Chassis construction for a motor vehicle

• US 3,913,696 A
• Filed: 05/08/1974
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Kennedy, Robert D. Negstad
• Original Assignee: James H. Kennedy, Robert D. Negstad
• Inventors: Kennedy, James H., Negstad, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siemens, Terrance L.
• Application Number:
  US05/467,983
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11,64R,64M 280/124B,124A
• US Class Current: 180/312
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/41 Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/60 Subframe construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/605 Flexible constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/004 Other suspension arrangements with rubber springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/1216 characterised by the location of the supports relative to the motor or to each other B60K5/1225 takes precedence
• 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

In accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of this invention, a motor vehicle chassis includes a subframe of generally box shape that is supported on a vehicle frame by four resilient mounts. An independent front suspension has some of its suspension members pivotally supported on the vehicle frame and some pivotally supported on the subframe by resilient pivots. A vehicle power plant is supported on the subframe by a resilient mount. Suspension vibrations are isolated from the passenger carrying vehicle body supported on the frame by the resilient pivots which connect the suspension members to the subframe and the resilient mounts which connect the subframe to the regular vehicle frame. Power plant vibrations are isolated from the vehicle body by the resilient mount which connects the power plant to the subframe and the resilient mounts which connect the subframe to the vehicle frame.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle chassis comprising vehicle frame structure constructed to support a vehicle body, said frame structure including left and right longitudinally extending side rails, a subframe assembly having left and right longitudinally extending side members and fore and aft transversely extending members, said subframe assembly having a generally box shape in plan view, said longitudinally extending side members having forward end portions that extend upwardly and forwardly, left and right forward resilient mounting means connecting said forward end portions of said side members to said side rails, said forward resilient mounting means each comprising a resilient mount having an axis inclined upwardly and rearwardly in the side elevational view, a pair of aft resilient mounting means connecting said subassembly to said side rails, left and right suspension arms pivotally connected to said frame structure and constructed to be connected to left and right wheel support members, left and right suspension struts having their outer ends connected to said left and right suspension arms, respectively, resilient pivot means connecting the inner ends of said left and right struts to said forward end portions of said left and right side members of said subframe assembly, respectively, power plant mounting means supported on said subframe assembly, said power plant mounting means being constructed to be connected to a vehicle power plant and to retard the transmission of vibrations from said power plant to said subframe assembly.

2. A motor vehicle chassis comprising vehicle frame structure constructed to support a vehicle body, said frame structure including left and right longitudinally extending side rails, a subframe assembly having left and right longitudinally extending side members and fore and aft transversely extending members, said subframe assembly having a generally box shape in plan view, said longitudinally extending side members having forward end portions that extend upwardly and forwardly, a pair of forward resilient mounting means connecting said forward end portions of said side members to said side rails, said forward resilient mounting means each comprising a pair of side-by-side resilient mounts having parallel axes inclined upwardly and rearwardly in the side elevational view, a pair of aft resilient mounting means connecting said subassembly to said side rails, left and right suspension arms pivotally connected to said frame structure and constructed to be connected to left and right wheel support members, left and right suspension struts having their outer ends connected to said left and right suspension arms, respectively, resilient pivot means connecting the inner ends of said left and right struts to said forward end portions of said left and right side members of said subframe assembly, respectively, power plant mounting means supported on said subframe assembly, said power plant mounting means being constructed to be connected to a vehicle power plant and to retard the transmission of vibrations from said power plant to said subframe assembly.

3. A motor vehicle chassis comprising vehicle frame structure constructed to support a vehicle body, a subframe assembly having a pair of fore and a pair of aft resilient mounting means connecting said subframe assembly to said frame structure, said resilient mounting means being constructed to retard the transmission of vibrations from said subframe assembly to said frame structure, left and right suspension arms pivotally connected to left and right wheel support members and to said frame structure, left and right suspension struts rigidly connected to said left and right suspension arms, respectively, left and right resilient pivot means connecting said suspension struts to said subframe assembLy, said resilient pivot means being constructed to retard the transmission of vibrations from said suspension struts to said subframe assembly, power plant mounting means supported on said subframe assembly, said power plant mounting means being constructed to be connected to a vehicle power plant and to retard the transmission of vibrations from said power plant to said subframe assembly.