Patent ID: 7137638

Claim:
A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a tube member having a closed end and an open end; a seal head disposed at the open end of the tube member; a rod unit passing through the seal head, wherein the rod unit has a top end and a bottom end; a flange coupled to the bottom end of the rod unit so as to be disposed in the tube member, wherein the flange is configured to come into contact with the seal head to limit extension of the suspension; and a travel adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the rod unit, wherein the travel adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the effective length of the rod unit and thereby adjust the amount of extension of the suspension system; wherein the travel adjustment mechanism comprises a housing containing a non-compressible fluid, a first shaft extending through the housing and a piston coupled to the first shaft to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber within the housing, a passageway past the piston that connects the upper chamber and the lower chamber, and a valve that may be opened to permit the fluid to flow between the upper chamber and the lower chamber through the passageway.