US 5,310,200 A · Vehicle suspension system

Abstract

The body (12) of a vehicle (10) is mounted on forward and rearward wheels (16, 18) by an elongated tie structure (20) extending along the lower elevations of the vehicle. The tie structure (20) is connected to the body (12) to pivot about longitudinal and transverse axes (21L, 21T) that intersect at a pivot point (22) located at an elevation above the center of gravity of the vehicle. The tie structure (20) is connected to the wheels (16, 18) by pivot arm assemblies (26). Resilient first load control devices (136), forming part of the pivot arm assemblies (26), are interconnected between the tie structure and the vehicle wheels, and second load control devices (28) are connected between the body and the wheels, with the capacities of the first and second load-carrying devices selected to cause the pitch and roll stiffness of the tie structure to be greater than the pitch and roll stiffness of the body.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A suspension system for a vehicle having a body and a drive train through which torque is transmitted for propelling the vehicle, comprising:

(a) vehicle support means on opposite sides of the front and rear of the body;
(b) a tie structure interposed between the vehicle support means and the body;
(c) first means for interconnecting the tie structure to the vehicle support means, the first interconnecting means permitting the vehicle support means and the adjacent portion of the tie structure to elevate relative to each other in response to lateral and longitudinal forces imposed on the vehicle during cornering, braking and accelerating, the first interconnecting means being substantially devoid of torque transmitted through the vehicle drive train for propelling of the vehicle;
(d) second means for pivotally interconnecting the tie structure and the body to enable the body to pivot relative to the tie structure about a body transverse pitch axis and simultaneously about a body longitudinal roll axis, both axes being located at effective elevations above the reaction center of the body, whereby upon forces being imposed on the body during turning, braking and accelerating, the body tilts downwardly about the body axis relative to the tie structure in the direction opposite to the direction of the resultant forces acting on the body during cornering, braking and acceleration;
and,
(e) load control means interposed between and interconnecting the body and the vehicle support means and also interposed between and interconnecting the tie structure with at least one of the body and the vehicle support means.

3 more elements

A suspension system for a vehicle having a body, comprising:

(a) vehicle support means on opposite sides of the front and rear of the body;
(b) a tie structure interposed between the vehicle support means and the body;
(c) first means for interconnecting the tie structure to the vehicle support means, the first connection means permitting the vehicle support means and the adjacent portion of the tie structure to elevate relative to each other in response to lateral and longitudinal forces imposed on the vehicle during cornering, braking, and accelerating;
(d) second means for pivotally interconnecting the tie structure and the body to enable the body to pivot relative to the tie structure about a body transverse pitch axis and simultaneously about a body longitudinal roll axis, both axes being located at effective elevations above the reaction center of the body, whereby upon forces being imposed on the body during turning, braking and accelerating, the body tilts downwardly about the body axes relative to the tie structure in the direction opposite to the direction of the resultant forces acting on the body during cornering, braking and acceleration;
(e) load control means interposed between and interconnecting the body and the vehicle support means and also interposed between and interconnecting the tie structure with at least one of the body and the vehicle support means;
and,
(f) wherein the second means for pivotally interconnecting the tie structure and the body about longitudinal and transverse axes include nominally diagonally disposed links having lower end portions pivotally connected to the tie structure and upper end portions extending toward a common point located between the opposite sides and between the front and rear of the body.

4 more elements

A suspension system on a vehicle having a body and a drive train through which torque is transmitted for propelling the vehicle, comprising:

(a) vehicle support means at the front and rear of the body;
(b) a tie structure interposed between the vehicle support means and the body;
(c) first means for interconnecting the tie structure to the vehicle support means to allow the portion of the tie structure adjacent the vehicle support means to move relative to the vehicle support means in the up and down directions in response to the forces imposed on the vehicle during accelerating and braking, the first interconnecting means being substantially devoid of torque transmitted through the vehicle drive train for propelling the vehicle;
(d) second means for pivotally interconnecting the tie structure and the body to enable the body to pivot relative to the tie structure about a transverses pitch axis at an effective elevation above the center of gravity of the vehicle, whereby upon forces being imposed on the vehicle by the braking and accelerating of the vehicle, the body tilts downwardly about the transverse axis relative to the tie structure in the direction opposite to the direction of the longitudinal force acting on the body during braking and acceleration;
and,
(e) load control means interposed between said interconnecting the body and the vehicle support means and also interposed between and interconnecting the tie structure with at least one of the body and the vehicle support means.