Suspension system providing two degrees of freedom

A suspension system for a pair of wheels or skis having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a roll suspension mechanism attached to the body, the roll suspension mechanism providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the pair of wheels or skis during roll and one-wheel bump motion;
• a pair of dive suspension mechanisms attached to each of the pair of wheels or skis, each of the pair of dive suspension mechanisms comprising an adjustable strut, dampener and spring assembly and providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to one of the pair of wheels or skis during dive and bump motion, each of the pair of dive suspension mechanisms further comprising a dive upright attached to one of the pair of wheels or skis, upper and lower frame arms connected to upper and lower ends of the dive upright, and a frame upright having an upper end connected adjacent to a distal end of the upper frame arm and a lower end connected adjacent to a distal end of the lower frame arm, in relation to the dive upright, and wherein a lower end of the strut, dampener and spring assembly is connected adjacent to the lower end of the dive upright and an upper end of the strut, dampener and spring assembly is connected adjacent to the upper end of the frame upright;
• a suspension linkage connecting the roll suspension mechanism to the dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected at a first end to the roll suspension mechanism and at an opposite second end to an adjacent roll suspension mechanism on an adjacent wheel or ski, the locking linkage restricting movement of the roll suspension mechanism in opposition to movement of the adjacent roll suspension mechanism so as to lock out the roll suspension mechanism during dive motion such that only the dive suspension mechanism is responsive, and to activate the roll suspension mechanism in tandem with the adjacent roll suspension mechanism during roll or one-wheel bump motion such that both the dive and roll suspension mechanisms are simultaneously responsive.

A suspension system for a pair of wheels or skis having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a roll suspension mechanism attached to the body, the roll suspension mechanism providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the pair of wheels or skis during roll and one-wheel bump motion;
• a pair of dive suspension mechanisms attached to each of the pair of wheels or skis, each of the pair of dive suspension mechanisms providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the pair of wheels or skis during dive and bump motion;
• the roll suspension mechanism comprising a pair of roll bell cranks pivotally attached to an upper portion of the body and a pair of adjustable roll dampeners connecting each roll bell crank to another portion of the body such that the roll dampeners regulate pivotal movement of the roll bell cranks, and a push rod connecting each roll bell crank to a lower end of each dive suspension mechanism;
• a suspension linkage connecting the roll suspension mechanism to the dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected at a first end to one of the pair of roll bell cranks and at an opposite second end to the other of the pair of roll bell cranks, the locking linkage-restricting pivotal movement of the pair of roll bell cranks in opposition to one another so as to lock out the roll suspension mechanism during dive motion such that only the dive suspension mechanism is responsive, and to activate the roll suspension mechanism during roll or one-wheel bump motion such that both the dive and roll suspension mechanisms are simultaneously responsive.

A suspension system for a pair of wheels or skis having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a roll suspension mechanism attached to the body, the roll suspension mechanism providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the pair of wheels or skis during roll and one-wheel bump motion;
• a pair of dive suspension mechanisms attached to each of the pair of wheels or skis, each of the pair of dive suspension mechanisms providing a pre-determined amount of camber control during dive and bump motion;
• the roll suspension mechanism comprising a pair of hydraulic shocks mounted on opposite sides of the body such that an upper end of each hydraulic shock is attached to an upper portion of the body and a lower end of each hydraulic shock is attached proximate to a lower end of the dive suspension mechanism on each wheel or ski;
• a suspension linkage connecting the roll suspension mechanism to the dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected to the roll suspension mechanism comprising a hydraulic linkage between the pair of hydraulic shocks, the hydraulic linkage preventing the pair of hydraulic shocks from both extending or contracting simultaneously so as to lock out the roll suspension mechanism during dive motion such that only the dive suspension mechanism is responsive, and to activate the roll suspension mechanism during roll or one-wheel bump motion such that both the dive and roll suspension mechanisms are simultaneously responsive.

A suspension system for a pair of adjacent wheels or skis, the suspension system having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first dive suspension mechanism comprising an adjustable strut, a dampener and a spring, wherein the dampener is attached to a first of the pair of wheels or skis and the strut is pivotally connected to the body by a first suspension linkage;
• a second dive suspension mechanism comprising a second adjustable strut, a second dampener and a second spring, wherein the second dampener is attached to a second of the pair of wheels or skis and the second strut is pivotally connected to the body by a second suspension linkage;
• a first roll suspension mechanism comprising a roll bell crank pivotally attached to the body, a roll dampener attached at one end to the body and at another end to the roll bell crank, and a push rod connected at one end to the roll bell crank and at another end to the first dive suspension mechanism;
• a second roll suspension mechanism comprising a second roll bell crank pivotally attached to the body, a second roll dampener attached at one end to the body and at another end to the second roll bell crank, and a second push rod connected at one end to the second roll bell crank and at another end to the second dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected at one end to the roll bell crank of the first roll suspension mechanism and at an opposite second end to the second roll bell crank of the second roll suspension mechanism.

