Adjustable blow-off suspension
Altering the damping rate of a vehicle suspension damper. A pressure of a damping fluid is exerted against a second valve mechanism connected to the vehicle suspension damper. The pressure of the damping fluid is increased beyond a threshold of the second valve mechanism that is adjustable by an adjustment member. The adjustment member is exposed through a high pressure side of the vehicle suspension damper. The second valve mechanism is then opened.
1. A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate comprising:
a main chamber; and
a damper reservoir coupled to said main chamber, said damper reservoir having an upper end and a lower end, said damper reservoir comprising:
a reservoir chamber;
a compressible chamber in communication with said reservoir chamber;
a valve mechanism that opens at a threshold pressure to allow fluid to flow from said main chamber to said reservoir chamber;
an adjustment member coupled with said valve mechanism to selectively vary said threshold pressure, said adjustment member disposed near said upper end of said damper reservoir;
an actuator coupled with said adjustment member, said adjustment member rotationally fixed to said valve mechanism near said upper end of said damper reservoir said valve mechanism adjustably controlling a compressive force in said vehicle suspension damper; and
a center shaft surrounding said actuator and having a first center shaft end and a second center shaft end opposite said first center shaft end, said first center shaft end being coupled to a fluid inlet and said second center shaft end being coupled to an upper end of a second valve, wherein said center shaft is configured for channeling said fluid from a fluid inlet to an upper end of said second valve, said vehicle suspension damper assembled and connected with only one set of threads to reduce a number of connection points and decreasing a tolerance sensitivity between internal parts and respective housings.
2. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is positioned to be in contact with said valve mechanism.
3. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 further comprising:
a nut coupled with said actuator.
4. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 3 further comprising:
a spring interfacing with said nut.
5. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 further comprising:
a second valve controlling fluid flow from said main chamber to said damper reservoir, said second valve including an adjuster assembly, wherein at least a portion of said adjuster assembly of said second valve is manually accessible through a high pressure region of said damper reservoir.
6. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 5 wherein said second valve further comprises:
a blow-off valve; and
a valve seat.
7. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 6 , wherein said actuator is configured to be in contact with said blow-off valve of said second valve.
8. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 , wherein said valve mechanism comprises:
a first end upon which a fluid flow pressure only acts; and
a second end upon which a pressure from a spring acts, wherein when said fluid flow pressure is greater than said pressure from said spring, a fluid flow through said valve mechanism is permitted.
9. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 5 , wherein said second valve comprises:
a first end upon which a fluid flow pressure acts; and
a second end upon which a pressure from a spring acts, wherein when said fluid flow pressure is greater than said pressure from said spring, a fluid flow through said second valve is permitted.
10. The vehicle suspension damper of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle suspension damper reservoir is remote from and in fluid communication with said main chamber.