Level adjustment for motor vehicles

Claim 2

A suspension unit for a ride height adjustment system for a motor vehicle comprising an extendible strut, Said strut having first and second relatively movable parts, a first spring seat secured to said first part, a second spring seat slidably engaging said second part, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, a member secured to said second part and forming a part of a pressure chamber, said second spring seat having a piston part fitted within said chamber, said chamber being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to displace said piston part and impose a load upon said spring.

Claim 3

A suspension unit according to claim 1 and including: said strut comprising a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber, one of said first and second parts comprising a piston rod and the other of said parts comprising a cylindrical member.

Claim 4

A suspension unit for a ride height adjustment system for a motor vehicle comprises a shock absorber, said shock absorber having a cylinder part and a piston rod part, a first spring seat secured to said piston rod part, a second spring seat slidably engaging said cylinder part, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, a member secured to said cylinder part and forming a part of a pressure chamber, said second spring seat having a piston part fitted within said chamber, said chamber being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to displace said piston part and impose a load upon said spring.

Claim 5

A suspension unit for a ride height adjustment system for a motor vehicle comprises a shock absorber, said shock absorber having a cylinder part and a piston rod part, a first spring seat secured to said piston rod part, a second spring seat slidably engaging said cylinder part, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, a member secured to said cylinder part and forming a part of a pressure chamber, said second spring seat having a piston part fitted within said chamber, said chamber being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to displace said piston part and impose a load upon said spring.

Claim 6

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: the exterior surface of said cylinder part defining a portion of said chamber.

Claim 7

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: said spring comprising a coil spring concentrically disposed about said shock absorber.

Claim 8

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: a pressure source constructed to convey hydraulic fluid to said chamber.

Claim 9

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: the exterior surface of said cylinder part defining a portion of said chamber, said spring comprising a coil spring concentrically disposed about said shock absorber.

Claim 10

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: said member having an annular shape and having a portion spaced outwardly of said cylinder part, said piston part having an annular configuration and fitted within said annular portion of said member.

Claim 11

A suspension unit according to claim 3 and including: said spring comprising a coil spring concentrically disposed about said shock absorber, the exterior surface of said cylinder part defining a portion of said chamber, said member having an annular shape and having a portion spaced outwardly of said cylinder part, said piston part having an annular configuration and fitted within said annular portion of said member, a pressure source constructed to convey hydraulic fluid to said chamber.

Claim 12

A suspension unit for a ride height adjustment system for a motor vehicle comprising an extendible strut, said strut having first and second relatively movable parts, a first spring seat secured to said first part, a second spring seat movably disposed with respect to said second part, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible pressure chamber comprising relatively movable first and second member, said first member being secured to said second part, said second spring seat being connected to said second member, said chamber being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and impose a load upon said spring.

Claim 13

A suspension unit for a ride height adjustment system for a motor vehicle comprising an extendible strut, said strut having first and second relatively movable parts, a first spring seat secured to said first part, a second spring seat movably disposed with respect to said second part, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible pressure chamber comprising relatively movable first and second member, said first member being secured to said second part, said second spring seat being connected to said second member, said chamber being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and impose a load upon said spring.

Claim 14

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible chamber device having a first member secured to said second spring seat, said device having a second member constructEd to be connected to said unsprung component, said device being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.

Claim 15

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible chamber device having a first member secured to said second spring seat, said device having a second member constructEd to be connected to said unsprung component, said device being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.

Claim 16

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a metallic suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible chamber device having a first member secured to said second spring seat, said device having a second member constructed to be connected to said unsprung component, a hydraulic pressure source, said device being connected to said source and constructed to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.

Claim 17

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a metallic suspension spring interposed between said first and second spring seats, an expansible chamber device having a first member secured to said second spring seat, said device having a second member constructed to be connected to said unsprung component, a hydraulic pressure source, said device being connected to said source and constructed to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.

Claim 18

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a coil suspension spring operatively interposed between said first and second spring seats, and expansible chamber device having first and second members that are relatively displaceable along an axis substantially coaxial with said spring, said first member being secured to said second spring seat, said second member being constructed to be connected to said unsprung component, said device being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.

Claim 19

A suspension unit constructed to be interposed between sprung and unsprung vehicle components and to support said sprung component on said unsprung component comprising a first spring seat constructed to be secured to said sprung component, a second spring seat, a coil suspension spring operatively interposed between said first and second spring seats, and expansible chamber device having first and second members that are relatively displaceable along an axis substantially coaxial with said spring, said first member being secured to said second spring seat, said second member being constructed to be connected to said unsprung component, said device being constructed to receive a pressurized fluid to cause the relative displacement of said members and thereby impose a force upon said spring and change the relative position of said sprung and unsprung components.