# US 7,607,671 B2 · Light weight suspension system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,671 B2 - Document ID: US7607671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/286,994 - Filed: 2005-11-23 - Published: 2006-08-24 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-23 - Assignees: AxleTech International IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: James McConville; Sunil Lall; Darren Somerset - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607671B2 ## CPC - B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid - B60G 11/16: characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle - B60G 2200/144: with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram - B60G 2202/12: Wound spring - B60G 2204/422: Links for mounting suspension elements - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract The subject invention provides an independent wheel suspension system (20) for a vehicle. The suspension system (20) includes an lateral support (26) and a pair of lower lateral links (30, 32) spaced from the lateral support (26). A tall knuckle (36) extends between the lateral support (26) and the pair of lower lateral links (30, 32). The lateral support (26) and the pair of lateral links (30, 32) are pivotably connected to the knuckle (36). A rod (64) is pivotably connected to the knuckle (36) adjacent the pivotal connection between the lateral support (26) and the knuckle (36) and extends inward and downward toward the vehicle to a second end (68). A crank (70) is pivotable connected to the vehicle for rotation by the rod (64) in response to vertical movement of the knuckle (36) relative to the vehicle. The second end (68) of the rod (64) is connected the crank (70). A dampening device (72) is attached to the vehicle and the crank (70) for controlling movement of the crank (70). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheel suspension system (20) for a vehicle, said system comprising; a housing (22), a lateral support (26) extending laterally to a knuckle end (28) from and pivotably coupled relative to said housing (22) for up and down movement, a first link (30) and a second link (32) each extending laterally to a distal end (34) from and pivotably connected to said housing (22) in spaced relationship to said lateral support (26) for up and down movement, a knuckle (36) pivotably connected to said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) for rotation about a king pin axis (K) for steering the vehicle, said knuckle (36) pivotably connected to said distal ends (34) of said first link (30) and said second link (32) at laterally spaced positions spaced from said king pin axis (K) for rotation about said king pin axis (K) whereby said king pin axis (K) is skewed relative to said connection between said knuckle (36) and said lateral support (26) in response to rotation of said knuckle (36) about said king pin axis (K), a rod (64) having a first end (66) pivotably connected to said knuckle (36) and extending to a second end (68), a crank (70) having a pivotal connection pivotably connected to said housing (22) and attached to said second end (68) of said rod (64) at a position spaced from said pivotal connection of said crank (70) to said housing (22) for pivotal movement by said rod (64) in response to vertical movement of said knuckle (36) relative to said housing (22) and rotational movement of said knuckle (36) about said king pin axis (K), and a dampening device (72) attached to said crank (70) and said housing (22) for controlling pivotal movement of said crank (70), said first end (66) of said rod (64) being pivotably attached to said knuckle (36) adjacent said lateral support (26) for minimizing movement of said rod (64) in response to rotational movement of said knuckle (36) about said king pin axis (K). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a ball joint (50a) pivotably interconnecting said distal end (34) of said first link (30) to said knuckle (36) and another ball joint (50c) pivotably interconnecting said distal end (34) of said second link (32) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A system as set forth in claim 2 further including a ball joint (50b) pivotably interconnecting said first link (30) to said housing (22) and another ball joint (50d) pivotably interconnecting said second link (32) to said housing (22). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first link (30) includes a first link axis (F) extending longitudinally along a center of said first link (30) with and said ball joints (50a, 50b) of said first link (30) disposed axially along said first link axis (F), and wherein said second link (32) includes a second link axis (S) extending longitudinally along a center of said second link (32) with said ball joints (50c, 50d) of said second link (32) disposed axially along said second link axis (S). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a ball joint (50g) pivotably interconnecting said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A system as set forth in claim 5 further including a ball joint (50h) pivotably interconnecting said second end (68) of said rod (64) to said crank (70). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said rod (64) includes a rod axis (A) extending longitudinally along a center of said rod (64) with said ball joints (50g, 50h) of said rod (64) disposed axially along said rod axis (A). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a rotational joint (50i) pivotably interconnecting said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) and said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said knuckle (36) includes a steering arm (48) extending therefrom for connection to a steering mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said crank (70) includes a first arm (74) extending from said pivotable connection of said crank (70) for attachment to said second end (68) of said rod (64) and a second arm (76) extending from said pivotable connection for attachment to said dampening device (72). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a ball joint (50e) pivotably interconnecting said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) to said knuckle (36) and said lateral support (26) further including a first connection point (52) and a second connection point (54) for coupling relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first connection point (52) includes a ball joint (50f) pivotably coupling said lateral support (26) relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second connection point (54) includes a bushing (56) rotatably coupling said lateral support (26) and said housing (22) for up and down movement of said lateral support (26) relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bushing (56) includes a first portion (60) defining a first resistance to lateral deflection and a second portion (62) defining a second resistance to lateral deflection in an opposite direction with the first resistance being greater than the second resistance to define a dual rate bushing (58). ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first connection point (52) and said ball joint (50e) are aligned perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of said housing (22). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lateral support (26) is formed of a material including aluminum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said knuckle (36) is formed of a material including aluminum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A system as set forth in claim 1 further including a wheel end (38) rotatably supported by said knuckle (36) for rotation about a rotational axis (R). