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US 7,152,866 B2Granted
Steerable and liftable independent suspension system
AssigneeWatson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsThomas N. Chalin, Cully B. Dodd, Herbert D. Hudson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liftable independent suspension system which may also be steerable. In a described embodiment, a liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle includes wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle. The spindles are displaceable independent of each other. An actuator is operable to raise at least one of the spindles, so that a tire rotatably connected to the spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the spindle.
Claims35
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle, the first and second spindles being displaceable independent of each other, each of the first and second spindles being rotatably connected to a respective one of first and second support devices, and each of the first and second spindles being pivotably attached to a king pin of the respective one of the first and second devices;
- and
- an actuator operable to raise at least the first spindle, so that a tire rotatably connected to the first spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the first spindle.
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle, the first and second spindles being displaceable independent of each other, each of the first and second spindles being rotatably connected to a respective one of first and second support devices, and each of the first and second spindles being connected via a steering knuckle to the respective one of the first and second devices;
- and
- an actuator operable to raise at least the first spindle, so that a tire rotatably connected to the first spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the first spindle.
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle, the first and second spindles being displaceable independent of each other, each of the first and second spindles being rotatably connected to a respective one of first and second support devices, each of the first and second devices being pivotably connected to a respective one of first and second arms, and each of the first arid second arms being configured for pivotable connection to a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- an actuator operable to raise at least the first spindle, so that a tire rotatably connected to the first spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the first spindle, and wherein the actuator elongates between an attachment to the first arm and an attachment to the first device to thereby raise the first spindle.
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles positioned to extend outwardly at each respective lateral side of the vehicle, the first and second spindles being displaceable independent of each other, each of the first and second spindles being rotatably connected to a respective one of first and second support devices, each of the first and second devices being pivotably connected to a respective one of first and second arms, each of the first and second arms being configured for pivotable connection to a frame of the vehicle, and wherein each of the first and second arms is a lower arm of a parallel link-type suspension;
- and
- an actuator operable to raise at least the first spindle, so that a tire rotatably connected to the first spindle is liftable out of engagement with a road surface when the actuator raises the first spindle.
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles;
- first and second support devices, each of the first and second spindles extending outwardly relative to a respective one of the first and second support devices;
- first and second arms, each of the first and second support devices being pivotably connected to a respective one of the first and second arms, and each of the first and second arms being configured for pivotable connection to a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- an actuator operative to lift at least the first support device relative to the vehicle frame when the suspension system is attached to the frame, the actuator applying a force to the first device and an oppositely directed force to the first arm when the first device is lifted relative to the vehicle frame,
- and wherein the first and second support devices are displaceable relative to the vehicle frame independently of each other when the suspension system is attached to the frame.
3 more elements
A liftable suspension system for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second wheel spindles;
- first and second support devices, each of the first and second spindles extending outwardly relative to a respective one of the first and second support devices;
- first and second arms, each of the first and second support devices being pivotably connected to a respective one of the first and second arms, and each of the first and second arms being configured for pivotable connection to a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- an actuator operative to lift at least the first support device relative to the vehicle frame when the suspension system is attached to the frame,
- wherein the first and second support devices are displaceable relative to the vehicle frame independently of each other when the suspension system is attached to the frame, and
- wherein the actuator is connected to a first side of a portion of the first device, the actuator applying a first force to the first device portion when the first device is lifted relative to the frame, and wherein an air spring is connected to an opposite second side of the first device portion, the air spring applying a second force to the first device portion to bias the first device downwardly relative to the frame.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.