A suspension system is disclosed utilizing oil addition and subtraction to actuate an accumulator to control position and stiffness in an Emulsion Shock/Oleo Pneumatic strut/Air spring strut. The strut maintains ride height for a wide variation in sprung mass and adjusts for the expansion/compression of the gas due to variations in temperature. The strut provides spring and damping characteristics.

A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle, in which the pneumatic suspension system includes a supply tank, a first set of air springs positioned on a first side of the vehicle; a second set of air springs positioned on a second side of the vehicle, and a dual-action dynamic valve positioned between the first set of air springs and the second set of air springs. The dual-action dynamic valve is connected to the supply tank, the first set of air springs, and the second set of air springs by a series of air hoses. The dual-action dynamic valve is adapted to supply air to either one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs while simultaneously exhausting air from the other one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs.

To improve off-road travel performance, ECU is configured to: set one of front left and right wheels and rear left and right wheels as roll stiffness decrease subject wheels and set another as non-roll stiffness decrease subject wheels; bring a spring switching valve and a leveling valve into an open state for each of the roll stiffness decrease subject wheels, causing left and right hydraulic cylinders to communicate to each other for the roll stiffness decrease subject wheels; and bring the spring switching valve and the leveling valve into a closed state and bring a bypass valve into the open state for one of the left and right wheels of the non-roll stiffness decrease subject wheels, to cause a second gas spring for one of the left and right wheels of the non-roll stiffness decrease subject wheels to communicate to the hydraulic cylinders of the roll stiffness decrease subject wheels.

Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.

An actuator includes a first housing, a second housing fixed to the first housing, and a piston configured to translate relative to each of the first housing and the second housing. The actuator also includes a locking device configured to selectively restrain the piston in a predetermined position relative to each of the first housing and the second housing and release the piston. The actuator additionally includes an actuation mechanism configured to activate the locking device to thereby restrain the piston in the predetermined position. Also disclosed is a suspension system for a vehicle employing such an actuator at a suspension corner, wherein the actuator is used to set a ride height of the vehicle at the suspension corner.

A suspension system for controlling movement of a vehicle wheel may include a spring and damper assembly coupling the wheel to the vehicle chassis for movement of the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The spring and damper assembly may include a spring coupled to a damper member configured to extend and retract the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The suspension system may further include a damper actuator located remotely from the spring and damper assembly and configured to modify an amount of damping and/or wheel extension. The suspension system may also include a spring actuator integrated with the damper actuator and configured to control an amount of deflection of the spring and/or to alter a spring rate. The damper actuator may be provided at a location in the vehicle separated from the spring and damper assembly.

A hydraulic actuator includes an energy recuperation device which harvests the energy generated from the stroking of a shock absorber. The energy recuperation device can function in a passive energy recovery mode for the shock absorber to store recovered energy as fluid pressure or it can be converted to another form of energy such as electrical energy.

A hydraulic actuator circuit is disclosed for use with first and second shock absorbers, which each may include a piston disposed within a housing. The piston helps define upper and lower working chambers. The circuit may have a motor, a first pump, driven by the motor, and is associated with the first shock absorber and the motor. A second pump, driven by the motor, may be associated with the second shock absorber. A first accumulator communicates with both of the first and second pumps. A first switch valve may assist in controlling fluid flow into the chambers of the first shock absorber. A second switch valve may assist in controlling fluid flow into the chambers of the second shock absorber.

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a knuckle defining a bore therethrough. The suspension system includes a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the knuckle. Further, the suspension system includes an axle at least partially received within the bore of the knuckle and operatively coupled to the wheel hub. The suspension system includes a pump driven by the axle and configured to generate pressurized fluid. The suspension system includes an actuator receiving pressurized fluid from the pump.

A suspension system for a work vehicle includes a first cylinder having a piston side, a second cylinder having a piston side, and a first valve connected to the first and second cylinders, which extend and retract during a roll condition of the suspension system. The first valve selectively enables and restricts fluid flow between the piston side of the first cylinder and the piston side of the second cylinder to adjust a roll resistance of the suspension system.