Suspension system for vehicle

• US 6,142,494 A
• Filed: 07/24/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/121,821
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.143, 280/124.135, 280/124.145, 280/124.15, 280/124.106, 280/124.107, 280/93.502, 280/93.51, 280/98, 280/FOR 147 , 280/FOR 124, 280/FOR 126
• US Class Current: 280/93.51
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/05 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/18 Multilink suspensions, e.g. elastokinematic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/182 with one longitudinal arm or rod and lateral rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/82 left and right unit on same axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8302 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/28 at least one of the arms itself being resilient, e.g. leaf spring B60G7/003 takes precedence

Abstract

First arms are coupled through suspension member and second arms are coupled through first link members and second link member. Further, a swinging arm supported at one end thereof through ball joint on the body is supported in a swingable state by support shafts.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a vehicle having right and left side wheel support members supporting associated wheels located on either side of the vehicle, comprising:

(A) right and left side arm groups,

said right side arm group having right side first and second arms each connected at one end to said right side wheel support member, said right side first and second arms being spaced along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,

said left side arm group having left side first and second arms each connected at one end to said left side wheel support member, said left side first and second arms being spaced along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

(B) a first central support member located between said right and left side first arms, the other end of said right side first arm and said left side first arm being swingably connected to said central support member, said central support member being supported in a laterally displaceable state on a body of the vehicle;

(C) a second central support member swingably supported on the body and connected to said first central support member;

(D) a link mechanism located between said right side second arm and said left side second arm, connecting said second central support member with the other ends of said right and left side second arms, said link mechanism having;

first link members having connecting portions which connect with said respective second arms, said connecting portions being supported on the body, said first link members moving translationally in conjunction with swinging motion of said second arms about said connecting portions, and

a second link member connecting said first link members with each other, a middle part of said second link member being supported so as to be rotatable relative to said second central support member.

2. A suspension system for a vehicle having right and left side wheel support members supporting associated wheels located on either side of the vehicle, comprising:

(A) right and left side arm groups, said right side arm group having right side first and second arms, said left side arm group having left side first and second arms, wherein each of said first arms has;

a connecting portion connected to each said wheel support member, and a support portion supported on the body of the vehicle, each of said first arms swinging about said support portion in conjunction with vertical motion of said wheel support member;

(B) a first central support member supported in a laterally displaceable state on a body of the vehicle; and

(C) a second central support member swingably supported on the body at a predetermined position and connected to said first central support member, said first central support member being spaced in the vertical direction from the predetermined position of said second support member, and the predetermined position of said second central support member being spaced along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from one of connecting portions connected to said first arms.

3. A suspension system for a vehicle having right and left side wheel support members supporting associated wheels located on either side of the vehicle, comprising:

(A) right and left side arm groups, said right side arm group having right side first and second arms, said left side arm group having left side first and second arms, said first arms and second arms being spaced along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, each of said first arms having a connecting portion connected to each of said wheel support member, and a support portion supported on the body of the vehicle, each of said first arms swinging about said support portion in conjunction with vertical motion of said wheel support member;

(B) a first central support member supported in a laterally displaceable state on a body of the vehicle; and

(C) a second central support member located between said first arms, swingably supported by said first central support member, the axis of swing extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and connected to said first arms, said first arms being swingable related to said second central support member at support portions, one of these support portions being spaced in the vertical direction from the axis of swing of said second central support member.