Patent ID: 6725983
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:at least one suspension air bag that is pressurized; at least one shock absorber having a rod that moves axially within the shock absorber, the rod having an open end and a central bore that extends from the open end and is coupled with the air bag near an opposite end of the rod such that changes in pressure in the air bag result in an adjustment of a stiffness of the shock absorber; the shock absorber includes a damping adjuster within the central bore of the rod and wherein changes in the pressure in the air bag cause movement of the damping adjuster within the rod; the damping adjuster includes a plunger that is biased into a first position corresponding to a low shock absorber stiffness and wherein increases in the pressure within the air bag moves the plunger against the bias toward a second position corresponding to a higher shock absorber stiffness; and at least one fluid passageway formed in the rod to allow fluid flow from the shock absorber into a portion of the central bore of the rod on an opposite side of the plunger from the airbag pressure anti air of the open end of the central bore, the fluid passageway extending from the central bore through an outer surface on the rod at an angle relative to the central axis of the rod.