Suspensions for low floor vehicles
First Claim
1. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first wheel;
a second wheel;
a first stub axle providing support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being coupled to a first spindle support;
a second stub axle providing support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis;
a frame including a substantially flat portion having a top surface, said first wheel being located on one side of said frame, said second wheel being located on an opposing side of said frame, said portion being disposed generally beneath the first and second rotational axes;
an upper pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said upper pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame below the top surface; and
a lower pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said lower pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame below the top surface, said lower pivotal support arm being below said upper pivotal support arm.
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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. In some embodiments each wheel is suspended from the vehicle by a pair of pivotal support arms. Preferably, one arm is located above the other arm, and both arms pivot along pivot axes that are generally perpendicular to the rotational axis of the supported wheel. A spring urges one of the arms apart from the frame. In other embodiments, the spring is placed beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In some embodiments both of the pivoting support arms are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel.
343 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first wheel;
a second wheel;
a first stub axle providing support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being coupled to a first spindle support;
a second stub axle providing support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis;
a frame including a substantially flat portion having a top surface, said first wheel being located on one side of said frame, said second wheel being located on an opposing side of said frame, said portion being disposed generally beneath the first and second rotational axes;
an upper pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said upper pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame below the top surface; and
a lower pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said lower pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame below the top surface, said lower pivotal support arm being below said upper pivotal support arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- a first wheel;
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6. A vehicle comprising:
- a first unpowered rear wheel;
a second unpowered rear wheel;
a first stub axle providing support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being coupled to a first spindle support;
a second stub axle providing support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, a frame including a substantially flat portion having a top surface, said first wheel being located on one side of said frame, said second wheel being located on an opposing side of said frame, said portion being disposed generally beneath the first and second rotational axes;
a payload section for transporting cargo or persons, said payload section having a floor supported at least in part by the top surface of said frame;
a first pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said first support arm being pivotally coupled to the vehicle;
a second pivotal support arm pivotally coupled to said first spindle support, said second pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame; and
a biasing member urging apart one of said first support arm or said second support arm from one of said floor or said frame, said biasing member being located under said floor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a first unpowered rear wheel;
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14. A vehicle comprising:
- a first unpowered rear wheel;
a second unpowered rear wheel;
a first stub axle providing support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis;
a second stub axle providing support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis;
a frame including a substantially flat portion having a top surface, said first wheel being located on one side of said frame, said second wheel being located on an opposing side of said frame, said portion being disposed generally beneath the first and second rotational axes;
a first pivotal support arm pivotally supporting said first stub axle by first and second pivotal attachments, said first support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame by third and fourth pivotal attachments, said first and second pivotal attachments being spaced apart and being pivotal about a first pivot axis, said third and fourth pivotal attachments being spaced apart and being pivotal about a second pivot axis; and
a second pivotal support arm pivotally supporting said first spindle support, said second pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- a first unpowered rear wheel;
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21. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first wheel;
a second wheel;
a first stub axle providing support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis;
a second stub axle providing support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, a frame including a substantially flat portion having a top surface, said first wheel being located on a first side of said frame, said second wheel being located on a second side opposing said first side of said frame, said portion being disposed generally beneath the first and second rotational axes;
a first pivotal support arm pivotally supporting said first stub axle, said first pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame below the top surface;
a second pivotal support arm pivotally supporting said first stub axle, said second pivotal support arm being pivotally coupled to said frame; and
a first wheelhousing carried by said frame and located inboard and above said first wheel, said first wheelliousing including a dividing member located inboard of said first wheel, said dividing member having a lower, outboard section proximate to said first stub axle and proximate to said first pivotal support arm;
wherein said first pivotal support arm includes a downwardly concave portion adapted and configured to provide clearance from the section of said dividing member during jounce of said first wheel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
- a first wheel;
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25. An apparatus for suspending a stub axle of a vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel support having a vertical section including means for attachment of the stub axle, a first lateral section to one side of said vertical section and a second lateral section to the other side of said vertical section;
said first lateral section including a first upper pivot attachment for pivotal coupling to the vehicle and a first lower pivot attachment for pivotal coupling to the vehicle, said first upper pivot attachment being spaced above said first lower pivot attachment and being spaced below the rotational axis of an attached stub axle; and
said second lateral section including a second pivot attachment for pivotal coupling to the vehicle, said second pivot attachment being spaced below the rotational axis of an attached stub axle, said second pivot attachment being adapted and configured to establish a common pivot axis with one of said first upper pivot attachment or said first lower pivot attachment. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
- a wheel support having a vertical section including means for attachment of the stub axle, a first lateral section to one side of said vertical section and a second lateral section to the other side of said vertical section;
Specification