Balanced suspension system

A suspension system for a vehicle of the type having a body and at least four wheels independently supported for generally vertical movement between upper and lower positions relative to the body, said suspension system including:

• a first balance mechanism including a first pair of first and second balance members and first control means integrated into a substantially unitary structure and arranged to support suspension forces in a first mode of suspension movement;
• at least four actuating elements responsive respectively to the positions of the wheels relative to the vehicle body,
• a first pair of said actuating elements being connected to the first balance member, and a second pair of said actuating elements being connected to the second balance member, such that each of said balance members is effectively coupled to an associated pair of said wheels through a respective pair of said actuating elements;
• the actuating elements and the first pair of balance members being connected in a first configuration such that each of the balance members distributes suspension forces between the associated wheels in predetermined proportions in the first mode, while freely accommodating relative vertical movement between the associated wheels in other modes;
• the first control means being responsive only in the first mode and operating substantially independently of the vehicle body to control relative movement between the first and second balance members, whereby the first balance mechanism effectively isolates and controls the first mode substantially independently of other modes of suspension movement.