Suspension camber optimization

A method of controlling camber angle within a suspension for a vehicle, the suspension including:

• a knuckle adapted to support a wheel hub;
• a lower control arm interconnecting a lower portion of the knuckle, at a lower connection point, to a structural member of the vehicle, wherein the lower control arm is pivotally connected to the structural member of the vehicle and pivotally connected to the lower portion of the knuckle;
• an upper control arm interconnecting an upper portion of the knuckle to the structural member of the vehicle and including an inner segment and an outer segment, wherein:
• the inner segment of the upper control arm is pivotally connected to the structural member of the vehicle;
• the outer segment of the upper control arm is connected to the upper portion of the knuckle at an upper connection point;
• and
• the inner segment and the outer segment are pivotally connected to one another;
• and
• a camber gain link interconnecting the upper control arm and the lower control arm, the camber gain link connected to the upper control arm at the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment;
• a pivotal position of the inner segment relative to the outer segment defining a lateral distance between the pivotal connection of the inner segment to the structural member of the vehicle and the upper connection point and an effective length of the upper control arm;
• and
• the knuckle pivotally moveable about the lower connection point, such that the effective length of the upper control arm defines a camber angle of the knuckle;
• the method including:
• securing, with the camber gain link, the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment and preventing pivotal movement of the inner segment and the outer segment relative to one another, thereby establishing a pivotal position of the inner segment relative to the outer segment, the effective length of the upper control arm and the camber angle of the knuckle;
• and
• wherein the camber gain link includes a first distal end that is connected to the upper control arm at the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment, and a second distal end that is connected to the lower control arm;
• the method further including:
• changing a position of the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment relative to the lower control arm, changing the effective length of the upper control arm and the camber angle of the knuckle.

A vehicle having a suspension with selectable passive and automatic control of camber angle, comprising:

• a knuckle adapted to support a wheel hub;
• a lower control arm interconnecting a lower portion of the knuckle, at a lower connection point, to a structural member of the vehicle, wherein the lower control arm is pivotally connected to the structural member of the vehicle and pivotally connected to the lower portion of the knuckle;
• an upper control arm interconnecting an upper portion of the knuckle to the structural member of the vehicle and including an inner segment and an outer segment, wherein:
• the inner segment of the upper control arm is pivotally connected to the structural member of the vehicle;
• the outer segment of the upper control arm is connected to the upper portion of the knuckle at an upper connection point;
• and
• the inner segment and the outer segment are pivotally connected to one another;
• and
• a camber gain link interconnecting the upper control arm and the lower control arm, the camber gain link having a first section with a first distal end that is connected to the upper control arm at the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment, a second section with a second distal end that is connected to the lower control arm, and a connection between the first section and the second section that includes an actuator in communication with a system controller that is adapted to automatically change the length of the camber gain link based on data collected by the system controller from a plurality of onboard sensors within the vehicle;
• wherein, a pivotal position of the inner segment relative to the outer segment defines a lateral distance between the pivotal connection of the inner segment to the structural member of the vehicle and the upper connection point and an effective length of the upper control arm;
• the knuckle is pivotally moveable about the lower connection point, such that the effective length of the upper control arm defines a camber angle of the knuckle;
• and
• the camber gain link secures the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment and prevents pivotal movement of the inner segment and the outer segment relative to one another, thereby establishing a pivotal position of the inner segment relative to the outer segment, the effective length of the upper control arm and the camber angle of the knuckle, and wherein, changing the length of the camber gain link changes the position of the pivotal connection of the inner segment and the outer segment relative to the lower control arm, changes the effective length of the upper control arm and the camber angle of the knuckle.