Suspension apparatus for vehicle

• US 4,659,106 A
• Filed: 02/15/1985
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Masao, Honma, Kenji, Fujita, Haruyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferriter, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US06/702,209
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 280/772, 280/709, 280/710, 280/714, 280/112 A, 180/144, 251/304, 251/309, 137/625.22, 137/625.23, 137/625.24
• US Class Current: 280/124.103
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• 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 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/012 Rolling condition
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

Telescopic members which are expanded and contracted by means of a fluid pressure controlled by a steering mechanism are integrally connected to suspension springs. And when a vehicle makes a turn, the body is caused to decline toward the turning center side due to the telescopic movement of the telescopic members according to the steering operation. The fluid pressure may be fed from a hydraulic cylinder including a piston associated for movement with the steering mechanism. Alternatively, fluid pressurized by a pump may be fed through a controlling valve which is actuated in response to the steering mechanism. At a time when the vehicle makes a turn, a satisfactory steering sense similar to a motorcycle can be obtained.

Claims

1. A suspension apparatus for a vehicle provided between a pair of left and right wheels of the vehicle and the vehicle body, comprising

telescopic members integrally connected to suspension springs and expanded and contracted by means of fluid pressure,

fluid passages for feeding fluid pressurized by a pump to said telescopic members and discharging the fluid from said telescopic members,

controlling valves provided in said fluid passages, each valve having a cylindrical inner valve member, a cylindrical outer valve member rotatably fitted on said inner valve member and a main body containing and supporting said inner and outer valve members for rotation respectively,

means for connecting each said inner valve member to a steering mechanism to rotate said inner valve member in accordance with the movement of said steering mechanism, and

means for connecting each said outer valve member to one of said telescopic members to rotate said outer valve member in accordance with the movement of said telescopic member relative to the vehicle body,

whereby the controlling valves are connected to the steering mechanism and to said telescopic members to control said valves not only with respect to the steering but also with respect to the movement of the telescopic members relative to the vehicle body so that the vehicle body is caused to decline toward turning center side due to telescopic movement of said telescopic members in accordance with a steering operation.

2. A suspension apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for connecting each inner valve member to a steering mechanism is a first lever portion piece formed on said inner valve member which is directly connected to a moving bar of the steering mechanism;

and wherein said means for connecting each outer valve member to one of said telescopic members is a second lever portion piece formed on said outer valve member which is directly connected to a piston side member of said one of said telescopic members.