TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] Present disclosure relates to the field of automobile engineering.
Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a suspension
device of a vehicle.
5
BACKGROUND
[002] The information in this section merely provides background information
related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s) for the present
disclosure.
10
[003] Conventionally, vehicles are equipped with a telescopic front fork assembly
to act as a shock-absorbing means or suspension means. The purpose of shock
absorbers is to isolate the rider from road shocks and vibrations, making the ride
more comfortable. The telescopic front fork assembly allows for upward and
15 downward movement of the front wheel to absorb shocks and vibrations from rough
and uneven roads while the vehicle is in motion. Additionally, it provides a stable
front wheel contact with the ground, improving control and steerability.
[004] The telescopic front fork assembly includes two parallel placed suspension
20 devices, each of them having similar construction. These devices, in particular,
dampen the vibrations generated due to uneven road surfaces. Each suspension
device comprises two telescopic cylindrical tubes namely a fork pipe and a bottom
case. The bottom case is configured to support the front wheel of the vehicle and
the fork pipe is slidably mounted in the bottom case. However, a cavitation
25 phenomenon i.e. formation of bubbles in the damping fluid seriously affects the
performance of the front fork assembly. The cavitation phenomenon further may
not dampen the vibration and noise generated in the front fork assembly, and thus
reduces the working efficiency, and shortening the working life of the suspension
system.
30
[005] The phenomenon of cavitation can occur as a result of an imbalance in an
internal pressure in various chambers of the suspension device during rebound of
3
the front fork. Imbalanced damping behaviour, caused by imbalance in the internal
pressure, can lead to the development of cavitation. Due to the cavitation
phenomenon, the bubbles generated during the rebound stroke due to the high
forces and accumulate at the top of the damping fluid. This has an influence on the
5 compression stroke and thus, the bubbles can cause a lagging effect in the
suspension, where the front wheel of the vehicle may suddenly jerk or lose contact
with the ground, potentially leading to a loss of control of the vehicle.
Consequently, using the vehicle, with lagging phenomenon in suspension device
leads to an uncomfortable ride for passengers and negatively impacts fuel efficiency
10 and vehicle performance.
[006] The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations
stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional configuration
of the suspension device used in the vehicles.
15
SUMMARY
[007] The one or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the
system/assembly as claimed, and additional advantages are provided through the
provision of the system/assembly/method as claimed in the present disclosure.
20 Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the
present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described
in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
[008] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a suspension
25 device of a vehicle is disclosed. The suspension device comprises an outer tube and
an inner tube. The inner tube is slidably receivable in the outer tube. A cylinder is
connected to one end portion of the outer tube. A piston rod is secured to one end
portion of the inner tube. A piston is connected to the piston rod and configured to
reciprocate inside the cylinder. The piston is separating the cylinder into a first
30 chamber and a second chamber. The cylinder is separating the outer tube into a third
chamber. A fourth chamber is defined between the one end portion of the inner tube
4
and one end portion of the cylinder. At least one check valve is positioned between
the piston and the one end portion of the cylinder. The at least one check valve is
operable between a closed condition and an open condition. The at least one check
valve is defined with one or more apertures, configured to selectively allow flow of
5 damping fluid between the second chamber and the third chamber.
[009] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first chamber and the second
chamber are compression chambers.
10 [010] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one check valve is
positioned at the second chamber.
[011] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the suspension device
comprises a second resilient member positioned between the inner tube and the
15 cylinder. The second resilient member is positioned in the fourth chamber.
[012] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner tube defines at least
one fluid passage adapted to allow damping fluid to flow from the third chamber to
the second chamber.
20
[013] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the suspension device
comprises a base valve and a rebound valve. The base valve is positioned at other
end portion of the cylinder. The rebound valve is secured at one end portion of the
piston rod.
25
[014] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the base valve is configured to
allow flow of damping fluid between the first chamber and the third chamber.
[015] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rebound valve is configured
30 to allow flow of damping fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber.
[016] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, during the compression stroke,
the piston is adapted to move inside the cylinder and based on which damping fluid
5
in the first chamber is adapted to discharge into the second chamber through the
rebound valve, and into the third chamber through the base valve. The damping
fluid in the third chamber is adapted to discharge into the second chamber through
the at least one check valve and the at least one fluid passage defined in the inner
5 tube to prevent cavitation within the second chamber.
[017] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, during the extension stroke, the
piston is adapted to move away from the cylinder and based on which damping
fluid in the third chamber is adapted to discharge into the first chamber through the
10 base valve and damping fluid in the second chamber is adapted to discharge into
the first chamber through the rebound valve (32). The at least one check valve is
adapted to prevent the flow of damping fluid from the second chamber into the third
chamber.
15 [018] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one check valve
comprises a valve seat defined with one or more apertures. A first resilient member
is disposed between the cylinder and the at least one check valve, and configured
to operate the at least one check valve between the closed condition and the open
condition. A sealing cap is biased with the first resilient member and configured to
20 cover the one or more apertures of the valve seat. The sealing cap is operable
between the closed condition and the open condition on compression and expansion
of the first resilient member. A guide member is configured to enclose and support
the sealing cap biased with the first resilient member in the open condition. A check
valve housing is configured to accommodate the valve seat, the first resilient
25 member, the sealing cap, and the guide member.

