Independent wheel suspension using thrust bearing constant velocity universal drive joints as suspension members in combination with a wheel assembly and differential coupled to pivot about a transverse stabilizer

An independent wheel suspension system for a vehicle having a chassis, vehicle support means comprising a first and a second frame member for supporting said chassis for displacement relative to a driving surface, a pair of laterally disposed wheel assemblies each having a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, an engine adapted to provide driving torque about an engine output axis at an engine output, differential means having a differential input axis at a differential input and a differential output on opposite sides of said differential input axis, and a pair of universally coupled drive shaft means respectively coupling one said wheel and one said differential output, said independent wheel suspension system comprising:

• stabilizer means coupled to said first and second frame members so as to be rotatable about a transverse pivot axis, said stabilizer means comprising a stabilizer rod, a pair of resilient bushing means to pivotably couple a pair of outboard end portions of said stabilizer rod respectively to said first and second frame members, and a pair of spaced-apart enlarged diameter portions with a shoulder therebetween, one of said enlarged diameter portions being journalled in one of said first and second frame members, the other of said enlarged diameter portions being spaced from said differential means by an inner bearing sleeve and an outer resilient bushing, said stabilizer means further being coupled to each of said wheel assemblies and said differential means so as to permit movement about said transverse pivot axis between said wheel assemblies and said differential means relative to said vehicle support means;
• and
• a prop shaft with a prop shaft axis, an engine end universally coupled to said engine output, and a differential end connected to said differential input so that said prop shaft axis is coaxial with said differential input axis;
• whereby articulation of said prop shaft axis relative to said engine output axis is accommodated by movement of said differential means about said transverse pivot axis.

An independent wheel suspension system for a vehicle having a chassis, vehicle support means comprising a first and a second frame member for supporting said chassis for displacement relative to a driving surface, a pair of laterally disposed wheel assemblies each having a wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, an engine adapted to provide driving torque about an engine output axis at an engine output, differential means having a differential input axis at a differential input and a differential output on opposite sides of said differential input axis, and a pair of universally coupled drive shaft means respectively coupling one said wheel and one said differential output, said independent wheel suspension system comprising:

• stabilizer means comprising a forward and a rearward transverse tube means and being rotatable about a transverse pivot axis, said forward transverse tube means being pivotally supported by said first and second frame members;
• first and second arm means coupling said respective wheel assemblies and said stabilizer means to permit movement about said transverse pivot axis between said wheel assemblies and said differential means relative to said vehicle support means, each of said first and second arm means comprising first and second arm portions extending in opposite directions from said wheel axis, said first arm portion extending forwardly from said wheel axis and said second arm portion extending rearwardly thereof, said forward transverse tube means being pivotally supported by said first and second frame members intermediate said first and second arm means;
• and
• a prop shaft with a prop shaft axis, an engine end universally coupled to said engine output, and a differential end connected to said differential input so that said prop shaft axis is coaxial with said differential input axis;
• whereby articulation of said prop shaft axis relative to said engine output axis is accommodated by movement of said differential means about said transverse pivot axis.

An independent wheel suspension system for a wheel assembly of a vehicle having a vehicle support vehicle means for supporting said chassis for displacement relative to a driving surface comprising:

• transverse support means rotatably supported by said vehicle support means so as to allow an angular movement relative thereto about a first transverse axis;
• power delivery means having an output axis coupled to said wheel assembly;
• and
• coupling means rotatably coupling said transverse support means and said power delivery means so as to permit movement thereof about a second axis independent of said first transverse axis.