Anti-pitch suspension

• US 4,573,702 A
• Filed: 09/30/1982
• Issued: 03/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Klem
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Klem
• Inventors: Klem, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/428,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 280/96.1, 280/660, 280/668, 280/673, 280/675, 280/688, 280/690, 280/697, 280/701, 280/703, 280/724, 280/726
• US Class Current: 280/5.504
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/033 characterised by regulating means acting on more than one spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/005 transversally
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/30 Rigid axle suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/32 The spring being in series with the damper and/or actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/127 with the mounting of springs or dampers moving so that the direction of the related force vector can be changed, thus contributing to a variation of the loading of the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/42 Joints with cam surfaces
• 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 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8302 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A vehicle suspension is designed to utilize lateral movement of the body of the vehicle relative to the wheels in order to control the sway or roll of the vehicle body relative to the ground. Several systems are disclosed for translating the roll tendency of the body into lateral movement of the body relative to the wheels without body roll. This system may be also used to control other suspension parameters such as ride height, spring rates, caster, camber, and toe-in. The system is also effective in reducing the load sensitivity of the suspension to understeer or oversteer. The principle of the invention may also be used to control dive during braking or squat during acceleration.

Claims

1. An anti-pitch suspension for suspending at least one wheel from a vehicle body, said suspension comprising:

wheel supporting means, at least one said wheel being mounted to said supporting means;

spring means associated with at least one said wheel;

means suspending said body from said wheel supporting means, said suspending means comprising means for translating the fore-aft inertia of said vehicle body during fore-aft acceleration into substantial fore-aft translational movement of said vehicle body relative to said supporting means; and

means for converting said vehicle body fore-aft translational movement into increased compression of at least one said spring means independent of vertical movement of said wheel due to bumps and other non fore-aft accelerative forces.

2. The anti-pitch suspension of claim 1, said spring means having a first end pivotably attached to said supporting means and a second end pivotably attached to said vehicle body.

3. The anti-pitch suspension of claim 2 wherein said vehicle body comprises:

at least first and second axles;

a center between said axles, said spring means angling from said first end towards said center, said second end being closer to said center than said first end.

4. The anti-pitch suspension of claim 3 further comprising means for interconnecting said spring means on said first axle and said spring means on said second axle.

5. The anti-pitch suspension of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means increases compression of said spring means on said first axle and decreases compression of said spring means on said second axle.

6. An anti-roll suspension for suspending at least one wheel from a vehicle body, said suspension comprising:

a wheel supporting means, at least one of said wheels being mounted to said supporting means;

a torsional bar mounted to said vehicle, said bar having at least a first actuating arm; and

means suspending said body from said wheel supporting means, said suspending means comprising means for translating the lateral inertia of said vehicle body during cornering into lateral translational movement of said vehicle body relative to said supporting means, said translating means comprising at least a first link and said supporting means comprising at least a first attachment point, said first actuating arm being above and toward the center of said vehicle relative to said attachment point, said link connecting said attachment point and said first actuating arm, said link angling upwardly and inwardly from said point to said arm.

7. The suspension of claim 6 wherein said torsion bar is a sway bar.