We Claim:
1. A suspension device (10) of a vehicle (100), the suspension device (10)
comprising:
5 an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (14), the inner tube (14) being slidably
receivable in the outer tube (12);
a cylinder (16) connected to one end portion (12a) of the outer tube (12);
a piston rod (18) secured to one end portion (14a) of the inner tube (14);
a piston (20) connected to the piston rod (18) and configured to reciprocate
10 inside the cylinder (16); the piston (20) separating the cylinder (16) into a first
chamber (A) and a second chamber (B), the cylinder (16) separating the outer tube
(12) into a third chamber (C), a fourth chamber (D) defined between the one end
portion (14a) of the inner tube (14) and one end portion (16b) of the cylinder (16);
at least one check valve (22) positioned between the piston (20) and the one
15 end portion (16b) of the cylinder (16), the at least one check valve (22) adapted to
be operable between a closed condition and an open condition; and
wherein the at least one check valve (22) adapted to be defined with one or
more apertures (45), configured to selectively allow flow of damping fluid between
the second chamber (B) and the third chamber (C).
20
2. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the first chamber (A)
and the second chamber (B) are a compression chambers.
3. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the at least one check
25 valve (22) adapted to be positioned at the second chamber (B).
4. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1 comprises a second resilient
member (28) being positioned between the inner tube (14) and the cylinder (16),
wherein the second resilient member (28) adapted to be positioned in the fourth
30 chamber (D).
21
5. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the inner tube (14)
defines at least one fluid passage (40) adapted to allow damping fluid to flow from
the third chamber (C) to the second chamber (B).
5 6. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, comprises a base valve (30) and
a rebound valve (32), wherein the base valve (30) adapted to be positioned at other
end portion (16a) of the cylinder (16), and the rebound valve (32) adapted to be
secured at one end portion (18a) of the piston rod (18).
10 7. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 6, wherein the base valve (30)
configured to allow flow of damping fluid between the first chamber (A) and the
third chamber (C).
8. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 6, wherein the rebound valve (32)
15 configured to allow flow of damping fluid between the first chamber (A) and the
second chamber (B).
9. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein during compression
stroke, the piston (20) adapted to move inside the cylinder (16) and based on which
20 damping fluid in the first chamber (A) adapted to discharge into the second chamber
(B) through the rebound valve (32), and into the third chamber (C) through the base
valve (30), and wherein the damping fluid in the third chamber (C) adapted to
discharge into the second chamber (B) through the at least one check valve (22) and
the at least one fluid passage (40) defined in the inner tube (14) to prevent cavitation
25 within the second chamber (B).
10. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein during extension
stroke, the piston (20) adapted to move away from the cylinder (16) and based on
which damping fluid in the third chamber (C) adapted to discharge into the first
30 chamber (A) through the base valve (30) and damping fluid in the second chamber
(B) adapted to discharge into the first chamber (A) through the rebound valve (32),
22
and wherein the at least one check valve (22) adapted to prevent the flow of
damping fluid from the second chamber (B) into the third chamber (C).
11. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the at least one check
5 valve (22) comprises:
a valve seat (34) defined with the one or more apertures (45);
a first resilient member (24) disposed between the cylinder (16) and the at
least one check valve (22), and configured to operate the at least one check valve
(22) between the closed condition and the open condition;
10 a sealing cap (36) biased with the first resilient member (24) and configured
to cover the one or more apertures (45) of the valve seat (34), wherein the sealing
cap (36) adapted to be operable between the closed condition and the open condition
on compression and expansion of the first resilient member (24);
a guide member (38) configured to enclose and support the sealing cap (36)
15 biased with the first resilient member (24) in the open condition; and
a check valve housing (33) configured to accommodate the valve seat (34),
the first resilient member (24), the sealing cap (36), and the guide member (38).
12. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 11, wherein in the closed
20 condition, the sealing cap (36) covers the one or more apertures (45) and prevents
flow of damping fluid in the second chamber (B), and in the open condition, the
sealing cap (36) opens the one or more apertures (45) and allows flow of damping
fluid in the second chamber (B).
25 13. The suspension device as claimed in the claim 11, wherein the one or more
apertures (45) defined in the check valve housing (33) of the at least one check
valve (22).
14. A vehicle (100), comprising:
30 a body frame (102);
a seat (112) mounted on the body frame (102);
a handlebar (104) pivotally coupled to the body frame (102);
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at least one front ground engaging member (106) and at least one rear
ground engaging member (108) rotatably coupled to the body frame (102); and
a suspension unit (128), comprising:
a pair of suspension devices (10), each of the pair of suspension
5 devices (10) comprises:
an outer tube (12) and an inner tube (14), the inner tube (14) being
slidably receivable in the outer tube (12);
a cylinder (16) connected to one end portion (12a) of the outer tube
(12);
10 a piston rod (18) secured to one end portion (14a) of the inner tube
(14);
a piston (20) connected to the piston rod (18) and configured to
reciprocate inside the cylinder (16); the piston (20) separating the cylinder
(16) into a first chamber (A) and a second chamber (B), the cylinder (16)
15 separating the outer tube (12) into a third chamber (C), a fourth chamber
(D) defined between the one end portion (14b) of the inner tube (14) and
one end portion (16b) of the cylinder (16);
at least one check valve (22) positioned between the piston (20) and
the one end portion (16b) of the cylinder (16), the at least one check
20 valve (22) adapted to be operable between a closed condition and an open
condition; and
wherein the at least one check valve (22) adapted to be defined with
one or more apertures (45), configured to selectively allow flow of damping
fluid between the second chamber (B) and the third chamber (C).