Vehicle with live twist beam axle assembly
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorWilliam E. Worman, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive axle and suspension assembly for a vehicle having a power source and wheels including a torsionally compliant twist beam suspension and a driveline assembly. The twist beam includes a twist element defining a first lateral axis and arm portions adapted to rotatably support the wheels of the vehicle along a second axis extending substantially parallel to the first axis. The driveline assembly is adapted to receive torque from the power source and drive the wheels. The driveline assembly includes a plurality of power transmission rotatably supported by arm portions.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a power source supported by said chassis and operable to generate drive torque;
- first and second wheels rotatable along a first rotary axis;
- and
- an axle and suspension assembly having a driveline assembly and a twist beam suspension, said driveline assembly including a differential and first and second torque transfer mechanisms, said differential rotatably supported in an axle housing mounted to said chassis and having an input component driven by said power source and first and second output components aligned for rotation along a second rotary axis, said first torque transfer mechanism is operable to transfer drive torque from said first output component to said first wheel and said second torque transfer mechanism is operable to transfer drive torque from said second output component to said second wheel, said twist beam suspension including a first torsionally compliant unit coupled between said axle housing and said first wheel and encompassing a portion of said first torque transfer mechanism and a second torsionally compliant unit coupled between said axle housing and said second wheel and encompassing a portion of said second torque transfer mechanism.
A vehicle having an engine, front wheels and rear wheels, the vehicle comprising:
- a front driveline adapted to be driven by the engine to provide torque to the front wheels;
- a rear driveline adapted to be driven by the engine to provide torque to the rear wheels;
- and
- a torsion beam rear suspension having elongated torsionally compliant portions partially encompassing a portion of the rear driveline;
- wherein said torsionally compliant portions extend laterally across the vehicle and said portion of the rear driveline extends in part in a lateral direction within said torsionally compliant portions.
A vehicle comprising:
- a power source operable to generate drive torque;
- first and second wheels rotatable along a first rotary axis;
- a differential rotatably supported in a housing and having an input component driven by said power source and first and second output components aligned for rotation along a second rotary axis;
- a first torque transfer mechanism for transferring drive torque from said first output component to said first wheel;
- a second torque transfer mechanism for transferring drive torque from said second output component to said second wheel;
- a first torsionally compliant unit coupled between said housing and said first wheel and configured to encompass a portion of said first torque transfer mechanism;
- and
- a second torsionally compliant unit coupled between said housing and said second wheel and configured to encompass a portion of said second torque transfer mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.