Vehicle suspension systems
First Claim
1. A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
- a damper including;
a first end attachable to a body of the vehicle;
a second end spaced apart from the first end and attachable to a wheel of the vehicle;
a first tube defining a first cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis;
a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber therebetween; and
a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the piston sealingly abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber at the first end and a compression chamber at the second end;
a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes;
a jack piston abutting the first tube; and
a jack cylinder abutting the first tube and translatable with respect to the jack piston to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle;
wherein the jack piston and the jack cylinder define a jack chamber therebetween at the first end;
a fluid flowable between the rebound chamber, the reservoir chamber, and the jack chamber;
a fluid connection element disposed between the first tube and the second tube and configured for fluidly connecting the rebound chamber with the jack chamber;
a first control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the rebound chamber;
a first check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the first control valve and the jack chamber;
a second control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the reservoir chamber; and
a second check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the second control valve and the reservoir chamber;
wherein each of the first control valve, the first check valve, the second control valve, and the second check valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper and a jack assembly. The damper includes a first tube defining a first cavity and having a longitudinal axis, a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber, and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the axis, wherein the piston abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. The system includes a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel. The assembly includes a jack piston abutting the first tube, and a jack cylinder also abutting the first tube and translatable with respect to the jack piston to thereby raise and lower the body. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
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a damper including; a first end attachable to a body of the vehicle; a second end spaced apart from the first end and attachable to a wheel of the vehicle; a first tube defining a first cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis; a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber therebetween; and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the piston sealingly abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber at the first end and a compression chamber at the second end; a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body of the vehicle with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes; a jack piston abutting the first tube; and a jack cylinder abutting the first tube and translatable with respect to the jack piston to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle; wherein the jack piston and the jack cylinder define a jack chamber therebetween at the first end; a fluid flowable between the rebound chamber, the reservoir chamber, and the jack chamber; a fluid connection element disposed between the first tube and the second tube and configured for fluidly connecting the rebound chamber with the jack chamber; a first control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the rebound chamber; a first check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the first control valve and the jack chamber; a second control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the reservoir chamber; and a second check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the second control valve and the reservoir chamber; wherein each of the first control valve, the first check valve, the second control valve, and the second check valve is transitionable between an open position and a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle comprising:
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a body; a wheel configured for translating the body across a surface; and a suspension system interconnecting the body and the wheel and including; a damper including; a first end attached to the body; a second end spaced apart from the first end and attached to the wheel; a first tube defining a first cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis; a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber therebetween; and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the piston sealingly abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber at the first end and a compression chamber at the second end; and a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes; a jack piston coaxial with the central longitudinal axis and fixedly attached to the first tube so that the jack piston is not translatable along the first tube; a jack cylinder abutting the first tube and the jack piston; wherein the jack piston and the jack cylinder define a jack chamber therebetween at the first end; wherein the jack cylinder is translatable with respect to the jack piston along the first tube; a fluid flowable between the rebound chamber, the reservoir chamber, and the jack chamber; a first control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the rebound chamber; a first check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the first control valve and the jack chamber; a second control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the reservoir chamber; and a second check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the second control valve and the reservoir chamber; wherein the piston alternately cycles toward and away from the wheel along the central longitudinal axis as the wheel translates the body across the surface to thereby fill the jack chamber with the fluid from the rebound chamber through the first control valve and the first check valve, and thereby raise the jack cylinder and the body with respect to the wheel; and wherein the piston alternately cycles toward and away from the wheel along the central longitudinal axis as the wheel translates the body across the surface to thereby empty the fluid from the jack chamber to the reservoir chamber through the second control valve and the second check valve, and thereby lower the jack cylinder and the body with respect to the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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10. A vehicle comprising:
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a body; a wheel configured for translating the body across a surface; and a suspension system interconnecting the body and the wheel, the suspension system including; a damper including; a first end attached to the body; a second end spaced apart from the first end and attached to the wheel; a first tube defining a first cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis; a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity therein, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber therebetween; and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the piston sealingly abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber at the first end and a compression chamber at the second end; and a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel, wherein the jack assembly includes; a jack piston abutting the first tube and coaxial with the central longitudinal axis; wherein the first tube and the jack piston define a jack chamber therebetween at the second end; a jack cylinder abutting the first tube; wherein the jack cylinder is translatable along the jack piston; a fluid flowable between the rebound chamber, the reservoir chamber, and the jack chamber; a first control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the reservoir chamber; a first check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the first control valve and the reservoir chamber; a second control valve disposed in fluid communication with the jack chamber and the rebound chamber; and a second check valve disposed between and in fluid communication with the second control valve and the jack chamber; wherein the piston alternately cycles toward and away from the wheel along the central longitudinal axis as the wheel translates the body across the surface to thereby fill the jack chamber with the fluid from the rebound chamber through the second control valve and the second check valve, and thereby raise the first tube, the jack cylinder, and the body with respect to the wheel; and wherein the piston alternately cycles toward and away from the wheel along the central longitudinal axis as the wheel translates the body across the surface to thereby empty the fluid from the jack chamber to the reservoir chamber through the first control valve and the first check valve, and thereby lower the first tube, the jack cylinder, and the body with respect to the wheel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification