Hydraulic lift for vehicle suspension

A hydraulic lift actuator for adjusting a height of a vehicle comprising:

• a damper assembly including a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
• a damper rod disposed at least partially within the damper assembly and protruding through the second end;
• a sliding spring seat having a disc shape disposed on an outer surface of the damper assembly, the sliding spring seat including an upper surface facing away from the first end and configured to engage a lower end of a coil spring disposed coaxially around the damper rod;
• a support collar fixed to the sliding spring seat, wherein the support collar is configured to translate axially relative to damper assembly;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder disposed adjacent and parallel to the damper assembly, the hydraulic cylinder having a lift piston rod disposed at least partially within the hydraulic cylinder and extending outwardly therefrom toward the support collar, wherein the lift piston rod is connected to the support collar and configured to actuate the sliding spring seat between a retracted position and an extended position spaced apart from the first end.

A height adjustment system for adjusting a height of a vehicle, the height adjustment system comprising:

• at least one wheel;
• a first suspension arrangement including:
• a coil spring having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is connected to the at least one wheel, and
• a hydraulic lift actuator including:
• a damper tube including a closed end;
• a damper rod disposed at least partially within the damper tube and protruding therefrom opposite the closed end;
• a sliding spring seat having a disc shape disposed annularly around the damper tube, the sliding spring seat including an upper surface facing away from the closed end and configured to engage an end of a coil spring disposed coaxially around the damper rod;
• a support collar having a tubular shape disposed annularly around the damper tube and fixed to the sliding spring seat, wherein the support collar is configured to translate axially relative to the damper tube;
• a lifting bracket connected to the support collar and protruding radially from the support collar;
• and
• a hydraulic cylinder disposed adjacent and parallel to the damper tube, the hydraulic cylinder having a lift piston rod disposed at least partially within the hydraulic cylinder and extending outwardly therefrom toward the lifting bracket, wherein the lift piston rod is connected to the lifting bracket and configured to actuate the sliding spring seat between a retracted position and an extended position spaced apart from the closed end;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the hydraulic cylinder and configured to control fluid flow into and out of the hydraulic cylinder for adjusting the height of the vehicle.