Damper with hydraulically-adjustable preload and/or cross-over

A damper having a hydraulically-adjustable cross-over point, said damper comprising:

• a main damper cylinder;
• a damping piston movably disposed within said main damper cylinder;
• a damping rod coupled to said piston;
• a lower flange coupled to said damper;
• a first sleeve coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said main damper cylinder;
• a preload flange coupled to said first sleeve;
• a second sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve movable with respect to said first sleeve in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve having a front surface;
• a spring coupler coupled to said second sleeve;
• a first spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said first spring disposed between said preload flange and said spring coupler;
• a second spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said second spring disposed between said spring coupler and said lower flange;
• and
• said second sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said first sleeve and said second sleeve causes said second sleeve to move with respect to said first sleeve, thereby changing said cross-over point of said damper.

A damper having a hydraulically-adjustable preload and a hydraulically-adjustable cross-over point, said damper comprising:

• a main damper cylinder;
• a damping piston movably disposed within said main damper cylinder;
• a damping rod coupled to said piston;
• a surface feature coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said main damper cylinder;
• a sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said sleeve movable with respect to said surface feature in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder;
• a preload flange coupled to said sleeve;
• a first spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said spring having a first end abutting said preload flange and having a second end coupled to said damper;
• said sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said sleeve and said surface feature causes said sleeve to move with respect to said surface feature thereby causing said preload flange to change a preload on said spring;
• a second sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve movable with respect to said first sleeve in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve having a front surface;
• a spring coupler coupled to said second sleeve;
• a second spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said second spring disposed between said spring coupler and a lower flange;
• and
• said second sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said first sleeve and said second sleeve causes said second sleeve to move with respect to said first sleeve, thereby changing said cross-over point of said damper.

A vehicle and damper assembly having a hydraulically-adjustable preload, said vehicle and damper assembly comprising:

• a vehicle;
• a damper coupled to said vehicle, said damper having said hydraulically-adjustable preload, said damper comprising:
• a main damper cylinder;
• a damping piston movably disposed within said main damper cylinder;
• a damping rod coupled to said piston;
• a surface feature coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said main damper cylinder;
• a sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said sleeve movable with respect to said surface feature in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder;
• a preload flange coupled to said sleeve;
• a spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said spring having one end abutting said preload flange and having another end coupled to said damper;
• and
• said sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said sleeve and said surface feature causes said sleeve to move with respect to said surface feature thereby causing said preload flange to change a preload on said spring.

A vehicle and damper assembly having a hydraulically-adjustable cross-over point, said vehicle and damper assembly comprising:

• a vehicle;
• a damper coupled to said vehicle, said damper having said hydraulically-adjustable preload, said damper comprising:
• a main damper cylinder;
• a damping piston movably disposed within said main damper cylinder;
• a damping rod coupled to said piston;
• a lower flange coupled to said damper;
• a first sleeve coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said main damper cylinder;
• a preload flange coupled to said first sleeve;
• a second sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve movable with respect to said first sleeve in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve having a front surface;
• a spring coupler coupled to said second sleeve;
• a first spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said first spring disposed between said preload flange and said spring coupler;
• a second spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said second spring disposed between said spring coupler and said lower flange;
• and
• said second sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said first sleeve and said second sleeve causes said second sleeve to move with respect to said first sleeve, thereby changing said cross-over point of said damper.

A vehicle and damper assembly having a hydraulically-adjustable preload and a hydraulically-adjustable cross-over point, said vehicle and damper assembly comprising:

• a vehicle;
• a damper coupled to said vehicle, said damper having said hydraulically-adjustable preload and said hydraulically-adjustable cross-over point, said damper comprising:
• a main damper cylinder;
• a damping piston movably disposed within said main damper cylinder;
• a damping rod coupled to said piston;
• a surface feature coupled to at least a portion of an exterior surface of said main damper cylinder;
• a sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said sleeve movable with respect to said surface feature in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder;
• a preload flange coupled to said sleeve;
• a first spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said spring having a first end abutting said preload flange and having a second end coupled to said damper;
• said sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said sleeve and said surface feature causes said sleeve to move with respect to said surface feature thereby causing said preload flange to change a preload on said spring;
• a second sleeve coupled to said exterior surface of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve movable with respect to said first sleeve in a direction along the axis of said main damper cylinder, said second sleeve having a front surface;
• a spring coupler coupled to said second sleeve;
• a second spring disposed surrounding at least a portion of said external surface of said main damper cylinder, said second spring disposed between said spring coupler and a lower flange;
• and
• said second sleeve disposed such that a change in an amount of hydraulic fluid between said first sleeve and said second sleeve causes said second sleeve to move with respect to said first sleeve, thereby changing said cross-over point of said damper.