Independent rear suspension and support assembly
First Claim
1. An independent suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis having rails and a driveshaft providing torque, said independent suspension comprising:
- a suspension system; and
a support assembly including;
a central member having a first end and a second end, and a first and second end member, wherein one of said end members is coupled to said first end and the other to said second end, each of said end members being operatively coupled to a suspension system and wherein each of said end members receives and transfers load from said suspension system through said central member to the other of said end members.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The independent suspension includes a suspension system and a support assembly. The support assembly generally includes a central member having a first end and a second end to which first and second end members are coupled. The support assembly generally spans between vehicle rails with the central member acting as a structural bridge between the end members. The central member defines a cavity and an input passage communicating with the cavity. A driveshaft may be coupled to an input member retained within the input passage which in turn is operably coupled to a torque transferring device disposed within the cavity. The torque transferring device transfers torque from the input member to a pair of output shafts. The end members are also coupled to a suspension system so that the end members may receive suspension load from the suspension system and transfer the suspension load to the other end member through the central member. The central member is designed to withstand both suspension load and driveline load.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An independent suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis having rails and a driveshaft providing torque, said independent suspension comprising:
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a suspension system; and
a support assembly including;
a central member having a first end and a second end, and a first and second end member, wherein one of said end members is coupled to said first end and the other to said second end, each of said end members being operatively coupled to a suspension system and wherein each of said end members receives and transfers load from said suspension system through said central member to the other of said end members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An independent suspension of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a chassis having rails extending generally longitudinally along the vehicle and a driveshaft providing torque, said independent suspension comprising:
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a central member defining a cavity, said central member including a first end, a second end and an input passage;
an axle assembly including an input member disposed in said input passage and coupled to said driveshaft, a pair of output shafts, and a torque transferring device, said torque transferring device transferring torque from said input member to said output shafts, said torque transferring device being enclosed within said cavity and said output shafts being rotationally coupled to a wheel end assembly; and
a first and second end member, each of said end members being secured to a respective end of said central member and, coupled to said chassis and said wheel end assembly, said central member forming a structural bridge between said end members. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A support assembly for an independent rear suspension of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes a chassis having rails extending generally longitudinally along the vehicle, a suspension system and a driveshaft, said structural member comprising:
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a central member having a first end and a second end and said central member defining a cavity housing a torque transfer device, said torque transfer device operatively coupled to the driveshaft; and
a first and second end member each being secured to a respective end of the central member such that the central member forms a structural bridge between the end members, each of said end members being operatively coupled to said suspension system and wherein said central member is subjected to driveline load from the driveshaft and said torque transferring device as well as suspension load from the suspension system attached to said end members. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification