Vehicle suspension system

摘要

A structurally efficient vehicle suspension system capable of being isolated from the main vehicle structure by being housed within a vehicle's wheel thereby reducing risks of injury during a crash and permitting advantageous redesign of suspension geometry. In the primary embodiment of this invention, the essentially longitudinal links providing wheel travel are outboard of the steering. The upper and/or lower suspension links may be arranged so as to form either a solid triangular-like structure or a “wishbone” form having two separate arms. In addition, the spring/damper unit of the suspension can be configured in a number of different embodiments variously using telescopic dampers, coil springs, rotary dampers, rubber springs, air springs, torsion bars, bell cranks linked to pushrods or pullrods and leaf springs. The spring/damper unit may also be housed in an appropriately enlarged kingpin axis carrier.

主权项

1. A suspension assembly for a vehicle wheel, comprising:
a substantially rigid mounting structure attached to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an axis of travel and a steering direction and wherein the steering direction is alterable with respect to the axis of travel; a steering carrier assembly pivotally attached to the mounting structure, wherein pivotal movement of the steering carrier assembly alters the steering direction and wherein vertical movement of the vehicle wheel occurs outboard of the steering carrier assembly; a steering link track rod attached to the steering carrier assembly to control the steering direction; at least one upper suspension link with an upper link length generally parallel to the axis of travel of the vehicle, the at least one upper suspension link having a pivot axis generally perpendicular to the axis of travel of the vehicle, being pivotally attached on a sprung end to the steering carrier assembly, and enabling the vertical movement of the vehicle wheel; at least one lower suspension link with a lower link length generally parallel to the axis of travel of the vehicle, the at least one lower suspension link being spaced below and away from the at least one upper suspension link, having a pivot axis generally perpendicular to the axis of travel of the vehicle, being pivotally attached on a sprung end to the steering carrier assembly, and enabling the vertical movement of the vehicle wheel; a wheel carrier assembly pivotally attached to the unsprung end of the at least one upper suspension link and to the unsprung end of the at least one lower suspension link; at least one spring connected between the mounting structure, the steering carrier, or a rigid structure for the at least one spring and the wheel carrier assembly, the at least one upper suspension link, or the at least one lower suspension link; and at least one damper connected between the mounting structure, the steering carrier, or a rigid structure for the at least one damper and the wheel carrier assembly, the at least one upper suspension link, or the at least one lower suspension link; wherein steering geometry is substantially independent of suspension geometry.