Regenerative suspension for an off-road vehicle

An apparatus for controlling a suspension of a vehicle having a cylinder with a piston that defines a piston chamber and a rod chamber within the cylinder, said apparatus comprising:

• a first node;
• a second node connected to the piston chamber;
• a first solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a pump supply line of the vehicle and having a outlet coupled to the first node;
• a control valve assembly connecting the first node to a tank return line of the vehicle permitting fluid to flow from the first node back to tank, and being operated by a control signal;
• an accumulator coupled to the first node;
• and
• a lock-out valve connected between the first node and the second node to isolate the cylinder from the accumulator.

A hydraulic circuit for controlling a suspension of a vehicle having a cylinder and piston, wherein the piston defines a piston chamber and a rod chamber within the cylinder, said hydraulic circuit comprising:

• a first node;
• an accumulator coupled to the first node;
• a second node connected to a port of the piston chamber;
• a first control valve having a inlet for connection to a pump supply line of the vehicle and having a outlet;
• a supply check valve coupling the outlet of the first control valve to the first node and permitting fluid to flow only in a direction from the first control valve to the first node;
• a control valve assembly connecting the first node to a tank return line of the vehicle;
• a first check valve coupling the first node to the second node, wherein fluid can flow through the first check valve only in a direction from the first node to the second node;
• a first orifice connected in parallel with the first check valve;
• a first relief valve connected in parallel with the first check valve, and opening when pressure at the second node exceeds a predefined pressure level;
• a second check valve coupling the piston chamber to the rod chamber, wherein fluid can flow through the second check valve only in a direction from the piston chamber to the rod chamber;
• a second orifice connected in parallel with the second check valve;
• and
• a second relief valve connected in parallel with the second check valve, and opening when pressure in the rod chamber exceeds a predefined pressure level.