Suspension device for vehicle wheels

• US 7,357,400 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Serra, Loic
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US11/357,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 280/86.75, 280/86.751, 280/86.757, 280/5.52, 280/5.521, 280/124.134
• US Class Current: 280/86.751
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• 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 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/422 Links for mounting suspension elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/26 Means for maintaining substantially-constant wheel camber during suspension movement ; Means for controlling the variation of the wheel position during suspension movement B60G3/202, B60G3/22, B60G7/003, B60G7/006 take precedence; means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 17/00 Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in

Abstract

A vehicle suspension device includes a camber mechanism which imparts to the wheels a degree of freedom of the camber independently of vehicle rolls. The wheels are linked to the suspension elements so that the camber movement of each wheel permits, around a mean position of the wheel, an instantaneous centre of rotation (CIR r/s). A camber connection structure transmits the camber movements of one wheel to another wheel. The instantaneous position of the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a zero camber of a wheel satisfies the following condition: Z≦(0.75)Y−(0.12158)R, wherein Z and Y are the ordinate and abscissa, respectively, of the instantaneous position, and R is the wheel radius.

Claims

1. A vehicle suspension device for a wheeled vehicle having wheels affixed to respective wheel carriers, each wheel suspended by first ends of respective suspension elements;

the device comprising an intermediate support pivotably connected to the first ends of the suspension elements, and a camber mechanism for imparting to each wheel a degree of freedom of the camber relative to the suspension elements, the camber mechanism pivotably interconnecting the wheel carrier with the intermediate support, wherein the wheel carrier and the camber mechanism are movable relative to the intermediate support for changing the camber;

the wheel linked to the suspension elements through the wheel support, the camber mechanism and the intermediate support so that the camber movement of each wheel relative to the intermediate support occurs for a mean position of the wheel about a position of an instantaneous centre of rotation;

the camber mechanism including a camber interconnection structure for transmitting the camber movements of a wheel to another wheel, wherein the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a zero wheel camber satisfies the following condition;

Z≦

(0.75)Y−

(0.12158)R

wherein Z is the ordinate of the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation;

Y is the abscissa of the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation; and

R is the wheel radius.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said condition is satisfied for a camber deflection in the range of 0°

to −

1°

.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said condition is satisfied for a camber deflection in the range of 0°

to −

2°

.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said condition is satisfied for a camber deflection in the range of 0°

to −

3°

.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said condition is satisfied for a camber deflection in the range of 0°

to −

4°

.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said condition is satisfied for a camber deflection in the range of 0°

to −

5°

.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a camber deflection of −

1°

satisfies the following condition;

Z≦

(0.75)Y−

(0.1562)R.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a camber deflection of −

2°

satisfies the following condition;

Z≦

(0.75)Y−

(0.1908)R.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the position of the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a camber deflection of −

4°

satisfies the following condition;

Z≦

(0.75)Y−

(0.2601)R.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein for a zero camber of the wheel, the instantaneous centre of rotation is located at ground level and at a distance from the wheel plane (PR) towards the inside of the vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a zero camber also satisfies the following condition:

Y>

(0.125)R.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the instantaneous centre of rotation within the camber plane for a zero camber also satisfies the following condition:

Z≦

(−

0.75)Y+(0.12158)R.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the camber mechanism comprises a wheel carrier and rods;

each rod including an upper end articulated to the wheel carrier, and a lower end articulated to the suspension elements.

14. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism for blocking the camber movement.

15. A vehicle comprising wheels suspended by suspension elements, and a suspension device according to claim 1.

16. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein each suspension element for a respective wheel is of fixed length.