Shock absorber assembly with adjustable height

1 . A shock absorber assembly with adjustable height for a two-, or three-, or four-wheels leaning motor vehicle, said leaning motor vehicle including at least a suspension, comprising a shock absorber having a nominal length, including a spring, at least two couplings operatively connected to said suspension of the leaning motor vehicle, said spring having a first end and a second end, at least one hydraulic fluid pusher including a cylinder with an internal chamber installed in series with the spring, said pusher acting on either one of the two ends of the spring or said pusher acting on one of the two couplings, a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in direct fluid connection with said pusher without any intermediate valves by means of a pipe in order to actuate said pusher, wherein the pipe in turn communicates in a fluid manner with the cylinder of the pusher, and wherein the pipe is fixed to a hydraulic connection communicating with the internal chamber of the cylinder, an accumulator tank assembly in fluid connection with the internal chamber of the cylinder of said pusher by means of a second pipe fixed to the hydraulic connection of the cylinder, said accumulator tank assembly in turn including at least one tank and at least one solenoid valve which controls the opening or closing of the inlet/outlet opening of the hydraulic fluid of said tank, said solenoid valve being provided with a large-section port and reduced pressure drops for the hydraulic fluid, so as to allow quick discharge of the hydraulic fluid present in the pusher towards said tank and causing an immediate release of the preload of the spring of the shock absorber or an immediate reduction of the loaded length of the shock absorber and therefore an immediate lowering of said leaning motor vehicle.

2 . The shock absorber assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said accumulator tank assembly comprises at least one of a device with a membrane loaded with gas, or a device comprising a set composed of a hydraulic fluid separator and a mechanical spring.

3 . The shock absorber assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises a single-acting hydraulic pump which is motor-driven via an electric motor unit.

4 . The shock absorber assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said motor assembly comprises a rotary type electric motor providing a rotary motion, a reducer and a mechanism to convert the rotary motion provided by the electric motor into linear motion.

5 . The shock absorber assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said mechanism to convert the rotary motion into linear motion comprises a mechanism formed by a screw and a nut screw in operative connection with each other.

6 . A drive method of the shock absorber assembly with adjustable height for two-, or three-, or four-wheels leaning motor vehicle according to claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:

providing a shock absorber assembly with adjustable height for the two-, or three-, or four-wheels leaning motor vehicle, according to claim 1 ;

adjusting the preload of the spring or the length of the shock absorber and thus adjusting the height of the loaded vehicle between a minimum preload position of the spring, or minimum length of the shock absorber, and a maximum preload position of the spring, or maximum length of the shock absorber;

opening the solenoid valve to allow for a fast discharge of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder of the pusher assembly towards the accumulator tank assembly, if a sudden lowering of the vehicle becomes necessary starting from any height position of the vehicle;

maintaining the solenoid valve open; and

recalling the hydraulic fluid from the tank assembly towards the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the pusher, bringing said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid back to the minimum preload position of the spring or minimum length of the shock absorber.

7 . The drive method of the shock absorber assembly with adjustable height for two-, or three-, or four-wheels leaning motor vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein said steps are performed in the order described in claim 6 and comprising a step of closing the solenoid valve.

8 . The method of operating a shock absorber assembly with adjustable height assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises a single-acting hydraulic cylinder with a piston sliding is a fluid tight manner within said cylinder and actuated in a linear manner in both directions.

9 . A kit for upgrading or retrofitting an adjustable-height shock absorber

for a two-, or three-, or four-wheel leaning motor vehicle, said shock absorber having a nominal length, said shock absorber including a spring, at least two couplings operatively connected to said suspension of the leaning motor vehicle, said spring having a first end and a second end, at least one hydraulic fluid pusher including a cylinder with an internal chamber, installed in series with the spring, said pusher acting on either one of the two ends of the spring or said pusher acting on one of the two couplings,

a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in direct fluid connection with said pusher without any intermediate valves by means of a pipe in order to actuate said pusher, wherein the pipe in turn communicates in a fluid manner with the cylinder of the pusher, and wherein the pipe is fixed to a hydraulic connection communicating with the internal chamber of the cylinder, an accumulator tank assembly in fluid connection with the internal chamber of the cylinder of said pusher by means of a second pipe fixed to the hydraulic connection of the cylinder, said accumulator tank assembly in turn including at least one tank and at least one solenoid valve which controls the opening or closing of the inlet/outlet opening of the hydraulic fluid of said tank, said solenoid valve being provided with a large-section port and reduced pressure drops for the hydraulic fluid, so as to allow quick discharge of the hydraulic fluid present in the pusher towards said tank and causing an immediate release of the preload of the spring of the shock absorber or an immediate reduction of the loaded length of the shock absorber and therefore an immediate lowering of said leaning motor vehicle.