Patent ID: 8543291

Claim:
A suspension system for controlling vertical movements of two side-by-side parallel wheels of a three-wheeled motor vehicle, the suspension system comprising: a pair of suspension arms, each suspension arm having a proximal end pivotally attached to a frame of the vehicle, so that the suspension arm can pivot vertically about its proximal end, and each suspension arm having a distal end to which one of the parallel wheels is rotatably attached; a pair of variable length control rod assemblies, each control rod assembly having a proximal end attached to the frame of the vehicle and a distal end attached to a corresponding suspension arm, so that pivoting of the suspension arm requires changes in length of the control arm assembly; a pair of hydraulic piston mechanisms cooperative with the control arm assemblies, so that changing a control arm assembly's length requires moving a piston within the corresponding piston mechanism, each hydraulic piston mechanism having an upper liquid reservoir above its piston; a valve system in liquid communication with the upper liquid reservoirs of the piston mechanisms, the valve system having an operating state in which hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow between the upper reservoirs, the valve system having a stationary state that prevents changes to the amounts of hydraulic fluid in the upper reservoirs; and a controller in controlling communication with the valve system, the controller being able to transition the valve system between the operating state and the stationary state.