Automotive suspension with spring-shock absorber assembly response control
AssigneeFerrari S.P.A.
InventorPaolo Dellacha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an automotive suspension, a supporting member supporting a wheel hub is connected mechanically to a frame of a car to move in a vertical direction with respect to the frame; movement of the supporting member in the vertical direction is opposed by a spring-shock absorber assembly connected mechanically on one side to the frame of the car, and on the other side to the supporting member by means of a coupling device of variable geometry, which is controlled selectively by an actuator for varying the geometry of the coupling device in such a manner as to vary a suspension ratio between vertical movement of the supporting member and a corresponding variation in length of the spring-shock absorber assembly.
Claims8
An automotive suspension for connecting a wheel hub to a frame of a car;
- the suspension comprising:
- a supporting member for supporting the wheel hub;
- first coupling means for mechanically connecting the supporting member to said frame to permit movement of the supporting member with respect to the frame in a substantially vertical direction;
- a spring-shock absorber assembly fixed to said frame;
- second coupling means comprising a crank mechanism of variable geometry for mechanically connecting the spring-shock absorber assembly to the supporting member to oppose movement of the supporting member with respect to said frame in said direction;
- and
- actuating means to selectively control the geometry of the crank mechanism of the second coupling means to vary a suspension ratio between vertical movement of the supporting member and a corresponding variation in length of the spring-shock absorber assembly;
- wherein the crank mechanism comprises a first crank extending between a first axes of rotation of the crank mechanism with respect to the frame and a second axes of rotation of the crank mechanism with respect to the spring-shock absorber assembly, a second crank extending between the first axes of rotation and a third axes of rotation, and a connecting rod extending between the second axes of rotation and the third axes of rotation;
- wherein the actuating means comprise at least one actuating cylinder defining the first crank;
- and
- wherein the first crank and the spring-shock absorber assembly have respective longitudinal axes forming an angle close to 90°.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.