A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

An apparatus and method for controlling an air suspension of a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes a compressor configured to supply compressed air, a reservoir configured to store compressed air supplied from the compressor and to supply the stored compressed air to the air suspension during vehicle height control, a road information provider configured to provide road state information of a road in front of the vehicle during travel of the vehicle, and a controller configured to determine a vehicle height control position of the air suspension based on the road state information and to operate the compressor before the vehicle arrives at the determined vehicle height control position, thereby filling the reservoir with the compressed air such that an internal pressure of the reservoir reaches at least a predetermined reference pressure.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.

A fluid containment system comprises a frame, a tank, a rear suspension system, a front lifting assembly, a cooperative coupling mechanism adapted to couple the fluid containment system to a vehicle, and a rear lifting assembly. The front lifting assembly is adapted to lift the front of the tank. The rear lifting assembly is adapted to lift the rear of the tank. The fluid containment system comprises a working condition and a mobile condition. A lower portion of the frame rests on a surface when the mobile fluid containment system is in the working condition. The lower portion of the frame is elevated with respect to the surface when the mobile fluid containment system is in the mobile condition. The fluid containment system is adapted to be towed by the vehicle when the cooperative coupling mechanism is coupled to the vehicle and the fluid containment system is in the mobile condition.

A center-of-mass height estimation device includes a roll moment calculation unit for calculating roll moment of a sprung portion in a vehicle on the basis of bearing capacities of left and right suspensions provided on the vehicle, a lateral acceleration measurement unit for measuring lateral acceleration, which is acceleration in a width direction of the vehicle, a mass measurement unit for measuring mass of the sprung portion, a transfer function calculation unit for calculating a transfer function of the roll moment with respect to the lateral acceleration, and a center-of-mass height calculation unit for dividing the gain of the transfer function by the mass of the sprung portion to calculate a height from a roll center of the vehicle to a center of mass of the sprung portion.

An electronic control unit containing a microcomputer performs: calculating operation variables of left and right air springs of air suspensions based on a steering angle and a roll angle of a vehicle; and controlling air pressures of the left and right air springs in accordance with the calculated operation variables.

A vehicle includes a body, a pair of front gas springs coupling a pair of front wheel end assemblies to the body, and a pair of rear gas springs coupling a pair of rear wheel end assemblies to the body. At least one of the rear gas springs includes a cylinder, a rod extending within the cylinder and movable relative to the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder together at least partially defining a chamber having a variable volume and receiving a first pressurized gas therein, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber and containing a second pressurized gas therein. The second pressurized gas within the accumulator is held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate when the first pressurized gas is below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas is above the threshold pressure.

A vehicle includes a body, a pair of front gas springs coupling a pair of front wheel end assemblies to the body, and a pair of rear gas springs coupling a pair of rear wheel end assemblies to the body. At least one of the rear gas springs includes a cylinder, a rod extending within the cylinder and movable relative to the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder together at least partially defining a chamber having a variable volume and receiving a first pressurized gas therein, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber and containing a second pressurized gas therein. The second pressurized gas within the accumulator is held at a threshold pressure creating a first spring rate when the first pressurized gas is below the threshold pressure and a second spring rate when the first pressurized gas is above the threshold pressure.