A vehicle suspension connects a vehicle body to a plurality of wheels and allows relative motion between the vehicle body and the wheels. The suspension system includes a plurality of telescoping multi-stage hydraulic cylinder assemblies arranged to selectively lift the vehicle body relative to the wheels when extended and to lower the vehicle body relative to the wheels when contracted. A control valve is used to adjust a volume of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to change a height of the vehicle. External spring packs are in fluid connection with the hydraulic cylinder assemblies to maintain spring forces on the suspension system over a range of telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies. Fluid damping valves are provided for damping telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies by restricting fluid flow between the hydraulic cylinder assemblies and the spring packs.

A method for operating a motor vehicle with a chassis arrangement having at least two vibration dampers. A body control is carried out at least partially with the vibration dampers. The chassis arrangement further has at least one stabilizer. During transverse accelerations below a threshold acceleration the stabilizer contributes to the body control less than the vibration dampers and contributes more than the vibration dampers from the threshold acceleration upward.

A vehicle includes a suspension system having a first damper, a second damper, and a controller. The dampers include housings and pistons sealingly interfaced with an inner diameter of the housing, dividing the damper into a first and second chamber. The suspension system includes proportional variable relief valves which control pressure of fluid entering or exiting one of the first and second chamber of one of the first and second damper. The controller controls the valves to control extension or compression of the first damper and extension or compression of the second damper based on a degree of roll of the vehicle during a turn of the vehicle or a degree of pitch of the vehicle during acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The first and second damper control a roll and pitch of the vehicle. The valves control a damping rate of one of the first and second damper.

A suspension system and associated control methods for improving comfort by disabling passive pitch stiffness in the suspension system by holding open electromechanical comfort valves positioned in a manifold assembly of the suspension system. The manifold comfort valves are held open to disable the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system if the vehicle is traveling down a rough road or if the vehicle is approaching a discrete road event like a pot-hole or speed bump. Deactivation of the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system is determined based on road classification information, saved road events, and/or real-time vehicle data from on-board sensors. The suspension system therefore reduces pitch angles during pitch events induced by inertial forces caused by driver inputs and disables the pitch stiffness when the pitch event is caused by road inputs.

A vehicle includes a wheel assembly, a chassis, and a damper assembly coupling the wheel assembly to the chassis. The damper assembly includes a housing including a wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture, a first tubular member coupled to the housing, a second tubular member slidably coupled to the housing and extending between the wall and the first tubular member, a piston coupled to the second tubular member, the piston engaging an inner surface of the wall and an outer surface of the first tubular member, and a conduit fluidly coupling the first aperture and the second aperture.

A vehicle includes a wheel assembly, a chassis, and a damper assembly coupling the wheel assembly to the chassis. The damper assembly includes a housing including a wall defining a first aperture and a second aperture, a first tubular member coupled to the housing, a second tubular member slidably coupled to the housing and extending between the wall and the first tubular member, a piston coupled to the second tubular member, the piston engaging an inner surface of the wall and an outer surface of the first tubular member, and a conduit fluidly coupling the first aperture and the second aperture.

A suspension apparatus includes a first extension-side damping valve provided in the first flow path; a first contraction-side damping valve provided in the first flow path in parallel with the first extension-side damping valve; a second extension-side damping valve provided in the second flow path; a second contraction-side damping valve provided in the second flow path in parallel with the second extension-side damping valve; a first damping valve configured to impart resistance to the flow of fluid from the first flow path to the first accumulator; a first check valve disposed in parallel with the first damping valve; a second damping valve configured to impart resistance to the flow of fluid from the second flow path to the second accumulator; and a second check valve disposed in parallel with the second damping valve.

A suspension apparatus includes a first extension-side damping valve provided in the first flow path; a first contraction-side damping valve provided in the first flow path in parallel with the first extension-side damping valve; a second extension-side damping valve provided in the second flow path; a second contraction-side damping valve provided in the second flow path in parallel with the second extension-side damping valve; a first damping valve configured to impart resistance to the flow of fluid from the first flow path to the first accumulator; a first check valve disposed in parallel with the first damping valve; a second damping valve configured to impart resistance to the flow of fluid from the second flow path to the second accumulator; and a second check valve disposed in parallel with the second damping valve.

The invention relates to a suspension device for tracked vehicles, which vehicle comprises at least one pair of track assemblies, where each track assembly of the pair of track assemblies comprises a track support beam, at least one drive wheel, a plurality of support wheels and an endless track, wherein the drive wheel and the plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to the track support beam. The drive wheel is arranged to drive the endless track running over the at least one drive wheel and the plurality of support wheels. The suspension device comprises a first suspension configuration constituting a support wheel suspension configuration configured to resiliently secure the support wheels to the track support beam, and a second suspension configuration configured to connect the track assembly pair with a centrally arranged center beam. The invention also relates to a tracked vehicle.

The invention relates to a suspension device for tracked vehicles, which vehicle comprises at least one pair of track assemblies, where each track assembly of the pair of track assemblies comprises a track support beam, at least one drive wheel, a plurality of support wheels and an endless track, wherein the drive wheel and the plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to the track support beam. The drive wheel is arranged to drive the endless track running over the at least one drive wheel and the plurality of support wheels. The suspension device comprises a first suspension configuration constituting a support wheel suspension configuration configured to resiliently secure the support wheels to the track support beam, and a second suspension configuration configured to connect the track assembly pair with a centrally arranged center beam. The invention also relates to a tracked vehicle.