US 6,357,769 B1 · Independent rear suspension system

Abstract

A vehicle suspension system for mounting to a vehicle chassis includes a subframe which includes two tubular members. Each tubular member has a rear chassis mount and front chassis mount. The tubular member mounts are constructed and arranged to mount to a leaf spring mounting perch on the vehicle chassis. The tubular members are connected by a plurality of cross braces which in turn are connected to a plurality of intermediate tubes. A differential mount connects to a cross brace which is connected to a tubular member. An upper control arm mount and a lower control arm mount connect to intermediate tubes which are connected to a cross brace which in turn is connected to another cross brace. This all connects to at least one tubular member. A self-contained suspension assembly mounts to the subframe at various places. For example, a differential mounts to the subframe at the differential mount and a pair of half-axle shafts connect to the differential. A cv joint connects to each half-axle shaft and a cv boot covers each cv joint. A spindle assembly connects to each cv joint. The subframe may further comprise an anti-roll bar connected to the subframe. The vehicle suspension system also may have an adjustable cushioning system connected to the half-axle shafts for restricting movement of the half-axle shafts. The cushioning system may include coil-over-spring shocks and/or air springs. A disc brake system may also be included.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A vehicle suspension system for mounting to a vehicle chassis having a pair of chassis rails, the system comprising:

a substantially rigid suspension subframe that includes a pair of spaced apart and longitudinally extending tubular subframe rails and
a differential carried by the subframe;
a pair of half-axle shafts connected to the differential;
at least one first fastener that attaches one of the subframe rails to one of the chassis rails and at least one second fastener that attaches the other one of the subframe rails to the other one of the chassis rails;
wherein the subframe further comprises a plurality of tubular cross braces connected between the tubular subframe rails;
and a plurality of longitudinally extending and tubular intermediate tubes connected between the cross braces;
and
a spindle assembly connected to each half-axle shaft;
at least one upper control arm mounted at one end to one intermediate tube of the subframe at an upper control arm mount on the one intermediate tube and at the other end to the spindle assembly;
and
at least one lower control arm mounted at one end to another intermediate tube of the subframe at a lower control arm mount on the another intermediate tube and at the other end to the spindle assembly.

8 more elements

An independent vehicle suspension for a vehicle with a chassis comprising:

(a) a tubular suspension subframe that is mountable to the vehicle chassis, the tubular suspension subframe including a plurality of spaced apart and longitudinally extending tubular frame rails, a plurality of spaced apart and tubular cross braces that each extend from one of the plurality of tubular frame rails to another one of the plurality of tubular frame rails, and a plurality of spaced apart and generally longitudinally extending tubular intermediate tubes disposed inboard of the frame rails that each extend from one of the tubular cross braces to another one of the tubular cross braces;
(b) a plurality of spaced apart control arms pivotally mounted to the suspension subframe with one of the control arms pivotally mounted to one of the intermediate tubes and another one of the control arms pivotally mounted to another one of the intermediate tubes wherein each control arm extends in a generally transverse direction outwardly from the suspension subframe with one of the control arms extending generally transversely in one direction and another one of the control arms extending generally transversely in an another direction;
(c) a generally transversely extending axle carried by the suspension subframe;
and
(d) a first spindle assembly operably attached to the one of the control arms and the axle and a second spindle assembly operably attached to the another one of the control arms and the axle.

2 more elements

An independent vehicle suspension for a vehicle with a chassis comprising:

(a) a tubular suspension subframe mountable to the vehicle chassis;
(b) a plurality of spaced apart control arms pivotally mounted to the suspension subframe wherein each control arm extends in a generally transverse direction outwardly from the suspension subframe with one of the control arms extending generally transversely outwardly from the suspension subframe in one direction and another one of the control arms extending generally transversely outwardly from the suspension subframe in an another direction;
(c) a generally transversely extending axle carried by the suspension subframe;
and
(d) a first spindle assembly operably attached to the one of the control arms and the axle and a second spindle assembly operably attached to the another one of the control arms and the axle,
wherein the tubular subframe is comprised of (1) a plurality of spaced apart and generally transversely extending tubular cross braces and (2) a plurality of spaced apart and generally longitudinally extending tubular intermediate tubes;
and
further comprising a pair of spaced apart and longitudinally extending tubular subframe rails that each attach to the vehicle chassis wherein each one of the tubular cross braces extends form one of the tubular subframe rails to the other one of the tubular subframe rails.

5 more elements

An independent rear suspension for a vehicle having a chassis comprising:

(a) a tubular suspension subframe that includes a tubular cage, the tubular suspension subframe attachable to the vehicle chassis, wherein the tubular cage comprises a pair of tubular cross braces that extend transversely relative to the vehicle and a pair of tubular intermediate tubes that extend longitudinally relative to the vehicle;
(b) a differential that is mounted to the cage;
(c) a pair of control arms pivotally mounted to the tubular suspension subframe with one of the control arms extending outwardly in one direction and the other one of the control arms extending outwardly generally in an opposite direction;
(d) a first half axle shaft extending outwardly from the differential in one direction;
(e) a second half axle shaft extending outwardly from the differential generally in an opposite direction;
(f) a first cushioning assembly operably attached to one of the control arms;
(g) a second cushioning assembly operably attached to the other one of the control arms;
and
(h) a fore differential mounting plate attached to one of the tubular cross braces and an aft differential mounting plate attached to another one of the tubular cross braces.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Independent rear suspension system

Life of this patent

Independent rear suspension system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50