Vehicle suspension systems

• US 20060138741A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HMT Vehicles Ltd. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Dare-Bryan, Valerian John
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.135
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/126 Mounting of pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/13 with the spring, i.e. coil spring, or damper horizontally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/422 Links for mounting suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/14 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/38 Low or lowerable bed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid

Abstract

A vehicle suspension system includes an airbag (10) arranged to act substantially horizontally so as to apply a substantially horizontal force to a horizontally movable force-transmitting member (12) and a parallelogram linkage (16, 17, 18, 19) that acts between the force-transmitting member (12) and a part (14) of the vehicle chassis (10).

Claims

1. A vehicle suspension system for a vehicle having a chassis, the suspension system including:

—

a) a horizontally movable force-transmitting member,

b) an airbag arranged to act substantially horizontally so as to apply a substantially horizontal force to the horizontally movable force-transmitting member,

c) a parallelogram linkage that acts between the force-transmitting member and a part of the vehicle chassis,

d) the parallelogram linkage including a rocker pivotally connected at its one end to said part of the vehicle chassis for pivotal movement relative thereto about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, and

e) a push rod connected at its one end to the rocker at a position intermediate the ends of the rocker.

2. A vehicle suspension system as claimed in claim 1, in which the rocker is pivotally connected at its other end to the force-transmitting member.

3. A vehicle suspension system as claimed in claim 1, in which the push rod is connected at its other end to a wheel hub support member suspended from the vehicle chassis by suspension links.

4. A vehicle suspension system as claimed in claim 1, in which the airbag acts transversely of the centreline of the chassis.

5. A vehicle suspension system as claimed in claim 4, which includes two airbags disposed back-to-back.

6. A vehicle suspension system as claimed in claim 1, in which the airbag acts longitudinally of the chassis.