Strut and Air Spring IFS Assembly Maximizing Available Steering Knuckle Wheel Cut

摘要

An IFS assembly having a single lower control arm having an inboard end pivotally secured to a chassis support structure, an air spring supported by an air spring seat relative to the lower control arm, a strut having an upper end pivotally secured to the chassis support structure and a lower end coupled to the lower control arm outboard end, and a steering knuckle fixed to the strut lower end, the steering knuckle disposed below the lower air spring seat and whose rotative movement about the strut axis is unconfined by proximity between the steering knuckle and the lower air spring seat, whereby available wheel cut is maximized. Also an IFS module including right and left side IFS assemblies and adapted for installation into a vehicle.

主权项

1. An IFS assembly comprising:
a single lower control arm having laterally-spaced inboard and outboard ends, the inboard end adapted to be pivotally secured to a chassis support structure; a lower air spring seat supported by the lower control arm, the lower air spring seat adapted to upwardly support the chassis support structure relative to the lower control arm through an air spring engaging the chassis support structure; a strut having upper and lower ends disposed along a strut axis, the strut upper and lower ends having relative movement along and about the strut axis, the strut upper end adapted to be pivotally secured to the chassis support structure, the strut lower end coupled to the lower control arm outboard end; and a steering knuckle rotatably and axially secured to the strut lower end, the steering knuckle disposed below the lower air spring seat and having rotative movement about the strut axis that is unconfined by proximity between the steering knuckle and the lower air spring seat and/or the air spring through which the lower air spring seat is adapted to support the chassis support structure, whereby available wheel cut is maximized.