Device for adjusting the height of a vehicle

摘要

The present invention is a system for adjusting the height of vehicles that have coil spring suspensions. The invention may be added to existing vehicle suspensions without the need to remove and replace the existing vehicle suspension components. The invention includes cylinders, pistons, seals, dust shields, pressure pump(s) and storage tank(s). It also may optionally include electronic hardware, such as, an electronic controller and software, to control the functions of the system and sensor(s) which detect ground clearance and speed. The invention may be operated manually by a vehicle driver through push buttons, which may operate through the vehicle's existing cruise control buttons. Alternatively, the system can be automated through an electronic control unit (ECU) to avoid collision with obstacles in the vehicle's path.

主权项

1. A device for lifting and lowering a vehicle with a suspension system having a coil spring and shock absorber with a shock absorber shaft and a shock absorber body, wherein said coil spring has a coil spring diameter and is coaxially coiled around said shock absorber shaft, comprising:
a hollow cylinder having a cylinder inner diameter larger than said coil spring diameter, having a cylinder top with a central cylinder shaft aperture, cylinder side walls connected to and extending downwardly from said cylinder top to a cylinder bottom, wherein said cylinder side walls define a cylinder bore having said cylinder inner diameter, and an inlet port extending inwardly through said cylinder side walls or said cylinder top, wherein said cylinder is sealingly coaxially mounted onto said shock absorber shaft through said cylinder-shaft aperture; a piston having a substantially circular piston top with a central piston-shaft aperture and a circumferential piston-bore groove, said piston top having a reduced diameter to allow said piston top to tilt at least 5 degrees within said cylinder bore when said piston top is being inserted into said cylinder bore, whereby said piston top can be inserted into said cylinder bore in an orientation tilted by at least 5 degrees to facilitate insertion of said piston top into said cylinder bore, said piston top sealingly coaxially mounted onto said shock absorber shaft through said piston-shaft aperture to be slidable within said cylinder bore and to receive said coil spring; a piston-bore seal retained in said piston-bore groove to form a seal between said piston and said cylinder bore; whereby said piston top, said cylinder top, said cylinder side walls and said piston-bore seal form a sealed expandable pressure space that is in fluid communication with said inlet port; whereby said device is activated when a pressurized fluid enters through said inlet port into said expandable pressure space and causes said piston and said cylinder to slide apart, thereby raising said vehicle, and deactivated when said pressurized fluid exits through said inlet port from said expandable pressure space and causes said piston and said cylinder to slide together, thereby lowering said vehicle.