Vehicle suspension system

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

• an upper strut mount configured for attaching to the vehicle;
• a damper attached to the upper strut mount and having a central longitudinal axis, wherein the damper includes:
• a tube defining therein a first chamber and a second chamber spaced apart from the first chamber;
• a piston rod translatable along the central longitudinal axis within the first chamber;
• and
• a working piston connected to the piston rod and abutting the tube;
• a jack assembly attached to the damper including:
• a housing affixed to the tube and defining a cavity therein, wherein the housing is stationary with respect to the damper along the central longitudinal axis;
• a seat at least partially disposed within the cavity and abutting the tube, wherein the seat is translatable with respect to the damper along the central longitudinal axis and includes:
• a flange portion;
• a leg portion extending from the flange portion along the central longitudinal axis;
• a first rack disposed in contact with the flange portion and the leg portion and having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of first grooves therein;
• and
• a second rack spaced apart from the first rack about the central longitudinal axis, wherein the second rack is disposed in contact with the flange portion and the leg portion and has a second exterior surface defining a plurality of second grooves therein;
• a lower mount abutting the flange portion;
• a first pinion disposed within the cavity and including a plurality of first teeth each matable with each of the plurality of first grooves, wherein the first pinion is rotatable about a first axis and is not translatable along the central longitudinal axis;
• a second pinion disposed within the cavity and including a plurality of second teeth each matable with each of the plurality of second grooves, wherein the second pinion is rotatable about a second axis and is not translatable along the central longitudinal axis;
• an annular piston disposed within the cavity and abutting the first rack, the second rack, and the leg portion, wherein the annular piston is translatable along the central longitudinal axis and defines a pressure chamber having a volume between the housing and the tube;
• a first seal disposed within the pressure chamber, attached to the annular piston, and abutting the housing and the tube;
• a second seal disposed within the pressure chamber, spaced apart from the first seal along the central longitudinal axis, and abutting the housing and the tube;
• a first clutch attached to the housing and configured for restricting rotation of the first pinion about the first axis;
• and
• a second clutch attached to the housing and configured for restricting rotation of the second pinion about the second axis;
• and
• a resilient member disposed between and attached to the upper strut mount and the lower mount.

A vehicle comprising:

• a body;
• a wheel configured for translating the body across a surface;
• and
• a suspension system interconnecting the body and the wheel and including:
• a damper having a central longitudinal axis;
• and
• a jack assembly attached to the damper including:
• a seat translatable with respect to the damper along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the seat includes:
• a first rack having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of first grooves therein;
• and
• a second rack having a second exterior surface defining a plurality of second grooves therein;
• a first pinion including a plurality of first teeth each matable with each of the plurality of first grooves;
• and
• a second pinion including a plurality of second teeth each matable with each of the plurality of second grooves.