Vehicle rear suspension support assembly with integrated electric drive

• US 20040222030A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Szalony, Norman, Hanba, Scott K., Sutton, Craig V.
• Application Number:
  US10/435,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222030A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/311
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/422 Driving wheels or live axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/19 Mounting of transmission differential
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/012 Hollow or tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/60 Subframe construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/602 Single transverse beam
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/24 a rigid arm being formed by the live axle B60G3/22, B60G3/26 take precedence; driving arrangements B60K17/22, B60K17/30, B60K17/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/001 one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions

Abstract

A support assembly for an independent rear suspension includes a generally-tubular central member having first end and a second end. A U-shaped end member is coupled to each end of the central member, such that the end members are structurally bridged by the central member. Lands defined on the ends of the arms of each end member are adapted to engage the vehicle frame rails through suitable isolation mounts. An attachment point defined on each end member is adapted to pivotally support a lateral link coupling a respective wheelend assembly to the support assembly. The central member advantageously defines at least a portion of a housing adapted to receive a driveline component, such as an electric motor, coupled to the vehicle'"'"'s rear wheelend assemblies by a pair of shafts extending from the central member, with the further benefit that the shared suspension and driveline isolation mounts providing enhanced NVH characteristics.

Claims

1. A support assembly for an independent rear suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis featuring rails extending generally longitudinally along either side of the vehicle, each rail being proximate to a nominal rear wheel location of the vehicle at which a respective wheelend assembly is to be supported, the support assembly comprising:

a central member having a first end and a second end; and

a pair of end members, each end member being secured to a respective end of the central member such that the central member forms a structural bridge between the end members, each end member extending away from the central member and defining at least one land adapted to engage a respective rail,

wherein one of the end members and the central member defines a pair of attachment points, each attachment point being adapted to pivotally support a lateral link connecting the supporting assembly to a respective one of the wheelend assembles.

2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein each end member is generally U-shaped and includes a pair of arms separated by a bight portion, the bight portion being secured to the central member, and the at least one land being defined on the arms.

3. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the respective bight portions of the end members cover at least a portion of the ends of the central member, respectively.

4. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the first pair of attachment points is defined on one first arm of one end member between the land of the first arm and the bight portion.

5. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein the central member is adapted to house a driveline component, the driveline component being coupled to a shaft extending from the central member toward one of the wheelend assemblies.

6. The support assembly of claim 5, wherein the driveline component is an electric motor.

7. A support assembly for an independent rear suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis featuring rails extending generally longitudinally along either side of the vehicle, each rail being proximate to a nominal rear wheel location of the vehicle at which a respective wheelend assembly is to be supported, the support assembly comprising:

a central member having a first end and a second end, and

a pair of end members, each end member being secured to a respective end of the central member such that the end members are bridged by the central member, each end member including a first arm extending away from the central member and having a land adapted to engage a respective rail, the first arm defining an attachment point adapted to pivotally support a lateral link connecting the arm to a respective wheelend assembly.

8. The support assembly of claim 7, wherein the central member includes a generally tubular section extending in a direction generally normal to the rails.

9. The support assembly of claim 8, wherein the generally tubular section of the central member has a generally elliptical cross-section.

10. The support assembly of claim 7, wherein each end member is generally U-shaped and includes a second arm separated from the first arm by a bight portion, the second arm extending away from the central member and including a land adapted to engage a respective rail.

11. The support assembly of claim 10, wherein one attachment point is defined on the first arm of one of the end members between the land of the first arm and the bight portion.

12. The support assembly of claim 10, wherein the bight portion of one end member covers at least a portion of the first end of the central member.

13. The support assembly of claim 7, wherein the central member is adapted to house a driveline component, the driveline component being coupled to a shaft extending from the central member toward one of the wheelend assemblies.

14. The support assembly of claim 13, wherein one end member forms at least a portion of an end cap on the central member;

and wherein the shaft extends through a portion of the end cap.

15. The support assembly of claim 13, wherein the driveline component is an electric motor.

16. A support assembly for an independent rear suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis featuring a pair of spaced, generally-longitudinally-extending rails, each rail extending proximate to a respective rear wheel location on the vehicle at which a respective wheelend assembly is to be supported, the support assembly comprising:

a generally tubular central member having a first end and a second end, wherein the central member is adapted to house a driveline component, the driveline component being coupled to a shaft extending from the central member and adapted to be coupled to one of the wheelend assemblies;

a pair of end members, each end member being secured to a respective end of the central member such that the end members are structurally bridged by the central member, each end member including a first arm extending away from the central member, the first arm having a land adapted to respectively engage one of the rails; and

a pair of attachment points defined on one of the end members and the central member, each attachment point being adapted to pivotally support a respective lateral link connecting the support assembly to a respective one of the wheelend assemblies.

17. The support assembly of claim 16, wherein each attachment point is defined on the respective first arm of each end member.

18. The support assembly of claim 16, wherein the driveline component is an electric motor adapted to drive one of the wheelend assemblies.

19. The support assembly of claim 16, wherein one end member is U-shaped and includes a second arm separated from the first arm by a bight portion, the second arm extending away from the central member and including a land adapted to engage a respective rail;

and wherein the bight portion of the one end member forms at least a portion of an end cap on the central member.