DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
SPLIT PISTON FOR FRONT FORK
2. APPLICANT:

1) NAME: GABRIEL INDIA LIMITED
2) NATIONALITY: Indian Company registered under the provisions of the Companies Act-1956.
3) ADDRESS: GABRIEL INDIA LIMITED, 29th, Milestone, Pune Nasik Highway, Village: Kuruli, Tal: Khed, Dist: Pune - 410 501 (MH), India

3. PREAMBLE OF THE DESCRIPTION
PROVISIONAL
The following specification describes the invention COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

SPLIT PISTON FOR FRONT FORK

Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a front fork, more particularly it relates to a piston rod for the front fork.

Background of the invention
Front Fork suspensions normally have damping effect both while expansion and compression, depending on the Vehicle capacities. Damping force or in other terms, Oil flow is controlled through the number of holes and its size on a Piston which is one of the expensive item in front fork. In the cases where suspension is not very critical and having low cost offerings, one of the limbs will act as a dummy action limb which gives only support to the vehicle. There are also cases that few vehicle families have no damping requirements from the suspensions and hence there is no need of controlling oil flow through piston. For these limbs piston need not go through tedious process of manufacturing, it can be achieved through two piece construction with a solid rod and standard riveting process.
Accordingly, there exists a need to simplify the design of piston and the piston rod so as to reduce the time required for front fork assembly.

Objects of the invention
An object of the present invention is to reduce the front fork assembly time.
Another object of the present invention is to modify the piston and piston rod design so as to reduce the overall cost.
Yet another object of the present invention is to modify the piston rod design so as to meet the functional requirement.

Summary of the invention
The present invention provides a split piston for a front fork. The front fork is a dummy front fork of a vehicle and is used in twin shock absorber mounting applications. The front fork includes an outer tube and an inner tube with an inner tube enclosure. The inner tube is slidably positioned within the outer tube. The split piston comprises of a solid piston rod and a piston head. The solid piston rod is mounted within the inner tube. The piston head is riveted to the solid piston rod at one end thereof. The piston head is configured with a sliding profile to facilitate sliding movement of the solid piston rod within the inner tube. The solid piston rod at other end thereof extends through the inner tube closure towards the outer tube. The piston rod and the piston head are manufactured offline separately and thereafter are assembled together within the front fork.

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 with the split piston, 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.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a split piston for a Front fork. The front fork is a dummy front fork and is used in twin shock absorber mounting applications. The functions of piston and piston rod as sliding guide and connecting rod respectively, are retained in the modified split piston rod design while reducing the limb assembly time.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein numbers indicated in the bracket represent the components of the invention throughout the description.
Referring to figure 1, a cross-sectional view of a Front fork (100) with split piston in accordance with the present invention is shown. In an embodiment, the front fork (100) is a dummy front fork of a vehicle and is used in twin shock absorber mounting applications. The Front fork (100) includes an outer tube (10) and an inner tube (20). The inner tube (20) with an inner tube enclosure (30) is slidably positioned within the outer tube (10). The split piston is mounted within the front fork (100). In accordance with the present invention, the split piston comprises of a solid piston rod (40) and a piston head (50).
The solid piston rod (40) is mounted within the inner tube (20). Particularly, the solid piston rod (40) acts as a retaining member in a Limb assembly between the outer tube (10) and the inner tube (20), and is inserted with the Limb assembly.
The piston head (50) is riveted to the solid piston rod (40) at one end thereof, as shown in figure 1. Particularly, an open end step diameter provided on the solid piston rod (40) is riveted using a riveting machine, eliminating use of any external part / rivet for the same. The piston head (50) includes a sliding profile configured thereon to facilitate sliding movement of the solid piston rod (40) within the inner tube (20).
Other end of the piston rod (40) extends through the inner tube closure (30) and then towards/through the outer tube (10). The piston head (50) and the solid piston rod (40) are manufactured offline separately and thereafter are assembled together to carry out the required function of retaining the inner tube (20) and the outer tube (10) as the limb assembly in the front fork (100).

Advantages of the present invention
• The present invention provides the split piston requiring low manufacturing cost for use in the dummy front fork (100) suspension.
• The modified piston assembly eliminates one of the high process cost part in the front fork (100) assembly.
• The Front fork (100) manufacturing process becomes simpler.

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 spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A split piston for front fork (100), the front fork (100) being a dummy front fork of a vehicle, the front fork (100) including an outer tube (10) and a inner tube (20) with an inner tube enclosure (30) slidably positioned within the outer tube (10), the split piston mounted within the front fork (100), the split piston comprising:
a solid piston rod (40) mounted within the inner tube (20); and
a piston head (50) riveted to the solid piston rod (40) at one end thereof, the piston head (50) having a sliding profile configured thereon and adapted to facilitate sliding movement of the solid piston rod (40) within the inner tube (20),
wherein the solid piston rod (40) at other end thereof extends through the inner tube closure (30) towards the outer tube (10) for retaining the outer tube (10) and the inner tube (20) as a limb assembly in the front fork (100).

2. The split piston for front fork (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solid piston rod (40) and the piston head (50) are manufactured offline separately and thereafter are assembled together within the front fork (100).

Dated this 31st day of August 2017

Prafulla Wange
(Agent for Applicant)
IN/PA 2058