A height-adjustable spring-damper system for a vehicle for setting a ride position and payload compensation of the vehicle separately from one another includes a damper cylinder, a supporting spring, a first ring cylinder which has a first ring piston disposed displaceably in the first ring cylinder and which defines a first working chamber with a first working volume, and a second ring cylinder which has a second ring piston disposed displaceably in the second ring cylinder and which defines a second working chamber with a second working volume.

A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.

Integrated multiple actuator electro-hydraulic systems as well as their methods of use are described. Depending on the particular application, the integrated electro-hydraulic systems may exhibit different frequency responses and/or may be integrated into a single combined unit.

A height-adjustable spring arrangement for a vehicle includes a bearing spring, a first limiting cylinder with a first limiting cylinder pot and a first limiting piston, a second limiting cylinder with a second limiting cylinder pot and a second limiting piston, and a guide cylinder with a guide cylinder pot, a displaceable guide piston in the guide cylinder pot and a guide piston rod fixed on the guide piston and extending out of the guide cylinder pot along a longitudinal axis of a bearing spring and through the bearing spring. The guide piston rod is displaceable by the first and second limiting cylinders such that a spring preload acting on the bearing spring and a negative spring path of the bearing spring remain constant as a result of a height adjustment.

A suspension system for a vehicle and method for operating the same includes a shock absorber housing having a longitudinal axis, a spring disposed around the shock absorber housing, a retainer collar disposed around the shock absorber housing and an actuator engaged to the retainer collar. The actuator moves at least a portion of the retainer collar to move the spring in a direction corresponding the longitudinal axis. A switch generates a ride height position signal. A controller is coupled to the actuator and the switch. The controller controls a position of the actuator in response to the ride height position signal.

An assembly includes a spring seat, a spring seat insert, and a seal. The spring seat is slidable along the spring seat insert to define an expandable fluid chamber therebetween. The spring seat includes a groove defining a mating surface. The seal is between the spring seat and the spring seat insert. The seal includes a mating portion at the first end engageable with the mating surface of the groove to prevent fluid from exiting the fluid chamber.

A hydraulic ride height actuator system for providing variation of a ride height at a front end of a vehicle is provided includes a strut and an actuator including a piston and a housing axially movable with respect to the piston. The housing is fastened to an upper end of the strut. The piston and the housing define a hydraulic chamber. An increase in a volume of the hydraulic chamber forces the housing upward to vary the ride height.

A coilover shock with adjustable crossover is disclosed, in which, in some embodiments, a pre-load collar of a coilover shock may be adjustable in length, so as to engage the spring divider, when the tender coil spring is partially compressed during a compression stroke of the coilover shock, to prevent further compression of the tender coil spring and begin compression of the main coil spring. In some embodiments, the spring divider may be adjustable in length, so as to engage the pre-load collar, when the tender coil spring is partially compressed during a compression stoke of the coilover shock, to prevent further compression of the tender coil spring and begin compression of the main coil spring. In some embodiments, an adjustable pre-load collar, or an adjustable spring divider, may be controlled remotely, such as by a controller located in the driver compartment of the vehicle.

A suspension actuator includes an upper mount, a lower mount, a first actuator mechanism, and a second actuator mechanism. The upper mount is connectable to a sprung mass of a vehicle. The lower mount is connectable to an unsprung mass of the vehicle. The first actuator mechanism forms a first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The first actuator mechanism is one of an electromagnetic linear actuator mechanism or a ball screw actuator mechanism. The second actuator mechanism forms a second load path in parallel with the first load path between the upper mount and the lower mount. The second actuator mechanism is one of a mechanical linear actuator mechanism, an air spring actuator mechanism, or a hydraulic actuator mechanism.

A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.