# US 5,348,337 A · Automobile suspension > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,348,337 A - Document ID: US5348337A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/996,788 - Filed: 1992-12-23 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1991-12-27 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Fumitaka Ando - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348337A ## CPC - F16F 1/3935: {Conical sleeves} - B60G 3/265: {with a strut cylinder contributing to the suspension geometry by being linked to the wheel support via an articulation} - B60G 15/062: {the spring being arranged around the damper (B60G15/061, B60G15/067, B60G15/07 take precedence)} - B60G 2200/156: wishbone-type arm formed by two links defining a virtual apex - B60G 2200/44: steerable - B60G 2204/148: on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle - B60G 2204/416: Ball or spherical joints - B60G 2204/418: Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings - F16F 2226/00: Manufacturing; Treatments - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A lower end of a knuckle member for rotatably supporting a wheel Is connected swingably around an axis in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle to a vehicle body via a lower arm. A connecting member is fitted swingably around only an axis in a vertical direction to an upper end of the knuckle member, and the connecting member is fitted swingably around only an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the lower end of a damper device. An upper arm whose one end is pivotally fitted to the vehicle body with one point is fitted at the other end to the damper device or the connecting member so as to be swingable around only an axis in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the lower arm i s composed of front and rear link members and arranged in such a fashion that an axis of each link member crosses each other outboard than respective pivot points thereof with the knuckle member. Accordingly, a fictitious kingpin shaft almost conforms to an ideal one, thus achieving improvement in tile performance, reduction of size and weight, and free layout of each part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automobile suspension, comprising: a wheel support member for rotatably supporting a wheel; a lower arm pivotally fitted at one end thereof to a lower end of the wheel support member and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof to a vehicle body so as to be swingable around an axis extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a damper device, elastically fitted at an upper end thereof to the vehicle body, for damping a vertical vibration of the wheel; a connecting member pivotally fitted to the lower end of the damper device so as to be swingable around an axis extending in substantially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and pivotally fitted to the upper end of the wheel support member as to be swingable around an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction; and an upper arm pivotally fitted at one end thereof to the vehicle body and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof by a connection part to at least one of the damper device and the connecting member as to be swingable around an axis extending in substantially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; wherein said connection part extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is of a longitudinal length for inhibiting non-longitudinal pivotal movement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein the lower arm is composed of two link members, a front link member and a rear link member, each link member being pivotally fitted at one end thereof to the lower end of the wheel support member and pivotally fitted at another end thereof to the vehicle body, wherein an axis of the link members cross each other outboard of pivot points of the respective link members with the wheel support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm has, at an end part on a pivot side thereof with at least one of the damper device and connecting member, a pair of branch parts between which said at least one of the damper device and the connecting member are put, and the upper arm is pivotally fitted at an extreme end part of each branch part thereof to at least one of the damper device and connecting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member, the upper arm and the damper device are connected to one another relatively rotatably around a single connecting shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the wheel support member and the connecting member is inclined with respect to a vertical direction in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the wheel support member and the connecting member is inclined with respect to a vertical direction in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the connecting member and the damper device is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the connecting member and the damper device is inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein a rotary bearing for relatively rotatably connecting the wheel support member and the connecting member is provided at a pivot part of the wheel support member and the connecting member, the rotary bearing includes an inner cylinder connected to the wheel support member and an outer cylinder integrally formed with the connecting member and arranged cocentrically around an outer periphery of the inner cylinder, a wide, annular outer cylinder side protruding part protruding toward the outer periphery of the inner cylinder is provided at an intermediate part in an axial direction of an inner periphery of the outer cylinder, a pair of annular inner cylinder side protruding parts protruding toward the inner periphery of the outer cylinder and opposed to each other with the outer cylinder side protruding part interposed therebetween is provided at both side parts in the axial direction of the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, fanwise, inclined conical faces are respectively formed at both side parts of the outer cylinder side protruding part and at inner side parts of the pair of the opposed inner cylinder side protruding parts, and a tubular resin member for reducing friction force is interposed at a space between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder which include the conical faces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein a rotary bearing for relatively rotatably connecting the damper device and the connecting member is provided at a pivot part of the damper device and the connecting member, the rotary bearing includes an inner cylinder connected to the damper device and an outer cylinder formed integrally with the connecting member and arranged cocentrically around an outer periphery of the inner cylinder, a wide, annular outer cylinder side protruding part protruding toward the outer periphery of the inner cylinder is provided at an intermediate part in an axial direction of an inner periphery of the outer cylinder, a pair of annular inner cylinder side protruding parts protruding toward the inner periphery of the outer cylinder and opposed to each other with the outer cylinder side protruding part interposed therebetween is provided at both side parts in the axial direction of the outer periphery of the inner cylinder, fanwise, inclined conical faces are-respectively formed at both side parts of the outer cylinder side protruding part and at inner side parts of the pair of opposed inner cylinder side protruding parts, and a tubular resin member for reducing frictional force is interposed at a space between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder which include the conical faces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The automobile suspension according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm is composed of a single link member extending in a car width direction, and an outboard end thereof is connected to at least one of the damper device and connecting member via a connecting shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 An automobile suspension, comprising: a wheel support member for rotatably supporting a wheel; a lower arm pivotally fitted at one end thereof to a lower end of the wheel support member and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof to a vehicle body so as to be swingable around an axis extending in a substantially longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a damper device, elastically fitted at an upper end thereof to the vehicle body, for damping a vertical vibration of the wheel: an upper arm pivotally fitted at one end thereof to the vehicle body and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof by a connecting part to a lower end of the damper device so as to be swingable around an axis extending in substantially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a connecting member pivotally fitted at one end thereof to an upper end of the wheel support member so as to be swingable around an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction, and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof to the damper device so as to be swingable around an axis extending in substantially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a position above a pivot point of the upper arm and the damper device; wherein said connecting part extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is of a longitudinal length for inhibiting non-longitudinal pivotal movement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein the lower arm is composed of two link members of a front link member and a rear link member, each link member is pivotally fitted at one end thereof to the lower end of the wheel support member and pivotally fitted at an other end thereof to the vehicle body, and axis of each link member crosses each other outboard than pivot points of the respective link members with the wheel support member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein the upper arm has, at an end part on a pivot side thereof with the damper device, a pair of branch parts between which the damper device is put, and the upper arm is pivotally fitted at an extreme end part of each branch part thereof to the damper device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the wheel support member and the connecting member is inclined with respect to a vertical direction In a plan view seen from a side of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the wheel support member and the connecting member is inclined with respect to a vertical direction in a plan view seen in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the connecting member and the damper device and an axis of a pivot part of the upper arm and the damper device are In parallel with each other and are inclined with respect to a horizontal direction in a plan view seen from a side of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The automobile suspension according to claim 12, wherein an axis of a pivot part of the connecting member and the damper device and an axis of a pivot part of the upper arm and the damper device are in parallel with each other and are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction the vehicle in a plan view seen from an upper side of vehicle.