Suspension with interconnected torsion bars
AssigneeKinetic Limited
InventorChristopher Brian Heyring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system includes two laterally spaced forward wheel assemblies and two laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies together supporting a vehicle body. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel and a wheel mounting connecting the wheel to the vehicle body for movement relative to the body in the generally vertical direction. Respective first mechanical coupling members interconnect each wheel assembly to the laterally adjacent wheel, and respective second mechanical coupling members interconnect each wheel assembly. The respective second mechanical coupling members are interconnected to control the roll of the vehicle.
Claims32
A vehicle suspension system comprising one pair of laterally spaced forward wheel assemblies and one pair of laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies together supporting a vehicle body, each wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel mounting connecting the wheel to the vehicle body for movement in a generally vertical direction with respect to the body;
- respective first mechanical coupling means interconnecting the forward pair of wheel assemblies and interconnecting the rear pair of wheel assemblies, second mechanical coupling means respectively interconnecting longitudinally adjacent pairs of said wheel assemblies on each side of the vehicle;
- said first and second mechanical coupling means being adapted to effect in response to movement of a said wheel assembly in the generally vertical direction a movement of the other wheel assemblies connected to said wheel assembly by one of the first and one of the second mechanical coupling means in a substantially opposite direction relative thereto, each said second mechanical coupling means also being arranged to generate a movement substantially proportional to the average movement of the two wheels connected thereto on one side of the vehicle;
- and
- transfer means provided to transfer said generated movement of one second mechanical coupling means to the other second mechanical coupling means on the opposite side of the vehicle, said transfer means also being adapted to transfer forces between the second mechanical coupling means on one side of the vehicle and the second mechanical coupling means on the opposite side of the vehicle such that roll movements acting on the vehicle body are reacted by the second mechanical coupling means on each side of the vehicle,
- whereby said vehicle suspension system provides support and roll attitude control of the vehicle body to thereby provide independent control of roll and four wheel bounce stiffnesses and maintain substantially consistent loading on all wheels during axle articulation and thereby maintain traction on all wheels.
A vehicle suspension system comprising at least one pair of laterally spaced forward wheel assemblies and at least one pair of laterally spaced rear wheel assemblies together supporting a vehicle body, each wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel mounting connecting the wheel to the vehicle body for movement in a generally vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body;
- respective vehicle support means mechanically interconnecting the forward pair of wheel assemblies and mechanically interconnecting the rear pair of wheel assemblies, vehicle roll attitude control means respectively mechanically interconnecting longitudinally adjacent pairs of said wheel assemblies on each side of the vehicle;
- each said vehicle support means and roll attitude control means being adapted to effect in response to movement of one wheel assembly in the generally vertical direction a movement of the other wheel assemblies connected to said wheel assembly by one of the vehicle support means and one of the roll attitude control means in a substantially opposite direction relative thereto, each roll attitude control means being arranged to respectively generate a movement substantially proportional to the average movement of the two wheels connected thereto on one side of the vehicle;
- and
- transfer means to transfer said generated movement to the roll attitude control means on the opposite side of the vehicle, so that the roll attitude control means defines the vehicle body roll attitude, said transfer means also being arranged to transfer forces created by a roll moment on the vehicle body to thereby react said roll moment, and whereby said vehicle support means supports the vehicle weight and provides four wheel bounce resilience, and whereby together substantially consistent loading on all wheels is maintained during non-dynamic axle articulation wheel movements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.