Suspension systems for laterally tiltable multitrack vehicles

• US 10,076,939 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Simon, Marc, Spahl, Robert, Gerhards, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US14/554,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/055 Stabiliser bars
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/13 Small sized city motor vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/04 combined with means for inwardly inclining wheels on bends B62D9/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2005/001 Suspension details for cycles with three or more main road wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle suspension may include first and second steering knuckles. The suspension may also include a first set of control arms connected to the first steering knuckle and a second set of control arms connected to the second steering knuckle. Each of the first and second sets of control arms may include upper and lower control arms. The suspension may further include a spring/damper element acting between the first and second sets of control arms and a balancer system.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

first and second steering knuckles;

a first set of control arms connected to the first steering knuckle;

a second set of control arms connected to the second steering knuckle, each of the first and second sets of control arms comprising upper and lower control arms,

wherein the upper control arm of each set is parallel to the lower control arm of each set;

a spring/damper element extending between and connected to each of the lower control arms and/or each of the upper control arms of the first and second sets of control arms; and

a balancer system,

wherein the balancer system is configured to provide a first load path for torque and the spring/damper element is configured to provide a second load path, which differs from the first load path, for suspension and road loads.

2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first and second steering knuckles are each configured to be disposed within an internal space defined by a front wheel of the vehicle.

3. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the upper control arm of each set is parallel to the lower control arm of each set.

4. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower control arms each comprise an A-arm.

5. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower control arms are each configured to be connected to a frame rail of the vehicle.

6. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the spring/damper element comprises a shock absorber and a coil spring.

7. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the balancer system is connected to each of the lower control arms.

8. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the balancer system is configured to create the torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle when the suspension system is in use.

9. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the balancer system comprises a balancer control arm, a link connected to the balancer control arm, and an actuator attached to the link.

10. The suspension system of claim 9, wherein the link is configured to connect the balancer control arm to a body of the vehicle.

11. The suspension system of claim 10, wherein, when the suspension system is in use, the link is configured to transfer loads from the body of the vehicle to the balancer control arm and permit a jounce/rebound motion of the vehicle.

12. The suspension system of claim 11, wherein, when the suspension system is in use, the spring/damper element is configured to be compressed and expanded during the jounce/rebound motion.

20. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the spring/damper element is connected to each of the lower control arms and/or each of the upper control arms via a support.

23. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the spring/damper element is parallel to the lower control arms and/or the upper control arms.

13. A suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle, comprising:

first and second steering knuckles respectively disposed within internal spaces of first and second front wheels of the vehicle;

a first set of control arms connected to the first steering knuckle and extending between the first steering knuckle and a frame rail of the vehicle;

a second set of control arms connected to the second steering knuckle and extending between the second steering knuckle and a frame rail of the vehicle, wherein each of the first and second sets of control arms comprises an upper control arm connected to an upper end of the respective steering knuckle and a lower control arm connected to a lower end of the respective steering knuckle;

a spring/damper element extending between and connected to each of the lower control arms and/or each of the upper control arms of the first and second sets of control arms, wherein the spring/damper element is parallel to the lower control arms and/or the upper control arms; and

a balancer system configured to create a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle,

wherein the balancer system is configured to provide a first load path for the torque and the spring/damper element is configured to provide a second load path, which differs from the first load path, for suspension and road loads.

14. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the upper control arm of each set is parallel to the lower control arm of each set.

15. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the balancer system comprises a balancer control arm, a link connected to the balancer control arm, and an actuator attached to the link.

16. The suspension system of claim 15, wherein the link connects the balancer control arm to a body of the vehicle.

17. The suspension system of claim 16, wherein the link is configured to transfer loads from the body of the vehicle to the balancer control arm and permit a jounce/rebound motion of the vehicle.

18. The suspension system of claim 17, wherein the spring/damper element is configured to be compressed and expanded during the jounce/rebound motion.

19. A method of stabilizing a tiltable, multitrack vehicle, the method comprising:

distributing a first load along a first load path during a roll motion of the vehicle; and

distributing a second load along a second load path during a jounce/rebound motion of the vehicle, the second load path differing from the first load path,

wherein distributing the first load influences a leaning angle of the vehicle, and wherein distributing the second load enables vertical wheel motion and suppresses a resonant vertical motion of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein distributing the first load along the first load path comprises distributing the first load along a balancer system.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein distributing the second load along the second load path comprises distributing the second load along a spring/damper element.