Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper and a jack assembly. The damper includes a first tube defining a first cavity and having a longitudinal axis, a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber, and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the axis, wherein the piston abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. The system includes a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel. The assembly includes a jack piston abutting the first tube, and a jack cylinder also abutting the first tube and translatable with respect to the jack piston to thereby raise and lower the body. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper having a central longitudinal axis, and a jack assembly attached to the damper. The jack assembly includes a seat abutting and rotatable about the damper, a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat, a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the damper, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the damper, a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the damper, a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat, and a second clutch coiled about the damper and coupled to the ball nut. The seat is translatable along the damper to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper having a central longitudinal axis, and a jack assembly attached to the damper. The jack assembly includes a seat abutting and rotatable about the damper, a resilient member coiled about the damper and coupled to the seat so that the resilient member is not rotatable with respect to the seat, a ball screw abutting and fixedly attached to the damper, wherein the ball screw is not rotatable about the damper, a ball nut abutting and rotatable about the ball screw and the damper, a first clutch coiled about the ball nut and coupled to the seat, and a second clutch coiled about the damper and coupled to the ball nut. The seat is translatable along the damper to thereby raise and lower the body of the vehicle. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper and a jack assembly. The damper includes a first tube defining a first cavity and having a longitudinal axis, a second tube disposed within the first cavity and defining a second cavity, wherein the second tube is spaced apart from the first tube to define a reservoir chamber, and a piston translatable within the second cavity along the axis, wherein the piston abuts the second tube to define a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. The system includes a jack assembly attached to the damper and configured for raising and lowering the body with respect to the wheel. The assembly includes a jack piston abutting the first tube, and a jack cylinder also abutting the first tube and translatable with respect to the jack piston to thereby raise and lower the body. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An axle shaft which is inherently damped very near the source of the oscillation, via inner and outer axle components with a damping ring that couples between them, wherein the inner component which serves as the axle shaft, has a torsional stiffness different from (i.e., less than) that of the outer component which serves as a concentrically disposed axle sleeve. Under torsional load, both the inner and outer components transmit the torsional load, wherein the inner component twists more than the outer component, resulting in relative displacement therebetween. The damping ring experiences the relative displacement and consequently damps energy of the twist, whereby powerhop and associated driveline disturbances, such as for example axle shutter, are reduced.