Low profile chassis and suspension
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission, and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
- a first frame supporting at least one of the engine, transmission, and the front wheels, wherein the engine rotational axis is located above the centerline of the front wheels;
a second frame with a top surface and a bottom surface, said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame;
a first rear wheela second rear wheel;
a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis;
a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis;
wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis; and
which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. A trailing arm-type wheel support supports a stub axle in a cantilevered fashion. A spring urges the wheel support apart from the frame. A planar portion of the wheel support, the wheel support pivot joints, and the spring are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In another embodiment, the frame includes a recessed pocket which facilitates use of ramp for wheel chair access.
273 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission, and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
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a first frame supporting at least one of the engine, transmission, and the front wheels, wherein the engine rotational axis is located above the centerline of the front wheels; a second frame with a top surface and a bottom surface, said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame; a first rear wheel a second rear wheel; a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis; and which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for a transporting motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
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a first frame supporting at least one of the engine, transmission, and the front wheels; a second frame with a top surface and a bottom surface, said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame; a first rear wheel; a second rear wheel; a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis when the vehicle is transporting; a first spring for urging said first wheel apart from said second frame; and a second spring for urging said second wheel apart from said second frame; wherein said first spring and said second spring are below the top surface of said second frame; and which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission, and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
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a first frame supporting at least one of the engine, transmission, and the front wheels; a second frame with a top surface, and a bottom surface said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame; a first rear wheel; a second rear wheel; a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis, and which further comprises a first wheel support independently supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support independently supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for a vehicle propelled by a motor which exhausts combusted gas, comprising:
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a first rear wheel having a first rotational axis; a second rear wheel having a second rotational axis; a frame having a planar portion with a top surface and a bottom surface, said frame interconnecting said first and second rear wheels and being located between said first and second rear wheels, the first and second rotational axes being located above the top surface;
a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about said first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis;a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about said second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis, and which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing; and an exhaust pipe supported within said frame below the top surface and above the bottom surface, said exhaust pipe including a port to ambient conditions, the port being behind one of said first rear wheel or said second rear wheel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission, and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
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a first frame supporting at least one of the engine, transmission, and the front wheels; a second frame with a top surface and a bottom surface, said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame; a first rear wheel; a second rear wheel; a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; and a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis; and
which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing.wherein said second frame comprises a recessed pocket extending from an inboard portion of said second frame to an outboard portion of said second frame and extending below the top surface, said pocket being adapted and configured for wheelchair access. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine, transmission, and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:
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a first frame supporting a pair of powered, steerable front wheels; a second frame with a top surface and a bottom surface; a first rear wheel; a second rear wheel; a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first rear wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; and a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second rear wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis; wherein said first pivot axis is below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis; and
which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame wherein said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a first pivotal attachment including a first inner member and an elastomeric bushing and said first wheel support is pivotally coupled to said second frame by a second pivotal attachment including a second inner member and a second elastomeric bushing.wherein the front wheels have a track width less than the track width of the rear wheels. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification