Patent ID: 8317003

Claim:
A suspension strut interconnectable between a vehicle body and a component of a wheel suspension system of the vehicle, comprising: a shock absorber having a base component connectable to one of said vehicle body and said suspension component and a rod component connectable to the other of said vehicle body and said suspension component; an annular member encompassing said shock absorber and displaceable axially relative thereto; a bearing spring disposed between a portion of said base component of said shock absorber and said annular member; a preloaded spring disposed between a portion of said rod component of said shock absorber and said annular member; means supported on said vehicle body for selectively producing a motion; and means operatively interconnecting said motion producing means and said annular member for transmitting said motion to said annular member, including means for translating said motion to axial motion of said annular member relative to said shock absorber, wherein said motion producing means comprises an electric motor and said motion translating means comprises a first link connected to and pivotal relative to the axis of an output shaft of said motor, and a link interconnecting said first link and said annular member.