Cannondale Corporation

Joseph A Franklin

A active, hydraulic suspension system for a wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The system utilizes an on-board damper controller, a damper having a pair of telescoping tubes and a motor-adjusted hydraulic channel, a position and direction sensor to achieve comprehensive control over dampening performance. The rider is allowed to change the damping performance by selecting a control map which dictates the damping force applied based on the position, direction of motion, and velocity of one tube relative to the other. The system continuously varies the amount of dampening in real time in response to the terrain conditions, as determined by a sensor. A processor in the damper controller accepts the sensor input and outputs motor control signals based on information existent in the control map. The motor adjusts the flow of a viscous liquid through the hydraulic channel of the damper in accordance with the control signals received from the damper controller to achieve the desired damping performance. An external computer may be used to load control maps to the damper controller for subsequent selection by a rider.

Valve assembly for a suspension system for a wheeled vehicle

An active, hydraulic suspension system for a wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The system utilizes an on-board damper controller, a damper having a pair of telescoping tubes and a motor-adjusted hydraulic channel, a position and direction sensor to achieve comprehensive control over dampening performance. The rider is allowed to change the damping performance by selecting a control map which dictates the damping force applied based on the position, direction of motion, and velocity of one tube relative to the other. The system continuously varies the amount of dampening in real time in response to the terrain conditions, as determined by a sensor. A processor in the damper controller accepts the sensor input and outputs motor control signals based on information existent in the control map. The motor adjusts the flow of a viscous liquid through the hydraulic channel of the damper in accordance with the control signals received from the damper controller to achieve the desired damping performance. An external computer may be used to load control maps to the damper controller for subsequent selection by a rider.

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Richfield, CT, United States of America

Joseph A Franklin