Abstract: A vehicle suspension system has a gas-spring hydraulic strut for each of its four wheels. Each liquid actuator chamber of the struts at one end of the vehicle is connected to further chamber in the in the diagonally opposite strut, which further chamber acts in the opposite direction to the actuator chamber of that strut. A linear potentiometer within each strut provides a signal representative of the strut length to an on-board computer, which, when it detects a difference in the signal from any strut sensor from a predetermined value, causes a proportional servo-valve to admit hydraulic liquid from the actuator chamber of that strut at a flow rate proportional to the detected difference to return the strut length towards its predetermined value.

Abstract: A lightweight trailing arm suspension comprises a frame bracket assembly (18), a trailing arm (16) and an air spring assembly (22) formed of a fixed cup (64) with a movable piston (66) mounted in lateral juxtaposed relationship to a terminal end of the trailing arm assembly (56). A clamping assembly (28) affixes the trailing arm to the axle (24), thus suspending the ground engaging wheels (14). A wear pad (60) interposed between a portion of the clamping assembly (28) and the trailing arm (16) resists the torsional moment of the trailing arm to provide stability and minimize wear. The cup (64) is hollow and communicates with the interior of an air spring (72) to provide a reservoir therefor. A track bar (115) with bushed joints at both ends interconnects the frame (10) and the axle housing (26) to provide lateral stability.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit, which erects a swingable roll bar in a crash situation by an ejection spring, includes a controllable drive by which the movement and the direction of movement of the piston can be controlled and which can be disengaged in the event of a crash pulse, whereupon the piston extends rapidly by virtue of the ejection spring.