US3854710A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor-cycle suspensions
Assignee: Girling Ltd
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Filing: 1971-12-16
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1991-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A suspension system for motorcycles including an air pressure operated hydraulic ram connected between the wheels and body of the motorcycle. Instead of applying air pressure from a separate source to counteract heavy loads on the motorcycle and then releasing this pressure to atmosphere after removing the load, an adjustable volume chamber is provided wherein the air pressure acting on the ram may be raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the volume of the chamber thus eliminating the need to release excess pressure to atmosphere or to replenish the pressure from an outside source everytime the load on the cycle is changed.
Inventors
- 👤 L Nicholls
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G17/0416; B60G17/0424; B62; B62K; B62K25/00; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S267/00; Y10S267/01; Y10S267/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A motorcycle suspension system including an hydraulic ram connected between a wheel part and a body part of a motorcycle, said ram including a cylinder connected to one of the parts for movement therewith and a fluid pressure responsive piston including a rod connected to the other part for movement therewith, means for adjusting the pressure acting on said piston comprising means defining an air pressure space and a hydraulic pressure space, said hydraulic pressure space directly communicating with the piston of said ram, a first selectively moveable fluid tight member constituting an end wall of said air pressure space, a second moveable fluid tight partition wall separating said hydraulic and air pressure spaces, and positionvarying means for selectively moving said end wall of said air pressure space to adjust the volume of said air pressure space and consequently the pressure within both said spaces to control the hydraulic pressure force acting on the piston of said ram.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A motorcycle suspension system including an hydraulic ram connected between a wheel part and a body part of a motorcycle, said ram including a cylinder connected to one of the parts for movement therewith and a fluid pressure responsive piston including a rod connected to the other part for movement therewith, means for adjusting the pressure acting on said piston comprising means defining an air pressure space and a hydraulic pressure space, said hydraulic pressure space directly communicating with the piston of said ram, a first selectively moveable fluid tight member constituting an end wall of said air pressure space, a second moveable fluid tight partition wall separating said hydraulic and air pressure spaces, and positionvarying means for selectively moving said end wall of said air pressure space to adjust the volume of said air pressure space and consequently the pressure within both said spaces to control the hydraulic pressure force acting on the piston of said ram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said means defining said air pressure space includes an air reservoir body, and said means defining said hydraulic pressure space includes said hydraulic ram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein said ram is one of a pair of such rams defining respective hydraulic pressure spaces, and a fluid communication with each other and with said reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said system includes a further pair of hydraulic rams in fluid flow communication with said reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said reservoir body includes a fixed wall having a screw threaded aperture therein, and wherein said position-varying means comprises a rod in screw threaded engagement with said aperture and operably connected to said movable end wall for moving the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 5, further comprising a strut having one end which is adapted to be connected to a swinging arm of a motor cycle, and a lever having one end connected to said screw-threaded rod and having the other end pivotally connected to said strut at the end remote from said one end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein said strut is in two parts, and further comprising conventional schock absorber means connected between said two parts of said strut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said movable end wall is in the form of a piston slidable in said reservoir body and displaceable by said position-varying means to vary the volume of said air pressure space and thereby vary the air pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said partition wall is one of two such partition walls constituted by a pair of free pistons respectively slidable in said hydraulic rams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said partition wall is constituted by a free piston slidable within said reservoir body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |