Electronically controlled suspension for motor vehicles

• US 6,974,138 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: Sandri, Silvano, Perello, Gian Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US10/673,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 280/5.522, 280/5.52, 280/86.758, 280/86.75, 280/124.127, 280/124.154, 280/124.145, 280/124.146, 280/93.504, 280/93.51, 280/93.512, 180/402, 180/444, 180/446, 180/443, 180/412, 180/413
• US Class Current: 280/5.522
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/462 Toe-in/out
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/4622 Alignment adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/129 Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4232 Sliding mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/40 Constructional features of dampers and/or springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/10 Damping action or damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/184 Semi-Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/164 Heaving; Squatting
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/01 the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide camber maintaining means B60G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0418 Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/06 for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 : Steering knuckles; King pins

Abstract

Independent wheel suspension for motor vehicles comprising: a wheel support (12) with a suspension movement and a steering movement, suspension movement guide devices including a steering element (16), elastic device (34) and shock absorbing devices (16, 26), and a control device (42, 44, 46, 40) of the wheel support steering movement. The wheel support (12) slides along steering element (16), which is slanted with respect to a vertical axis, and the steering movement control device comprises an electric actuator (42) controlled by an electronic control unit (50) arranged to correct the steering movements induced by the suspension movement.

Claims

1. An independent wheel suspension for motor vehicles comprising:

a wheel support with a suspension movement and a steering movement,

suspension movement guiding devices including a steering element which guides the suspension movement, the steering element forming part of a shock absorbing device and being coupled to an elastic device, and

a control device of the wheel support steering movement,

wherein the wheel support slides along the steering element, which is slanted with respect to a vertical axis, and wherein the steering movement control device comprises an electric actuator controlled by an electronic control unit arranged to correct steering movements induced by the suspension movement based on a signal indicating a position of the wheel support along an axis of the steering element.

2. A motor vehicle comprising at least one steerable wheel, wherein the at least one steerable wheel is supported by an independent wheel suspension as defined in claim 1.

3. The suspension according to claim 1, wherein said steering element comprises a straight rod having extremities equipped with attachment devices for fastening to a body of a motor vehicle.

4. The suspension according to claim 3, wherein the wheel support is fastened to a tubular element sliding with respect to the steering element and forming an external casing of the shock absorbing device.