A spring-damper system for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle comprise a support spring of a spring constant k.sub.T and a damper acting in parallel to the support spring. A spring element is arranged in series with the support spring and can be controlled by means of a controller in such a way that a total spring constant k.sub.G of the spring-damper system can be varied.

The disclosed method checks the state of degradation of the suspension of a vehicle without having to carry out tests that immobilize the vehicle or to use non-objective expertise. The method processes data provided by at least one front camera in an on-board visual system. The checking method includes steps for periodically acquiring images provided by the camera or cameras, followed by storage of the positional data of the three-dimensional road in relation to a flat road and basic positional parameter data for the path of the vehicle. The error between the ideal values of the suspension parameters of a chosen suspension model and the values of these parameters corresponding to the stored path data from the positional data is then minimized. By iteration, the accuracy of the error reaches a predetermined value sufficient to diagnose a state of the suspension.

A method for operating an active vehicle chassis including a control device; a damper device having a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston; a pump for generating a pressure via the hydraulic piston; a gas spring having a pneumatic cylinder and a pneumatic piston; and a compressor for generating a pressure via the pneumatic piston. In the case of a command for a request for an increased resulting force of the active chassis with the aid of an increased pressure level in the gas spring, the method includes the steps of increasing the pressure in the damper device by way of the pump; increasing the pressure in the gas spring by way of the compressor; and upon reaching the requested increased resulting force, reducing the pressure in the damper device, such that the increased resulting force is adjusted as required using the increased pressure level in the gas spring.

The invention relates to a stabilizer assembly of a two-track vehicle for stabilizing a rolling movement, the stabilizer assembly being operable on at least two different spring characteristics, comprising a first and a second stabilizer half, each coupled to a wheel of the vehicle, wherein the first and the second stabilizer halves are coupled such that they can rotate relative to each other about their longitudinal axis by means of a spring element, whereby the stabilizer is operable with a first spring characteristic, and wherein the first and the second stabilizer halves can be hydraulically coupled such that they can rotate relative to each other about their longitudinal axis by means of a hydraulic actuator, whereby the stabilizer is operable using at least one second spring characteristic. The actuator comprises at least two work chambers which are filled with a hydraulic medium and coupled to each other by a fluid-conducting connection, and the actuator comprises a transmission unit which is designed such that a rotational movement of the stabilizer halves can be converted into a translational movement of an intermediate element arranged between the two work chambers, and a volume flow of the hydraulic medium from the one work chamber into the other work chamber can thus be produced.

A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.

A motion control system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.

A high-pressure gas spring for vehicle suspension systems includes an integral gas damping system and an integral counter spring to reduce spring residual force at suspension rebound. The gas spring includes an inverted piston feature that reduces the overall length of the device. Additionally, there are other innovative features incorporated in the gas spring to improve performance, reduce cost and minimise weight.

A vehicle suspension system (3) includes an electromagnetic damper (7) provided with a sprung member (8) and an unsprung member (9) to apply a drive force and a damping force between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and a control unit (10) for controlling the electromagnetic damper. A target load for the electromagnetic damper is determined based on the unsprung member demand load that attenuates a vertical vibration of the unsprung member, and the sprung member demand load that restrains a vertical displacement of the sprung member. An absolute value of the sprung member demand load is reduced when a sprung member frequency is in an unsprung member resonance frequency range.

A vehicle suspension system (3) is provided that allows attention eliciting information such as rumble strips, bumps and road markers to be conveyed to the vehicle operator substantially without detracting from the performance of the vehicle suspension system. A control unit (10) determines if a prescribed warning condition exists according to vehicle information and/or road surface information acquired by an information acquiring unit, and performs a warning control including an extending and retracting movement of the actuator interposed between an sprung member (8) and an unsprung member (9) of the vehicle at a prescribed frequency when the warning condition is determined.

Embodiments relate to a suspension actuator system for a vehicle that includes an active control element, a passive control element and an adaptive damper which are mounted in series with one another along with a parallel spring.