In a suspension system in which the oil chambers of two dampers are connected, the responsiveness of the dampers can be adjusted. A suspension system has a left damper, a right damper, and an intermediate unit. A case of the intermediate unit has an intermediate oil chamber connected to an oil chamber of the left damper and the oil chamber of the right damper and an intermediate gas chamber. The intermediate oil chamber and the intermediate gas chamber are partitioned by a diaphragm. The intermediate unit has a capacity adjustment mechanism including a movable portion of which the position can be changed. The capacity adjustment mechanism adjusts the capacity of the intermediate gas chamber by changing the position of the movable portion.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling wheel axle suspension of a vehicle (100), said vehicle (100) comprising a vehicle chassis (116), a prime mover (122) for propulsion of said vehicle (100), said prime mover (122) being connected to the vehicle chassis (116); and a front wheel axle (132) comprising an individually adjustable wheel axle suspension arrangement (104, 106) on a respective left and right hand side of the front wheel axle (132) as seen in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (100), said individually adjustable wheel axle suspension arrangement (104, 106) being connected between the front wheel axle (132) and the vehicle chassis (116); the method being comprising the steps of: determining (S1) an output torque from said prime mover (122); determining (S2) a rotation (302) of said vehicle chassis (116) caused by the determined output torque from the prime mover (122); comparing (S3) said rotation (302) with a predetermined threshold limit; and controlling (S4) the individually adjustable wheel axle suspension arrangement (104, 106) on at least one of the left and right hand sides of the front wheel axle (132) such that the rotation (302) of said vehicle chassis (116) is below said predetermined threshold limit.

An air spring includes a sleeve, a jounce bumper, and a bump cap. The sleeve defines a chamber. The jounce bumper is fixed relative to the sleeve in the chamber. The bump cap is moveable relative to the jounce bumper from a first position to a second position in contact with the jounce bumper. The jounce bumper includes a valve moveable by the bump cap to a closed position when the bump cap moves to the second position.

A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

A single axle suspension system including right and left dampers, first and second hydraulic circuits, and a first pressurizing mechanism connected in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic circuits. The first pressurizing mechanism includes a dual chamber ball/screw mechanism to adjust the volumetric capacity of a pair of first and second variable volume chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic circuits. Thus, the first pressurizing mechanism provides roll control by generating a pressure differential between the first and second hydraulic circuits, which causes an increase in the fluid pressure inside either the first working chamber of the right damper and the second working chamber of the left damper or inside the first working chamber of the left damper and the second working chambers of the right damper to provide roll stiffness that counters vehicle roll during cornering.

A spring assembly for mounting between a chassis and an unsprung mass of a vehicle, the spring assembly comprising a coil spring and a hydropneumatic spring acting in series, wherein the hydropneumatic spring is configured to be switchable between a compressible state and an incompressible state, such that when the hydropneumatic spring is in the compressible state, the equivalent spring rate of the spring assembly is a function of the spring rate of the coil spring and the hydropneumatic spring, and when the hydropneumatic spring is in the incompressible state, the equivalent spring rate of the spring assembly is a function of the spring rate of the coil spring.