DESC:A front fork assembly (1) is provided on a motorcycle (500) and made up of a pair of telescopic shock absorber such as front fork members (10)(figure 1 and figure 2), each secured to the steering stem (not shown) of the motorcycle (500) at or adjacent to the top of the front fork member (10). Each front fork member (10) is made up of a fork tube (100) closed by a cap (104) at the top thereof and a bottom case (105) or which is telescopically, sealably movable with respect to the upper fork tube (100) inside a bottom case (105). The front fork assembly may either be telescopic or inverted.
Figure 3 (a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d) illustrates the prior art for use of oil lock collar with front forks.
As illustrated in figure 3 (a), it could be observed that an oil lock collar (101) is inserted in the front fork pipe (100). Figure 3(b) illustrates an enlarged view of the highlighted portion (103) of figure 3(a). Figure 3(c) illustrates a front fork pipe (100) along with said oil lock collar (101). Figure 3(d) illustrates an enlarged view (108) of said fork pipe (100) and showing said oil lock collar (101). It could be observed from figure 3(a), 3(b), 3(c) and 3(d), oil lock collar (101) is an externally fitted valving part for achieving suitable damping.
Figure 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d) illustrates an integral front fork pipe with oil lock collar (200). The fork pipe (200) (as illustrated in Figure 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d)) is designed or manufactured in such a way that it serves the function of both, i.e. the existing fork pipe and oil lock collar. Figure 4(b) illustrates enlarged view of the highlighted portion (203) of Figure 4(a). Figure 4(c) illustrates said fork pipe (200) according to the present invention. Figure 4(d) illustrates the highlighted portion of the integrated oil lock collar in the fork pipe (200) having a valve seat (206), a leaf spring (207) and a valve retainer (208). The valve retainer (208) holds said valve seat (206) and said leaf spring (207) apart from other child parts (not shown in the figure). The leaf spring (207) and valve seat (206), inter alia help in rebound damping. This single piece design (200) is formed by swaging the fork (200) at an appropriate location, which overlaps with bottom case (105) of a front fork assembly. Many other methods apart from swaging is also possible for making said integrated oil collar (200). Typically, swaging on said front fork pipe (200) can be made of any form viz. cylindrical, triangular, and rectangular, etc.
This design of an integrated fork pipe and oil lock collar (200) addresses the issue of loose fitment of oil lock collar and thereby increase its product life. Additionally, the present invention avoids noise in front fork due to loose assembly of oil lock collar.
It will be appreciated form the foregoing description that various other embodiments of the above mentioned device are possible without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An integrated front fork for a motorcycle comprising a fork pipe and a bottom case wherein said fork pipe has an integrated oil lock collar.
2. The integrated front fork for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oil lock collar on said fork pipe is formed by swaging the fork at an appropriate location.
3. The integrated front fork for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swaging on said fork pipe is formed at a location having an overlap with said bottom case.
4. The integrated front fork for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swaged portion of said fork pipe houses a valve seat, a leaf spring and a valve retainer.
5. The integrated front fork for a motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein swaging on said front fork pipe can be cylindrical, triangular or rectangular.
6. A motorcycle having integrated front fork as claimed in claim 1.