Suspension system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,097,187 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Bennett, Kirt M, Walters, Mark, Lim, Stephen T
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr., Barry
• Application Number:
  US10/741,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.103, 280/124.106, 280/124.128, 280/124.153, 280/124.179, 280/124.164, 280/93.51, 280/93.502, 280/93.506, 180/227
• US Class Current: 280/124.128
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/13 with longitudinal arms only
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• 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 2300/12 Cycles; Motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/06 Frames for tricycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

An independent suspension system is provided for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure. The system includes independently pivotable swing arms, a shock absorber assembly, a joining arm and tie rods. The swing arms are attached to the vehicle body structure and to a respective wheel and the shock absorber assembly is mounted to the vehicle structure. The shock absorber assembly includes a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element. The suspension system further includes a tie rod connecting each swing arm to the joining arm. The joining arm is arranged to move in a lengthwise vehicle direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate about an attachment point without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle suspension system for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure, the suspension system comprising:

independently pivotable swing arms attached at one end to a vehicle body structure and at the other end to a respective wheel;

a joining arm arranged to be slidably moveable in a vehicle lengthwise direction and rotateable about an attachment point;

a shock absorber assembly mounted to a vehicle structure, the shock absorber assembly including a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element; and

a tie rod connecting each respective swing arm to the joining arm, wherein the joining arm is arranged to move in a vehicle lengthwise direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 wherein the swing arms comprise lower swing arms.

3. The suspension system of claim 1 wherein the swing arms comprise upper swing arms.

4. A vehicle suspension system for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure, the suspension system comprising:

independently pivotable swing arms attached at one end to a vehicle body structure and at the other end to a respective wheel;

a joining arm arranged to be moveable in a vehicle lengthwise direction and rotateable about an attachment point;

a shock absorber assembly mounted to a vehicle structure, the shock absorber assembly including a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element;

a tie rod connecting each respective swing arm to the joining arm, wherein the joining arm is arranged to move in a vehicle lengthwise direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle; and

independently pivotable steering arms coupled to each respective wheel and a steering mechanism, the steering arms coupled to the steering mechanism so as to pivot cooperatively with the swing arms, and wherein the set of wheels comprise a pair of front wheels.

5. The suspension system of claim 4 wherein the swing arms comprise lower swing arms, the system further comprising independently pivotable upper swing arms coupled to each respective wheel and a vehicle body structure and arranged to pivot cooperatively with the lower swing arms.

6. A vehicle suspension system for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure, the suspension system comprising:

independently pivotable swing arms attached at one end to a vehicle body structure and at the other end to a respective wheel;

a joining arm arranged to be moveable in a vehicle lengthwise direction and rotateable about an attachment point;

a shock absorber assembly mounted to a vehicle structure, the shock absorber assembly including a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element; and

a tie rod connecting each respective swing arm to the joining arm, wherein the joining arm is arranged to move in a vehicle lengthwise direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle,

wherein the set of wheels comprise a pair of front wheels and the swing arms comprise lower swing arms, the system further comprising independently pivotable upper swing arms coupled to each respective wheel and a vehicle body structure and arranged to pivot cooperatively with the lower swing arms.