Articulatable suspension system for a vehicle

An off-road vehicle with an articulatable suspension system, said system comprising:

• a front axle assembly comprising a front axle and a front rigid member attached to said front axle;
• a front pivot assembly, said front rigid member being pivotally attached to said front pivot assembly such that said front axle assembly is operatively rotatable about at least one of a longitudinal axis or a lateral axis passing through said front pivot assembly;
• a rear axle assembly comprising a rear axle and a rear rigid member attached to said rear axle;
• a rear pivot assembly, said rear rigid member being pivotally attached to said rear pivot assembly such that said rear axle assembly is operatively rotatable about at least one a longitudinal axis or a lateral axis passing through said rear pivot assembly;
• a frame flexibly supported by said front and rear axle assemblies, said frame having at least one front dampener extending between said front axle assembly and said frame, and at least one rear dampener extending between said rear axle assembly and said frame, said front and rear dampeners configured to dampen movements;
• and
• at least one equalizer bar extending between said front and said rear pivoting assemblies and coupled to said front and rear pivoting assemblies by front and rear vertical linkages, said equalizer bar intermediately secured to said frame by an intermediate pivot to prevent lateral frame movement during axle movements, said at least one equalizer bar configured to transfer movements between said axles,
• wherein said front pivot assembly comprises a front attachment bar, coupled to said frame by a front lateral attachment member extending laterally between opposite sides of said frame, said front axle assembly being pivotally attached to said front attachment bar such that the front axle assembly is operatively rotatable about a lateral axis passing through said front pivot assembly, and
• wherein said rear pivot assembly comprises a rear attachment bar, coupled to said frame by a rear lateral attachment member extending laterally between opposite sides of said frame, said rear axle assembly being pivotally attached to said rear attachment bar such that the rear axle assembly is operatively rotatable about a lateral axis passing through said rear pivot assembly.

A vehicle adapted to travel over rough terrain, said vehicle comprising:

• a front axle assembly comprising a front axle and a front rigid member attached to said front axle, said front axle having wheels mounted on spaced apart ends;
• a front pivot assembly, said front rigid member being pivotally attached to said front pivot assembly such that said front axle assembly is operatively rotatable about at least one of a longitudinal axis or a lateral axis passing through said front pivot assembly;
• a rear axle assembly comprising a rear axle and a rear rigid member attached to said rear axle, said rear axle having wheels mounted on spaced apart ends;
• a rear pivot assembly, said rear rigid member being pivotally attached to said rear pivot assembly such that said rear axle assembly is operatively rotatable about at least one a longitudinal axis or a lateral axis passing through said rear pivot assembly;
• a frame flexibly supported by said front and rear axle assemblies, said frame having at least one front dampener extending between said front axle assembly and said frame, and at least one rear dampener extending between said rear axle assembly and said frame, said front and rear dampeners configured to dampen movements;
• and
• at least one equalizer bar extending between said front and said rear pivoting assemblies and coupled to said front and rear pivoting assemblies by front and rear vertical linkages, said equalizer bar intermediately secured to said frame by an intermediate pivot to prevent lateral frame movement during axle movements, said at least one equalizer bar configured to transfer movements between said axles,
• wherein said front pivot assembly comprises a front attachment bar, coupled to said frame by a front lateral attachment member extending laterally between opposite sides of said frame, said front axle assembly being pivotally attached to said front attachment bar such that the front axle assembly is operatively rotatable about a lateral axis passing through said front pivot assembly, and
• wherein said rear pivot assembly comprises a rear attachment bar, coupled to said frame by a rear lateral attachment member extending laterally between opposite sides of said frame, said rear axle assembly being pivotally attached to said rear attachment bar such that the rear axle assembly is operatively rotatable about a lateral axis passing through said rear pivot assembly.