:
a porous surface that at least partially defines the flow path; and
an exit opening defining an open dimension into the first chamber; wherein the flow path comprises:
a porous path portion defined by the porous surface of the muffler member; and
a guide path portion disposed upstream of the porous path portion, the guide path portion having a first flow open dimension at a first point adjacent to the porous path portion that is greater than a minimum flow open dimension within the porous path portion, and a second flow open dimension at a second point upstream of the first point that is smaller than the first flow open dimension.
2 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the muffler member has a porous structure throughout a depth extending from the porous surface.
3 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the porous structure of the muffler member includes a plurality of pores that are periodically-disposed.
4 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the porous structure of the muffler member includes a plurality of pores that are stochastically-disposed.
5 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the muffler member is made through a sintering process.
6 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the muffler member is disposed adjacent to an exit opening of the flow path.
7 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second flow open dimension of the guide path portion is substantially the same as the minimum flow open dimension within the porous path portion.
8 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the porous path portion that is defined by the porous surface of the muffler member converges toward the exit opening.
9 . The muffler device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flow path extends along an axis of the bicycle suspension system.
10 . A damper module for a bicycle, the damper module comprising:
a movable damping piston defining a first chamber and a second chamber at two opposites thereof; and
a muffler device defining a flow path in a rebound direction between the first chamber and the second chamber, the muffler device comprising a muffler member having a porous surface that at least partially defines the flow path and an exit opening defining an open dimension into the first chamber; wherein the flow path comprises:
a porous path portion defined by the porous surface of the muffler member, the porous path portion defining a minimum flow dimension; and
a guide path portion disposed upstream of the porous path portion, wherein the guide path portion comprises:
a first flow open dimension at a first point adjacent to the porous path portion that is greater than the minimum flow dimension of the porous path portion; and
a second flow open dimension at a second point upstream of the first point that is smaller than the first flow open dimension.
11 . The damper module of claim 10 , wherein the muffler member has a porous structure throughout a depth extending from the porous surface.
12 . The damper module of claim 10 , wherein the muffler device is mounted to the movable damping piston.
13 . The damper module of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the muffler device is integrally formed with the damping piston.
14 . A muffler device for use in a bicycle suspension system, the muffler device comprising:
a flow path permitting a pressurized fluid to flow therethrough, the flow path comprising:
a porous path portion defined by the porous surface of the muffler member, the porous path portion defining a minimum flow open dimension; and
a guide path portion disposed upstream of the porous path portion, wherein the guide path portion comprises:
a first flow open dimension at a first point adjacent to the porous path portion that is greater than the minimum flow open dimension of the porous path portion;
a second flow open dimension at a second point upstream of the first point that is smaller than the first flow open dimension; and
a muffler member having a porous surface that at least partially defines the flow path.
15 . The muffler device of claim 14 , wherein the second flow open dimension of the guide path portion is substantially the same as the minimum flow open dimension within the porous path portion.