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A system as set forth in claim 18 further including a drive shaft (88) extending from said housing through said knuckle (36) and connected to said wheel end (38) for rotating said wheel end (38) about said rotational axis (R). ### Claim 20 A wheel suspension system (20) for a vehicle, said system comprising; a housing (22), a lateral support (26) extending laterally to a knuckle end (28) from and pivotably coupled relative to said housing (22) for up and down movement, a first link (30) and a second link (32) each extending laterally to a distal end (34) from and pivotably connected to said housing (22) in spaced relationship to said lateral support (26) for up and down movement, a knuckle (36) pivotably connected to said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) at one end and pivotably connected to said distal ends (34) of said first link (30) and said second link at an opposing end, a rod (64) having a first end (66) pivotably connected to said knuckle (36) and extending to a second end (68), a crank (70) having a pivotal connection pivotably connected to said housing (22) and attached to said second end (68) of said rod (64) at a position spaced from said pivotal connection of said crank (70) to said housing (22) for pivotal movement by said rod (64) in response to vertical movement of said knuckle (36) relative to said housing (22), a dampening device (72) attached to said crank (70) and said housing (22) for controlling pivotal movement of said crank (70), a wheel end (38) rotatably supported by said knuckle (36) for rotation about a rotational axis (R), and a drive shaft (88) extending from said housing through said knuckle (36) and connected to said wheel end (38) for rotating said wheel end (38) about said rotational axis (R), said rod (64) being pivotably attached to said knuckle (36) adjacent said lateral support (26) for allowing said drive shaft (88) to extend through said knuckle (36) without interference from said rod (64). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A system as set forth in claim 20 further including a ball joint (50a) pivotably interconnecting said distal end (34) of said first link (30) to said knuckle (36) and another ball joint (50c) pivotably interconnecting said distal end (34) of said second link (32) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system as set forth in claim 21 further including a ball joint (50b) pivotably interconnecting said first link (30) to said housing (22) and another ball joint (50d) pivotably interconnecting said second link (32) to said housing (22). ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first link (30) includes a first link axis (F) extending longitudinally along a center of said first link (30) with said ball joints (50a, 50b) of said first link (30) disposed axially along said first link axis (F), and wherein said second link (32) includes a second link axis (S) extending longitudinally along a center of said second link (32) with said ball joints (50c, 50d) of said second link (32) disposed axially along said second link axis (S). ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) A system as set forth in claim 20 further including a ball joint (50g) pivotably interconnecting said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A system as set forth in claim 24 further including a ball joint (50h) pivotably interconnecting said second end (68) of said rod (64) to said crank (70). ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said rod (64) includes a rod axis (A) extending longitudinally along a center of said rod (64) with said ball joints (50g, 50h) of said rod (64) disposed axially along said rod axis (A). ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) A system as set forth in claim 20 further including a rotational joint (50i) pivotably interconnecting said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) and said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) A system as set forth in claim 20 further including a ball joint (50e) pivotably interconnecting said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) to said knuckle (36) and said lateral support (26) further including a first connection point (52) and a second connection point (54) for coupling relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first connection point (52) includes a ball joint (50f) pivotably coupling said lateral support (26) relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said second connection point (54) includes a bushing (56) rotatably coupling said lateral support (26) relative to said housing (22) for up and down movement of said lateral support (26) relative to said housing (22). ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A system as set forth in claim 30 wherein said bushing (56) includes a first portion (60) defining a first resistance to lateral deflection and a second portion (62) defining a second resistance to lateral deflection in an opposite direction with the first resistance being greater than the second resistance to define a dual rate bushing (58). ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first connection point (52) and said ball joint (50e) are aligned perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of said housing (22). ### Claim 33 A wheel suspension system (20) for a vehicle, said system comprising; a housing (22), a lateral support (26) extending laterally to a knuckle end (28) from and pivotably coupled relative to said housing (22) for up and down movement, a first link (30) and a second link (32) each extending laterally to a distal end (34) from and pivotably connected to said housing (22) in spaced relationship to said lateral support (26) for up and down movement, a knuckle (36) pivotably connected to said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) at the one end and pivotably connected to said distal ends (34) of said first link (30) and said second link (32) at an opposing end, a rod (64) having a first end (66) pivotably connected to said knuckle (36) and extending to a second end (68), a crank (70) having a pivotal connection pivotably connected to said housing (22) and attached to said second end (68) of said rod (64) at a position spaced from said pivotal connection of said crank (70) to said housing (22) for pivotal movement by said rod (64) in response to vertical movement of said knuckle (36) relative to said housing (22), a dampening device (72) attached to said crank (70) and said housing (22) for controlling pivotal movement of said crank (70), and a first pair of ball joints (50a, 50b) interconnecting said first link (30) to said knuckle (36) and said housing (22) and a second pair of ball joints (50c, 50d) interconnecting said second link (32) to said knuckle (36) and said housing (22), said first link (30) including a first link axis (F) extending longitudinally along a center of said first link (30) with said first pair of ball joints (50a, 50b) being disposed axially along said first link axis (F) and said second link (32) including a second link axis (S) extending longitudinally along a center of said second link (32) with said second pair of ball joints (50c, 50d) being disposed axially along said second link axis (S) for minimizing bending moments in said first link (30) and said second link (32). ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A system as set forth in claim 33 further including a ball joint (50g) pivotably interconnecting said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36). ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A system as set forth in claim 34 further including a ball joint (50h) pivotably interconnecting said second end (68) of said rod (64) to said crank (70). ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A system as set forth in claim 35 wherein said rod (64) includes a rod axis (A) extending longitudinally along a center of said rod (64) with said ball joints (50g, 50h) of said rod (64) being disposed axially along said rod axis (A). ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) A system as set forth in claim 33 further including a rotational joint (50i) pivotably interconnecting said knuckle end (28) of said lateral support (26) and said first end (66) of said rod (64) to said knuckle (36).