A suspension system for a pair of adjacent wheels or skis, the suspension system having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first dive suspension mechanism comprising a first frame assembly wherein an adjustable strut, dampener and spring span opposite corners of the first frame assembly, wherein one side of the first frame assembly is fixedly attached to the first of the pair of wheels or skis and an opposite second side of the first frame assembly is pivotally connected to the body by a first suspension linkage;
• a second dive suspension mechanism comprising a second frame assembly wherein a second adjustable strut, a second dampener and a second spring span opposite corners of the second frame assembly, wherein one side of the second frame assembly is fixedly attached to the second of the pair of wheels or skis and an opposite second side of the second frame assembly is pivotally connected to the body by a second suspension linkage;
• a first roll suspension mechanism comprising a roll bell crank pivotally attached to the body, a roll dampener attached at one end to the body and at another end to the roll bell crank, and a push rod connected at one end to the roll bell crank and at another end to the first frame assembly of the first dive suspension mechanism;
• a second roll suspension mechanism comprising a second roll bell crank pivotally attached to the body, a second roll dampener attached at one end to the body and at another end to the second roll bell crank, and a second push rod connected at one end to the second roll bell crank and at another end to the second frame assembly of the second dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected at one end to the roll bell crank of the first roll suspension mechanism and at an opposite second end to the second roll bell crank of the second roll suspension mechanism.

A suspension system for a pair of adjacent wheels or skis, the suspension system having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first dive suspension mechanism comprising a first frame assembly wherein an adjustable strut, dampener and spring span opposite corners of the first frame assembly, wherein one side of the first frame assembly is fixedly attached to the first of the pair of wheels or skis and an opposite second side of the first frame assembly is pivotally connected to the body by a first suspension linkage;
• a second dive suspension mechanism comprising a second frame assembly wherein a second adjustable strut, a second dampener and a second spring span opposite corners of the second frame assembly, wherein one side of the second frame assembly is fixedly attached to the second of the pair of wheels or skis and an opposite second side of the second frame assembly is pivotally connected to the body by a second suspension linkage;
• a first roll suspension mechanism comprising a roll dampener, wherein the roll dampener is pivotally attached at one end to the body and at an opposite second end to the first frame assembly of the first dive suspension mechanism;
• a second roll suspension mechanism comprising a second roll dampener, wherein the second roll dampener is pivotally attached at one end to the body and at an opposite second end to the second frame assembly of the second dive suspension mechanism;
• and
• a locking linkage connected at one end to the roll dampener of the first roll suspension mechanism and at an opposite second end to the second roll dampener of the second roll suspension mechanism.

A suspension system for a pair of adjacent wheels or skis, the suspension system having two degrees of freedom with respect to a body of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first dive suspension mechanism for providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to a first of the pair of wheels or skis during dive and bump motion, wherein the first dive suspension mechanism is attached to the first of the pair of wheels or skis and pivotally connected to the body by a first suspension linkage;
• a second dive suspension mechanism for providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to a second of the pair of wheels or skis during dive and bump motion, wherein the second dive suspension mechanism is attached to the second of the pair of wheels or skis and pivotally connected to the body by a second suspension linkage;
• a first roll suspension mechanism for providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the first of the pair of wheels or skis during roll and one-wheel bump motion, wherein the first roll suspension mechanism is pivotally attached to the body and connected to the first dive suspension mechanism by a first push rod;
• a second roll suspension mechanism for providing a pre-determined amount of camber control to the second of the pair of wheels or skis during roll and one-wheel bump motion, wherein the second roll suspension mechanism is pivotally attached to the body and connected to the second dive suspension mechanism by a second push rod;
• and
• a locking linkage for restricting movement of the first roll suspension mechanism in opposition to movement of the second roll suspension mechanism so as to lockout both the first and second roll suspension mechanisms during dive motion and to activate both the first and second roll suspension mechanisms in tandem during roll or one-wheel bump motion, wherein the locking linkage is connected at one end to the first roll suspension mechanism and at an opposite second end to the second roll suspension mechanism.