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US 4,033,605 AGranted
Integral torsion bar -- strut front suspension system
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsRobert H. Smith, Howard L. Benford
Life of this patent
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AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsRobert H. Smith, Howard L. Benford
Estimating the term…
Front wheel suspension apparatus for a motor vehicle having a frame member which includes side rails on opposite sides thereof extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle, the apparatus having a cross member extending across the space between said side rails, rubber insulated connectors connecting said cross member to said rails, an upper control arm and a lower control arm pivotally connected to said cross member at each side thereof, wheel support structure connected to each set of upper and lower control arms. Two torsion bar and strut members connect the lower control arms to the cross member. Each torsion bar and strut member includes a forearm portion extending from the adjacent lower control arm forwardly and an elongated and inwardly transversely extending torsion bar portion.
Front wheel suspension apparatus for a motor vehicle having a frame member which includes side rails on opposite sides thereof extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising a cross member extending across the space between said side rails, means resiliently and insulatingly connecting said cross member to said rails, a lower control arm pivotally connected to said cross member at each side thereof, wheel support means connected to each of said lower control arms, and two torsion bar and strut members, each torsion bar and strut member comprising a forearm portion extending from the adjacent lower control arm forwardly and inwardly, an elongated transversely extending torsion bar portion, and an elbow integrally connecting said forearm to one end of said torsion bar portion, means resiliently and insulatingly connecting the rearward end of said forearm to said lower control arm, a resilient and insulating connecting joining said torsion bar portion to said cross member inwardly of said elbow, and adjustable means connecting the end of said torsion bar portion to said cross member at the side thereof opposite the lower control arm to which the torsion bar and strut member is connected, said adjustable means being adapted to rotate the end of the torsion bar and strut member to which it is attached for adjusting the height of the cross member relative to the surface on which the vehicle is located.
Suspension apparatus for the front wheels of an automotive vehicle comprising a frame, said frame comprising side rails and a cross member extending between said side rails at the front end thereof, an upper control arm and a lower control arm pivotally connected to said cross member on both sides of said vehicle, wheel support means pivotally connected between an upper control arm and a lower control arm on each side of said vehicle, wheels mounted on said wheel support means, first and second suspension members connecting said lower control arms to said cross member, each suspension member comprising a one-piece member having a strut portion and a torsion bar portion, each of said strut portions extending forwardly from the respective lower control arm, an elbow connected to the forward end of each strut portion, each of said torsion bar portions extending transversely of said vehicle from said elbow towards an opposite side of said vehicle, first connector means resiliently and insulatingly connecting the rearward end of each strut portion to said lower control arm, second connector means resiliently and insulatingly connecting each of the torsion bar portions adjacent the elbow of the respective suspension member to said cross member, means for rotatably supporting the free end of said suspension members adjacent said cross member, and means for rotating said free ends of said suspension members for adjusting the height of said cross member relative to the surface on which the vehicle is located, each of said first connector means comprising a first sleeve surrounding the end of the respective strut portion, a resilient sleeve surrounding said first sleeve, and an outer sleeve surrounding said resilient sleeve and compressing the latter against said first sleeve.
Suspension apparatus for the front wheels of an automotive vehicle having a frame, said apparatus comprising control arm means for supporting the wheels at opposite sides of said frame, and spring members connected at one end to said control arm means and at the other end to said frame, said spring members extending across said vehicle and adapted to be torsionally deflected upon movement of said wheels in a generally vertical direction, each of said spring members comprising a generally L-shaped arm having one of the portions thereof extending from an elbow rearwardly toward said control arm means, and the other portion thereof extending from said elbow across said vehicle, each of said portions becoming progressively smaller from said elbow to the end thereof, and adjustable means connecting the end of said other portion of each of said spring members to said frame at the side thereof opposite the control arm means to which said one portion of the respective spring member is connected, said adjustable means being adapted to rotate the ends of the spring members to which they are attached for adjusting the height of the frame relative to the surface on which the vehicle is located.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.