SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEM

• US 20100219600A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winthrop Dada
• Original Assignee: Winthrop Dada
• Inventors: Dada, Winthrop
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.127
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/143 with lateral arms crossing each other, i.e. X formation as seen along the longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4222 for movement on predefined locus of, e.g. the wheel center
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/26 Means for maintaining substantially-constant wheel camber during suspension movement ; Means for controlling the variation of the wheel position during suspension movement B60G3/202, B60G3/22, B60G7/003, B60G7/006 take precedence; means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/02 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/12 of rack-and-pinion type
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/22 Arrangements for reducing or eliminating reaction, e.g. vibration, from parts, e.g. wheels, of the steering system

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for controlling dampening in a vehicle with no attributes of wheel scrub or camber change. The present invention further discloses steering systems, whereas the steering may function without the unwanted attributes of bump steer and roll steer.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first articulating v-shaped arm comprising an upper v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end;

a second articulating v-shaped arm comprising an upper v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end; and

a wheel carrier attached to the first and second v-shaped arms,

wherein the inferior end of the first upper v-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the first lower v-arm forming a first “

v”

shape, the inferior end of the second upper v-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the second lower v-arm forming a second “

v”

shape, and the inferior ends of the first and second lower v-arms are pivotally attached to the wheel carrier.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one removable dampener for controlling articulation of the first and second v-shaped arms.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one dampener is selected from the group comprising of a shock, spring, leaf spring, coil, torsion bar, cantilever spring, cantilever shock and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable vertical limiter affixed substantially perpendicular to the wheel carrier for regulating suspension travel.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cross-brace connecting the first v-shaped arm to the second v-shaped arm for improved structural rigidity and support of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle pivotally attached to the superior ends of the first and second upper v-arm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second v-shaped arms are configured in a plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the wheel carrier.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first v-shaped arm is substantially parallel to the second v-shaped arm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first v-shaped arm is substantially perpendicular to the second v-shaped arm.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

an articulating v-shaped arm comprising an upper v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower v-arm having an inferior end and a superior end;

an articulating x-shaped arm comprising an upper x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end; and

a wheel carrier attached to the v-shaped arm and x-shaped arm,

wherein the inferior end of the upper v-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the lower v-arm forming the “

v”

shape, the inferior end of the upper x-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the lower x-arm at or above the midline of the lower x-arm and at or below the midline of the upper x-arm forming a “

x”

shape, and the inferior ends of the lower v-arm and lower x-arm are pivotally attached to the wheel carrier.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one removable dampener for controlling articulation of the v-shaped arm and x-shaped arm.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one dampener is selected from the group comprising of a shock, spring, leaf spring, coil, torsion bar, cantilever shock, cantilever spring and combinations thereof.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a vehicle pivotally attached to the superior ends of the upper v-arm and upper x-arm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an adjustable vertical limiter affixed substantially perpendicular to the wheel carrier for regulating suspension travel.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one cross-brace connecting the v-shaped arm to the x-shaped arm for improved structural rigidity and support of the apparatus.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the v-shaped arm and x-shaped arm are configured in a plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the wheel carrier.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the v-shaped arm is substantially parallel to the x-shaped arm.

18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the v-shaped arm is substantially perpendicular to the x-shaped arm.

19. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the v-shaped arm and/or x-shaped arm is of unequal length.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a first articulating x-shaped arm comprising an upper x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end;

a second articulating x-shaped arm comprising an upper x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end and a lower x-arm having an inferior end and a superior end; and

a wheel carrier attached to the first and second x-shaped arms,

wherein the inferior end of the first upper x-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the first lower x-arm at or above the midline of the lower x-arm and at or below the midline of the upper x-arm forming a “

x”

shape, the inferior end of the second upper x-arm is pivotally attached to the superior end of the second lower x-arm at or above the midline of the lower x-arm and at or below the midline of the upper x-arm forming a “

x”

shape, and the inferior ends of both lower x-arms are pivotally attached to the wheel carrier.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one removable dampener for controlling articulation of the first and second x-shaped arms.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one dampener is selected from the group comprising a shock, spring, leaf spring, coil, torsion bar, cantilever spring, cantilever shock and combinations thereof.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising an adjustable vertical limiter affixed substantially perpendicular to the wheel carrier for regulating suspension travel.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising at least one cross-brace connecting the first x-shaped arm to the second x-shaped arm for improved structural rigidity and support of the apparatus.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a vehicle pivotally attached to the superior ends of the first upper x-arm and second upper x-arm.

26. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first and second x-shaped arms are configured in a plane substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the wheel carrier.

27. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first x-shaped arm is substantially parallel to the second x-shaped arm.

28. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first x-shaped arm is substantially perpendicular to the second x-shaped arm.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a steering rack adapted to be affixed to a vehicle, comprising;

a steering rack pinion gear at the distal end of the steering rack, and,

a torque tube affixed to a wheel carrier, comprising;

a torque tube pinion gear at the proximal end of the wheel carrier,

wherein the steering rack pinion gear and torque tube pinion gear are mated such that activation of the steering rack rotates the torque tube which is adapted for rotating a wheel.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the torque tube is telescopic.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the torque tube is pivotally attached to the wheel carrier.

32. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the steering rack is adapted to rotationally pivot with respect to the vehicle.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the pinion gear is selected from the group comprising a worm gear, captive roller, ball bearing, lever arm, derivatives thereof and combinations thereof.