Wheel mass damper assembly

A suspension system for a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:

• a knuckle;
• a wheel assembly rotatably supported by the knuckle;
• a damper assembly coupled to the knuckle and configured for damping vertical movement of the wheel assembly, wherein the damper assembly includes:
• a rod extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first end and the second end of the rod are fixedly attached to the knuckle;
• a casing disposed annularly about and in sealing engagement with the rod to define a primary fluid chamber between an interior surface of the casing and the rod, wherein the casing is moveable relative to the rod along the longitudinal axis;
• a fluid disposed within the primary fluid chamber;
• a mass attached to and moveable with the casing;
• a first spring coupled to the rod and configured for opposing movement of the casing and the mass relative to the rod in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, and a second spring coupled to the rod and configured for opposing movement of the casing and the mass in a second direction along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction;
• a piston fixedly attached to the rod and disposed within and dividing the primary fluid chamber to define a first portion of the primary fluid chamber and a second portion of the primary fluid chamber;
• wherein the piston includes at least one fluid passage extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis to connect the first portion and the second portion of the primary fluid chamber in fluid communication;
• wherein the rod includes an annular wall extending along the longitudinal axis to define a first expansion chamber extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end of the rod and the piston, and to define a second expansion chamber extending along the longitudinal axis between the second end of the rod and the piston;
• wherein the rod defines a first expansion port extending radially through the annular wall of the rod to connect the first expansion chamber and the first portion of the primary fluid chamber in fluid communication, and defines a second expansion port extending radially through the annular wall of the rod to connect the second expansion chamber and the second portion of the primary fluid chamber in fluid communication;
• a first pressurized gas device disposed within the first expansion chamber and compressible in response to an increase in pressure within the first expansion chamber;
• and
• a second pressurized gas device disposed within the second expansion chamber and compressible in response to an increase in pressure within the second expansion chamber.