Independent suspension mechanism
AssigneeTimbren Industries, Inc.
InventorsParto Rezania, Arnold Heron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An independent suspension with no axle is disclosed which includes a hanger and a control arm having opposite first and second ends pivotally mounted to the hanger between the first and second ends. The suspension unit further includes a spindle arm mounted to the first end of the control arm. The suspension unit also includes a jounce spring on the control arm and a rebound spring mounted between the control arm and the hanger. The control arm and hanger are configured such that when the first end of the control arm pivots towards the frame of the vehicle the jounce spring is compressed and the rebound spring is relaxed and when the first end of the control arm moves away from the frame the jounce spring is relaxed and the rebound spring is compressed.
Claims9
A suspension unit for suspending a wheel to a vehicle's frame, the suspension unit comprising:
- a. a hanger for mounting to the vehicle's frame;
- b. a control arm having opposite first and second ends, the control arm being pivotally mounted to the hanger at a pivot point positioned between the first and second ends;
- c. a spindle arm mounted to the first end of the control arm, the spindle arm configured to mount to the wheel;
- d. a jounce spring made of an elastomeric polymer material mounted between the control arm and the hanger at a first point on the control arm positioned between the pivot point and the first end;
- e. a rebound spring made of an elastomeric polymer material mounted between the control arm and the hanger at a second point of the control arm adjacent the second end;
- f. the control arm and hanger being configured such that when the first end of the control arm pivots towards the vehicle's frame, the jounce spring is compressed and the rebound spring is relaxed;
- g. the control arm and the hanger being further configured such that when the first end of the control arm moves away from the frame the jounce spring is relaxed and the rebound spring is compressed, and
- h. wherein both the jounce spring and rebound spring are preloaded such that both the jounce and rebound springs are under compression when the control arm is at a rest.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.