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US 6,357,766 B1Granted
Multi-axis suspension system
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorsKevin Jerome Hall, Tony Earl Dalton, Gregory T. Dewald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-axis suspension system for a vehicle includes a wishbone assembly rotatably connected to the frame about a longitudinal axis. An axle housing is connected to the wishbone assembly via a pair of four bar linkages. A pair of extendable hydraulic cylinders forms a supplemental connection between the rigid axle housing and the wishbone assembly. A hydraulic control circuit controls the length of the hydraulic cylinders to selectively control the relative distance between the axle housing and the wishbone assembly.
Claims16
A vehicle suspension comprising:
- a frame;
- a wishbone assembly rotatably mounted to said frame about a longitudinal axis;
- an axle housing adjustably mounted to said wishbone by a linkage assembly and adapted to be selectively positioned relative to said wishbone assembly, wherein said vehicle suspension assembly further comprises at least one extendable hydraulic cylinder connected to said axle housing and said wishbone assembly, said at least one hydraulic cylinder being selectively extendable to control a relative distance between said axle housing and said wishbone assembly and maintain a fixed position of said axle housing relative to said wishbone assembly until said fixed position is desired to be changed.
A vehicle suspension assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a wishbone assembly rotatably mounted to said frame about a longitudinal axis;
- an axle housing adjustably mounted to said wishbone by a linkage assembly and adapted to be selectively positioned relative to said wishbone assembly;
- said linkage assembly including;
- an upper wishbone linkage rotatably mounted to an upper portion of said wishbone assembly, said upper wishbone linkage having a pair of upper arms;
- a lower wishbone linkage rotatably mounted to a lower portion of said wishbone assembly, said lower wishbone linkage having a pair of lower arms,
- a pair of first links fixed to said axle housing and rotatably mounted one each to said upper arms;
- and
- a pair of second links fixed to said axle housing and rotatably mounted one each to said lower arms, said upper wishbone linkage, said lower wishbone linkage and said first and second pair of links together defining a pair of four bar linkages.
6 more elements
A vehicle suspension assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a wishbone assembly rotatably connected to a central portion of said frame, said wishbone assembly being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said frame;
- an axle housing secured to said wishbone assembly and being substantially vertically positionable relative to said wishbone assembly independent from a relative position between said wishbone assembly and said frame;
- and
- at least one substantially vertical selectively extendable member connecting said axle housing and said wishbone assembly to selectively position a vertical position of said axle housing relative to said wishbone assembly, wherein rotation of said wishbone assembly relative to said frame and vertical displacement of said axle housing relative to said wishbone assembly produces a compound movement of said axle housing relative to said frame.
2 more elements
A vehicle suspension assembly comprising:
- a frame;
- a wishbone assembly pivotally mounted to said frame about a longitudinal axis of said frame, said wishbone assembly having a main portion and a lower wishbone linkage rotatably mounted to a lower portion of said main portion about a transverse axis orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, said lower linkage having a pair of lower arms each extending outwardly parallel to said transverse axis and in a common direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and terminating at opposite lower connection points, said wishbone assembly further having a pair of upper arms each rotatably secured to an upper portion of said main portion of said wishbone assembly about an axis parallel to said transverse axis, said upper arms each extending outward in opposite directions parallel to said transverse axis and in a common direction parallel to said longitudinal axis and terminating at opposite upper connection points, said upper arms defining an upper wishbone linkage;
- an axle housing having;
- a pair of upper links each rigidly secured to said rigid axle housing and pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said opposite upper connection points of said upper arms of said upper wishbone linkage;
- a pair of lower links each rigidly secured to a lower portion of said rigid axle housing and pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said opposite lower connection points of said lower arms of said lower wishbone linkage;
- and
- a pair of extendable hydraulic cylinders each secured to said axle housing and said main portion of said wishbone assembly, said hydraulic cylinders each being controllably extended to selectively vertically position said axle housing relative to said wishbone assembly.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.