Progressive compression suspension
First Claim
1. A suspension attached to a vehicle frame, comprising:
- an upper A arm having a frame end and a distal end, said frame end directly pivotally attached to the frame;
a lower A arm having a first end and a second end, said lower A arm pivotally attached to said frame around a lower pivot axis, and an eccentric arm portion extending from said lower A arm at said first end, said eccentric arm portion terminating in said first end of said lower A arm;
an actuating linkage extending from said lower A arm, said actuating linkage defining a lower end pivotally attached to said lower A arm and an upper end pivotally attached to a compression linkage at an actuating linkage attachment point;
said compression linkage pivotally attached to said frame at an upper pivot axis, said compression linkage further defined by a shock upper mount, with said upper pivot axis, said actuating linkage attachment point and said shock upper mount being in relative spaced relation; and
a shock absorber assembly pivotally attached to said upper shock mount at a first end and to a lower shock mount formed on said lower A arm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Progressive Compression Suspension is disclosed. The suspension operates to provide floating opposed mounting points for each end of the suspension'"'"'s shock absorber. The bottom end of the shock absorber pivotally attaches to the lower suspension arm, and the upper end of the shock absorber pivotally attaches to a compression linkage. The compression linkage is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame or chassis, such that it rocks back forth when the suspension engages rough terrain and the top of the shock absorber works in opposition to the bottom of the shock absorber. The rocking of the compression linkage is created by an actuating linkage interconnecting the compression linkage and an eccentric arm extending inwardly towards the frame from the pivot point of the lower suspension arm. As a result of this geometry, if the lower suspension arm is driven upwardly by the terrain, it will (through operation of the eccentric arm, actuating linkage and compression linkage) cause the top mounting point of the shock absorber to be driven downwardly. By correctly calculating the dimensional relationships, the resultant effect progressive dampening that is responsive to suspension travel, rather than simple linear dampening.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A suspension attached to a vehicle frame, comprising:
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an upper A arm having a frame end and a distal end, said frame end directly pivotally attached to the frame; a lower A arm having a first end and a second end, said lower A arm pivotally attached to said frame around a lower pivot axis, and an eccentric arm portion extending from said lower A arm at said first end, said eccentric arm portion terminating in said first end of said lower A arm; an actuating linkage extending from said lower A arm, said actuating linkage defining a lower end pivotally attached to said lower A arm and an upper end pivotally attached to a compression linkage at an actuating linkage attachment point; said compression linkage pivotally attached to said frame at an upper pivot axis, said compression linkage further defined by a shock upper mount, with said upper pivot axis, said actuating linkage attachment point and said shock upper mount being in relative spaced relation; and a shock absorber assembly pivotally attached to said upper shock mount at a first end and to a lower shock mount formed on said lower A arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle suspension, the vehicle with which said suspension is associated being defined by a chassis frame, the suspension comprising:
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an arm member having a first end and a second end, said arm member directly pivotally attached to said frame around an arm pivot axis, wherein said arm pivot axis is intermediate said first and second end of said arm member; an actuating linkage extending from said arm member, said actuating linkage defining a lower end pivotally attached to an eccentric arm portion of said arm member and an upper end pivotally attached to a compression linkage at an actuating linkage attachment point, wherein said arm member is defined by an eccentric arm portion commencing at said first end and an arm portion fixedly extending from said eccentric arm portion at said arm pivot axis and terminating in said second end; said compression linkage pivotally attached to said frame at a linkage pivot axis, said compression linkage further defined by a shock upper mount, with said linkage pivot axis, said actuating linkage attachment point and said shock upper mount being in relative spaced relation; and a shock absorber assembly pivotally attached to said upper shock mount at a first end and to a lower shock mount formed on said arm member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle front suspension attached to a vehicle frame, comprising:
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an upper A arm having a frame end and a distal end, said frame end directly pivotally attached to the frame and said distal end pivotally attached to a spindle; a lower A arm having a first end and a second end, said lower A arm pivotally attached to said frame around a lower A arm pivot axis, said lower A arm pivot axis is intermediate said first and second end of said lower A arm, said second end pivotally attached to said spindle; an actuating linkage extending from said lower A arm, said actuating linkage defining a lower end pivotally attached to said lower A arm and an upper end pivotally attached to a compression linkage at an actuating linkage attachment point; said compression linkage pivotally attached to said frame at a linkage pivot axis, said compression linkage further defined by a shock upper mount, with said linkage pivot axis, said actuating linkage attachment point and said shock upper mount each being in relative spaced relation; and a shock absorber assembly pivotally attached to said upper shock mount at a first end and to a lower shock mount formed on said lower A arm. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification