The Suspension System applicable to vibration dampening, providing variable, active, adjustable, and programmable spring rates.
Patent Number 7789378
Patent Abstract:
A spring system comprising flat plate-springs with one end mounted rigidly to an un-sprung first base and the opposite end mounted rigidly to a sprung second base. The spring system is fitted with cams as strain-control surfaces, mounted tangent to the plate springs and spaced progressively from the said plate-springs beginning at the tangency. The strain-control cams are movable to provide for adjustable spring rates, actively repositioned upon demand therein providing an adaptive active spring-rate system or suspension.
- Rigid mounting of plate-springs to both the sprung and un-sprung portion of the mass or vehicle (Pivot-less suspension)
- Inherent unidirectional suspension travel without other suspension path control mechanisms
- Variable spring rate - adjustable linear or progressive as well as progressively adjustable for adaptive active suspension
- Friction dampening
- Zero stiction
- Low parts count
- Small envelope
- Low weight
- Simple design
Products utilizing this innovative suspension system available now include:
- Bike Stem Suspension - Designed for Road Bikes and Commuter Bikes
- Full-Suspension Mountain Bike Frames
See Bike Application Photo Gallery
Proof of Concept Demonstration
Fig. 1 - Spring-Support Cam (SPC) Set: 0mm Load: 0 Suspension Level: 0
Fig. 2 - SPC: 0 Load: 3 Level: 3
Fig. 3 - SPC: 0 Load: 6 Level: 5
Fig. 4 - SPC: 15mm Load: 0 Level: 0
Fig. 5 - SPC: 15mm Load: 3 Level: 1.5
Fig. 1 - SPC: 15mm Load: 6 Level: 2.5
NOTE: Extending the 4 cams on this fixture 15mm doubles the load capacity.