In a suspension system in which the oil chambers of two dampers are connected, the responsiveness of the dampers can be adjusted. A suspension system has a left damper, a right damper, and an intermediate unit. A case of the intermediate unit has an intermediate oil chamber connected to an oil chamber of the left damper and the oil chamber of the right damper and an intermediate gas chamber. The intermediate oil chamber and the intermediate gas chamber are partitioned by a diaphragm. The intermediate unit has a capacity adjustment mechanism including a movable portion of which the position can be changed. The capacity adjustment mechanism adjusts the capacity of the intermediate gas chamber by changing the position of the movable portion.

Provided is a suspension system capable of expanding one of an oil chamber and a gas chamber of an intermediate unit and contracting the other when a damper compresses or expands without generating friction in the intermediate unit. The intermediate unit includes an intermediate case having an intermediate oil chamber connected to an oil chamber of a right damper and the oil chamber of a left damper and an intermediate gas chamber, and a diaphragm made of a flexible material, which partitions the intermediate oil chamber and the intermediate gas chamber.

A vehicle has a vehicle body and a vehicle suspension system supporting the vehicle body. The vehicle suspension has a gas spring, and includes a cylinder, a rod, and an accumulator. The cylinder has a longitudinal axis. The rod is partially disposed within the cylinder and is movable relative to the cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The rod and cylinder together at least partially define a chamber having a variable volume that receives a first pressurized gas. The accumulator is in communication with the chamber and contains a second pressurized gas held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate opposing relative movement between the rod and cylinder when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized above the threshold pressure.

A vehicle has a vehicle body and a vehicle suspension system supporting the vehicle body. The vehicle suspension has a gas spring, and includes a cylinder, a rod, and an accumulator. The cylinder has a longitudinal axis. The rod is partially disposed within the cylinder and is movable relative to the cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The rod and cylinder together at least partially define a chamber having a variable volume that receives a first pressurized gas. The accumulator is in communication with the chamber and contains a second pressurized gas held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate opposing relative movement between the rod and cylinder when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas within the chamber is pressurized above the threshold pressure.

A vehicle stabilization system is disclosed which include two double-acting hydraulic cylinders of the same size, each attached to a vehicle, chassis and the wheel hub assembly on an axle, each cylinder having a top chamber and a bottom chamber, a hydraulic system which includes two compression chambers disposed between the two double acting cylinders, and hydraulic lines coupling the top chamber of one double-acting hydraulic cylinder to the bottom chamber of the other double-acting hydraulic cylinder, and vice versa, and to the two compression chambers disposed therebetween, movement of a first axel of a first chassis with respect to a second axel of the first chassis causes an increase in pressure in one of the two compression chambers and a decrease in pressure in the other of the two compression chambers, thereby providing a hydraulic coupling between the two axels.

A system for suspending an automobile using an air rear suspension is provided. The system may include an automobile having a body, a front axle, and a rear axle; a linkage bar connected to said body and to said rear axle, wherein said connections allow for relative movement between said body and said rear axle; a cantilever bar having a first cantilever end and a second cantilever end; a damper; and an air spring, wherein said cantilever bar is connected to each of said rear axle and said body at said first cantilever end, wherein said cantilever bar is connected to each of said damper and said air spring at said second cantilever end, wherein said damper and said air spring are each connected to said body, and wherein said linkage bar and said cantilever bar are each configured to move in response to movement of said rear axle relative to said body.

A system for suspending an automobile using an air rear suspension is provided. The system may include an automobile having a body, a front axle, and a rear axle; a linkage bar connected to said body and to said rear axle, wherein said connections allow for relative movement between said body and said rear axle; a cantilever bar having a first cantilever end and a second cantilever end; a damper; and an air spring, wherein said cantilever bar is connected to each of said rear axle and said body at said first cantilever end, wherein said cantilever bar is connected to each of said damper and said air spring at said second cantilever end, wherein said damper and said air spring are each connected to said body, and wherein said linkage bar and said cantilever bar are each configured to move in response to movement of said rear axle relative to said body.

A vehicle includes a passenger capsule, a front module, a rear module, an engine, a transaxle, a front lift structure, and a rear lift structure. The front module is coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule. The front module includes a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member, and a front axle assembly. The rear module is coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule and includes a rear axle assembly. The engine is coupled to the front module. The transaxle is coupled to the rear module. The transaxle includes a housing. The rear axle assembly includes a component that is directly coupled to the housing of the transaxle. The front lift structure includes protrusions extending from the first longitudinal frame member and the second longitudinal frame member. The rear lift structure includes protrusions extending from opposing lateral sides of the structural shell.

A vehicle includes a passenger capsule, a front module, a rear module, an engine, a transaxle, a front lift structure, and a rear lift structure. The front module is coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule. The front module includes a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member, and a front axle assembly. The rear module is coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule and includes a rear axle assembly. The engine is coupled to the front module. The transaxle is coupled to the rear module. The transaxle includes a housing. The rear axle assembly includes a component that is directly coupled to the housing of the transaxle. The front lift structure includes protrusions extending from the first longitudinal frame member and the second longitudinal frame member. The rear lift structure includes protrusions extending from opposing lateral sides of the structural shell.

A military vehicle includes a passenger capsule having a front end and a rear end, a front module coupled to the front end, and a rear module coupled to the rear end. The front module includes a front axle, a front differential, an engine, and a transmission. The front differential is coupled to the front axle. The front differential functions as a structural component of the front module. The front differential defines an engine mount. The engine is at least partially supported by the engine mount of the front differential. The transmission is coupled to the engine. The rear module includes a rear axle and a transaxle. The transaxle includes a housing, a transfercase disposed within the housing, and a rear differential disposed within the housing. The transfercase is coupled to the transmission, the front differential, and the rear differential. The rear differential is coupled to the rear axle.