DESC:FRONT FORK ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to a front fork assembly for a vehicle and more particularly, to a self-locking bellow of the front fork assembly.

Background of the invention:

Front fork inner tube sliding surface and oil seal lip are the key performance factors, which need to be protected against dust / mud deposition. This foreign particles deposition is overcome by providing an external rubber bellow over the functional area, which will be usually mounted to outer tube of the front fork through an addition hose clamp with screw locking.

Alternatively, dust is restricted to deposit on inner tube by providing an additional dust seal over the oil seal to wipe out the same, in case of exposed chrome plated inner tube.

In all these methods, the additional locking system is required for fixing the bellow in which there is a possibility of screw getting loosened or rusted after the usage. Also Bellow getting torn at the clamp area while vehicle service and remounting.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a front fork assembly that overcomes abovementioned drawbacks of the prior arts.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to retain original mounting condition of a bellow by providing self-locking ability without any external clamp for a front fork assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to protect sliding surface of an inner tube of the front fork assembly from foreign particles deposition.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention provides a front fork assembly for a vehicle. The front fork assembly is interposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of the vehicle. The front fork assembly comprises of an outer tube, an inner tube, a spring, an oil seal and a bellow.

The outer tube includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the outer tube is connected to the vehicle body. The second end of the outer tube includes a first locking profile and a second locking profile configured thereon for facilitating insertion of the bellow to the outer tube by self locking mounting arrangement. The inner tube is movably inserted into the outer tube. The spring is operably configured in the inner tube.

The oil seal is operably configured between an inner surface of the outer tube and an outer surface of the inner tube for making sliding contact with the outer surface of the inner tube. The bellow is tightly mounted externally to the outer tube. The bellow is an elastic body made of rubber for achieving expansion and compression easily. The bellow includes a first mounting profile and a second mounting profile configured thereon for facilitating the self locking mounting arrangement with the outer tube.

During expansion, the first mounting profile of the bellow gets locked at the first locking profile of the outer tube. During compression, the second mounting profile of the bellow locks with the second locking profile of the outer tube. In this way, the front fork assembly provides the self locking mounting arrangement with firm holding during limb up-down operation in normal working condition. The bellow is retained in an original mounted condition and the outer/sliding surface of the inner tube is protected against foreign particles deposition.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a front fork assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the front fork assembly, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an outer tube of the front fork assembly, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a bellow of the front fork assembly, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a front fork assembly for a vehicle. The front fork assembly includes a bellow having self-locking arrangement. The bellow is retained in an original mounted condition and a sliding surface of an inner tube is protected against the foreign particles deposition.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, a front fork assembly (100) for a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention is shown. The front fork assembly (100) is interposed between a vehicle body (not shown) and a wheel (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown). The front fork assembly (100) comprises of an outer tube (10), an inner tube (20), a spring (30), an oil seal (40) and a bellow (50).

The outer tube (10) includes a first end (not shown) and a second end (not numbered). The first end of the outer tube is connected to the vehicle body. The second end of the outer tube (10) includes a first locking profile (5a) and a second locking profile (5b) configured thereon for facilitating insertion of the bellow (50) to the outer tube (10) by self locking mounting arrangement.

The inner tube (20) is movably inserted into the outer tube (10). The spring (30) is operably configured in the inner tube (20). The oil seal (40) is operably configured between an inner surface (not numbered) of the outer tube (10) and an outer surface (not numbered) of the inner tube (20) for making sliding contact with the outer surface of the inner tube (20).

The bellow (50) is tightly mounted externally to the outer tube (10). The bellow (50) includes a first mounting profile (45a) and a second mounting profile (45b) configured thereon for facilitating the self locking mounting arrangement with the outer tube (10). In an embodiment, the bellow (50) is an elastic body made of rubber for achieving expansion and compression easily.

During expansion, the first mounting profile (45a) of the bellow (50) gets locked at the first locking profile (5a) of the outer tube (10). During compression, the second mounting profile (45b) of the bellow (50) locks with the second locking profile (5b) of the outer tube (10). In this way, the front fork assembly provides the self locking mounting arrangement with firm holding during limb up-down operation in normal working condition. The bellow (50) is retained in an original mounted condition and the outer/sliding surface of the inner tube (20) is protected against foreign particles deposition.

The first locking profile (5a) and the second locking profile (5b) of the outer tube (10) and the first mounting profile (45a) and the second mounting profile (45b) of the bellow (50) are designed in such a way that insertion of the bellow (50) to the outer tube (10) becomes ease and gets locked. Thus, removal of the bellow (50) becomes difficult in normal working condition with this locking effect and it provides firm holding during limb up-down operation. The front fork bellow’s self-locking arrangement is such that in case of dismantling it requires external tool to remove.

Advantages of the invention:

1. The additional lock for the bellow (500 can be eliminated.
2. The possibility of screw getting loosened / rusted after the usage can be avoided.
3. Avoiding the bellow (50) getting torn during periodic vehicle servicing.
4. Improved aesthetics without affecting function of dust prevention.
5. Economical solution to the required function.
6. Reduced skill and time to assemble the bellow (50).

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, and 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 omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A front fork assembly (100) for a vehicle, the front fork assembly (100) being interposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of the vehicle, the front fork assembly (100) comprising:
an outer tube (10) having,
• a first end connected to the vehicle body, and
• a second end having a first locking profile (5a) and a second locking profile (5b) configured thereon;
an inner tube (20) movably inserted into the outer tube (10);
a spring (30) operably configured in the inner tube (20);
an oil seal (40) operably configured between an inner surface of the outer tube (10) and an outer surface of the inner tube (20), thereby making sliding contact with the outer surface of the inner tube (20); and
a bellow (50) tightly mounted externally to the outer tube (10), the bellow (50) having a first mounting profile (45a) and a second mounting profile (45b) configured thereon for facilitating self locking mounting arrangement with the outer tube (10);
wherein, during expansion, the first mounting profile (45a) of the bellow (50) locks with the first locking profile (5a) of the outer tube (10) and during compression, the second mounting profile (45a) of the bellow (50) locks with the second locking profile (5b) of the outer tube (10), thereby providing the self locking mounting arrangement with firm holding during limb up-down operation in normal working condition.

2. The front fork assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking profile (5a) and the second locking profile (5b) are configured and designed for facilitating insertion of the bellow (50) to the outer tube (10) by self locking arrangement and retaining the bellow (50) in an original mounted condition.

3. The front fork assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bellow (50) is an elastic body made of rubber for achieving expansion and compression easily.

4. The front fork assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer surface (sliding surface) of the inner tube (20) is protected against foreign particles deposition.

Dated this 23rd day of August 2017

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for the applicant)
(IN/PA-2337)