Liquid cooled shock absorber

Claim 1

A temperature stabilizable shock absorber for a motorcycle or other vehicle comprising: cylinder means to form a generally fluid tight damping chamber; damping piston means received by said cylinder means and axially displaceable therein comprising a piston connecting a shaft projecting through an end of said first cylinder means to produce a reciprocating damping displacement of said piston in response to axial forces applied to said shaft; fluid reservoir means to supply a source to damping fluid for said damping chamber; shaft mounting means to mount an end of said shaft to a vehicle; cylinder mounting means to mount said cylinder means to a said vehicle; jacket means to form a stabilizing chamber at least partially surrounding said damping chamber and extending axially therealong said stabilizing chamber being in fluid isolation relative to said damping chamber and said reservoir means and forming a generally axially extending first passage having an inlet opening and a generally axially extending second passage having an outlet opening in fluid communication therewith, said openings being disposed at the same general axial position of said stabilizing chamber; and suspension spring means comprising a coil spring surrounding said jacket means for axially biasing said shaft for projection from said cylinder means said spring means having opposite ends, both said ends being axially spaced from said openings in one axial direction of said jacket means; so that a fluid circulating in said stabilizing chamber between said inlet opening and said outlet opening traverses said first passage in a generally axially extending direction and circulates said second passage in a generally opposing axial direction along a circulation path which is in heat exchange relationship with said damping fluid and said spring.

Claim 10

A system for stabilizing the temperature of a shock absorber comprising: engine cooling means for cooling an internal combustion engine including a fluid circulation path, a radiator interposed in said path and circulation means to circulate coolant through said circulation path; shock absorber means including a cylinder forming a generally fluid tight damping chamber, a damping piston axially displaceable in said chamber and connecting a shaft projecting through an end of said cylinder to produce a reciprocating damping displacement of said piston in response to axial forces applied to said shaft, and damping fluid supply means to provide a source of damping fluid for said damping chamber; jacket means to form a stabilizing chamber at least partially surrounding said damping chamber and in heat exchange relationship therewith, said stabilizing chamber being in fluid isolation relative to said damping chamber and said supply means and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and an axially extending first passage and an axially extending second passage; a suspension spring surrounding said jacket means and having first and second ends, said first end being mounted to said cylinder and said second end being mounted in fixed relationship to said shaft, said ends being axially spaced from said inlet and outlet openings in the same axial direction therefrom; fluid inlet means to connect said inlet opening with said circulation path to provide fluid communication therebetween, and fluid outlet means to connect said outlet opening with said fluid circulation path to provide fluid communication therebetween so that said coolant is circulated through said stabilizing chamber in a first general direction in said first passage and in a second general direction opposite said first direction in said second passage for transferring heat from said damping fluid to thereby substantially stabilize the temperature of the damping fluid in said damping chamber.

Claim 11

A system for stabilizing the temperature of a shock absorber comprising: engine cooling means for cooling an internal combustion engine including a fluid circulation path, a radiator interposed in said path and circulation means to circulate coolant through said circulation path; shock absorber means including a cylinder forming a generally fluid tight damping chamber, a damping piston axially displaceable in said chamber and connecting a shaft projecting through an end of said cylinder to produce a reciprocating damping displacement of said piston in response to axial forces applied to said shaft, and damping fluid supply means to provide a source of damping fluid for said damping chamber; jacket means to form a stabilizing chamber at least partially surrounding said damping chamber and in heat exchange relationship therewith, said stabilizing chamber being in fluid isolation relative to said damping chamber and said supply means and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and an axially extending first passage and an axially extending second passage; a suspension spring surrounding said jacket means and having first and second ends, said first end being mounted to said cylinder and said second end being mounted in fixed relationship to said shaft, said ends being axially spaced from said inlet and outlet openings in the same axial direction therefrom; fluid inlet means to connect said inlet opening with said circulation path to provide fluid communication therebetween, and fluid outlet means to connect said outlet opening with said fluid circulation path to provide fluid communication therebetween so that said coolant is circulated through said stabilizing chamber in a first general direction in said first passage and in a second general direction opposite said first direction in said second passage for transferring heat from said damping fluid to thereby substantially stabilize the temperature of the damping fluid in said damping chamber.