Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut for use in a vehicle suspension system for vehicles having sprung and unsprung portions, the strut including a telescopic shock absorbing device having a cylinder and a reciprocal piston rod, means for securing one end of the clyinder to one of the vehicle portions and for securing one end of the piston rod to the other of the vehicle portions, a conversion assembly for selectively converting the strut such that it is adjustable in response to the supply of a pressurized fluid, the assembly comprising an elongated generally tubular flexible diaphragm member and first and second attachment means adapted to be removably connected to the shock absorber so as to define therewith a variable volume gas chamber, and means for selectively communicating a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, to and from the chamber to effect selectively expansion and contraction thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system for use in operatively supporting the road engaging wheels on an automotive vehicle, the suspension including a pair of suspension struts each of which includes an elongated tubular pressure cylinder, a valved piston reciprocally disposed within the cylinder and connected to one end of a piston rod which extends axially from the cylinder, a rod guide disposed at one end of the pressure cylinder for supporting the piston rod for reciprocal movement, an elongated reserve tube arranged concentrically around the pressure cylinder, with one end of the reserve tube extending axially beyond the axially outer end of the rod guide and having the terminal end portion thereof deformed radially inwardly over the portion of the rod guide, a wheel spindle located at the opposite end of the strut from the rod guide and including a first portion fixedly secured to the outer periphery of the reserve tube and a second portion removably secured to the first portion and adapted to support a vehicle wh

Abstract: A leveling system for controlling the relative attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, which includes at least one leveling strut comprising a cylinder connected at one end to one of the vehicle portions, a valved piston reciprocally mounted within the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston and projecting from one end of the cylinder and adapted for connection to the other end of the vehicle portions, a quantity of damping fluid within the cylinder for damping reciprocal movement of the piston, means defining a gas chamber containing a quantity of gas, a partition for separating the gas from the damping fluid, and means for varying the pressure of the gas in order to control the relative attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling system for varying the attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle and including at least one leveling strut comprising an elongated tubular pressure cylinder, a valved piston reciprocally disposed within the cylinder and connected to a piston rod extending axially from one end of the cylinder, a rod guide and seal assembly disposed within one end of the cylinder for guiding the piston rod for reciprocal movement, a floating piston disposed within the cylinder between the piston and the end of the cylinder opposite that from which the piston rod extends, a quantity of super-atmospheric gas located within the cylinder between the floating piston and the adjacent end of the cylinder, a quantity of damping fluid located within the cylinder on the opposite side of the floating piston and cooperable with the valved piston to damp reciprocal movement of the piston rod, a resilient tubular diaphragm element defining a variable volume chamber surrounding the pressure cylinder, an

Abstract: A leveling strut for use in a vehicle leveling system and including a shock absorber cartridge telescopically received within an elongated tubular housing, with the cartridge including a reciprocal piston and piston rod, attachment means for securing the piston rod to the sprung portion of the vehicle and the housing to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, retaining means releasably retaining the shock absorber cartridge within the housing whereby to permit convenient removal of the cartridge from the housing for purposes of repair, replacement and the like, means defining a variable volume fluid chamber including a flexible diaphragm member, and means for selectively communicating pressurized fluid to and from the chamber to effect expansion and contraction thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut for a vehicle having sprung and unsprung portions, the strut including a telescopic shock absorber including a cylinder and a reciprocable piston and piston rod, attachment means for securing the piston rod to one of the vehicle portions and the cylinder to the other of the vehicle portions, first and second spring seats spaced axially of the strut and spaced radially outwardly from the shock absorber, a helical coil spring arranged substantially concentrically of the shock absorber and extending axially between and supported by the spring seats, means defining a variable volume gas chamber with the shock absorber and including a generally tubular-shaped flexible diaphragm member disposed between the radially outer side of the shock absorber and the radially inner side of the coil spring, one end of the diaphragm member being fixedly secured to the shock absorber cylinder and the opposite end of the member being fixedly secured to the piston rod, and means for supplying pressurized

Abstract: A shock absorber comprising an elongated cylindrical pressure cylinder having a piston reciprocally disposed therewithin and connected to a piston rod extending outwardly from one end thereof, teh piston rod carrying a dirt shield which extends coaxially of the pressure cylinder and in partial surrounding relationship therewith. The pressure cylinder is adapted to be filled with preselected quantities of hydraulic damping fluid and a pressurized gas for damping reciprocal movement of the piston therewith. The piston is provided with a novel valve arrangement which controls the compression and rebound characteristics of the shock absorber, and one end of the pressure cylinder is provided with a novel rod guide assembly which is designed so as to provide for convenient charging of the cylinder with the aforesaid pressurized gas.