Patent ID: 8210330

Claim:
A plurality of dampers in combination with a vehicle, said vehicle comprising: a sprung portion; an unsprung portion; a plurality of springs disposed between said sprung and unsprung portions, said plurality of springs being the only springs disposed between said sprung and unsprung portions; wherein said plurality of dampers are disposed between said sprung and unsprung portions, said plurality of dampers being the only dampers disposed between said sprung and unsprung portions, said plurality of dampers being controlled separately from said plurality of springs; each of said plurality of dampers comprising: a pressure tube forming a working chamber; a pressurized gas being the only damping medium disposed within said working chamber; a piston disposed within said working chamber, said piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber; said combination further comprising: a source for said pressurized gas separate from said working chamber of each of said plurality of dampers in selective communication with both said upper and said lower working chambers of said working chamber of each of said plurality of dampers; a sensor monitoring an operating condition of said vehicle; and means for changing damping characteristics of each of said plurality of dampers, said changing means including a pressure control unit in communication with said sensor and said source for said pressurized gas for continuously changing the pressure of said pressurized gas disposed within both said upper and said lower working chambers of said working chamber of each of said plurality of dampers based upon said operating condition of said vehicle monitored by said sensor to control damping characteristics of each of said plurality of dampers.