Patent ID: 8672337

Claim:
A multi-point hydraulic suspension system for a land vehicle having a suspended structure and a wheeled base, the hydraulic suspension system including: two or more individual hydraulic actuators, operatively arranged between the suspended structure and the wheeled base for relative positioning of the suspended structure in relation to the wheeled base; a common supply of pressurized fluid, having a given pressure; a selectively operable pump having an inlet and an outlet, for increasing the given pressure, the outlet being in fluid connection with the common supply of pressurized fluid; a fluid reservoir in selective fluid communication with the inlet of the pump; controllable valve means, interposed between each of the at least two actuators and the common supply of pressurized fluid for selectively bringing each of the at least two actuators into fluid communication with the common supply of pressurized fluid, wherein the controllable valve means include a first pressure control valve and a second pressure control valve associated with each of the at least two actuators; and a control unit for controlling the valve means and the pump, wherein the control unit is arranged, in use, to passively damp movements of major vehicle masses during driving in straight-on conditions, including selective interruption of pump operation; control ride level height only once upon preparing the vehicle for driving; and to reserve dynamic suspension and movement control substantially for driving conditions relating to cornering, accelerating, decelerating and braking.