Vehicle suspension system with a variable camber system

• US 7,914,020 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy Boston
• Original Assignee: Roy Boston
• Inventors: Boston, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/173,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 280/86.75, 280/86.751, 280/86.752, 280/86.753, 280/86.755, 280/86.756, 280/86.757, 280/124.135, 280/124.136, 280/5.52, 280/5.521
• US Class Current: 280/86.751
• 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 2204/421 Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/04 combined with means for inwardly inclining wheels on bends B62D9/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A suspension system for a vehicle provides a camber adjusting system that during a turn, lowers and draws inward the upper A-arm, or draws inward a strut head, which supports the outer front wheel, thereby providing more negative camber to that wheel in dynamic optimal proportion to the degree of the turn. The suspension system can be configured to remain at zero camber on the inner front wheel during the turn or can be configured to raise and move outward the upper A-arm, or move outward a strut head, which supports the inner front wheel, thereby providing more positive camber to that wheel in dynamic optimal proportion to the degree of turn.

Claims

1. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle frame;

a driver steering control;

a steering unit receiving input from said driver steering control and outputting movement to a guide plate in a selected lateral direction in proportion to movement of the driver steering control;

a first pair of wheels;

a pair of spindles;

a pair of cam arrangements;

a pair of vertical members pivotally carried by said frame and each vertical member operatively connected via one of said cam arrangements to said guide plate;

a pair of tie rod links;

each wheel mounted on one of said spindles, each spindle mounted to one of said vertical members and one of said tie rod links, movement of said tie rod links rotates said spindles to rotate said wheels about substantially vertical axes to effect a vehicle turning movement, rotation of said vertical members about substantially horizontal axes causes camber change to said wheels, wherein

said tie rod links are operatively connected to said guide plate and each vertical member is operatively connected to said guide plate via said cam arrangements to turn said vertical members about said substantially horizontal axes in a preset proportion to the amount of turning of said spindles about said substantially vertical axes.

2. The steering system according to claim 1, wherein each said vertical member is connected to said frame via a lower arm and an upper arm that are pivotally connected to said frame, and said cam arrangement is provided between said upper arm and said guide plate.

3. The steering system according to claim 2, wherein said frame comprises a pair of guide rods fixed in an inclined orientation and each cam arrangement comprises a slide mount slidable on a respective guide rod along a length of said guide rod, wherein each said slide mount comprises a follower and said guide plate comprises a cam track for guiding said cam follower, each said upper arm pivotally connected to one of said slide mounts.

4. The steering system according to claim 3, wherein said upper and lower arms comprise equal length A arms.

5. The steering system according to claim 3, wherein each of said cam tracks includes an outwardly rising portion and said guide rods are inclined in an outwardly rising direction.

6. The steering system according to claim 1, wherein said driver steering control comprises a steering wheel and said steering unit comprises a pinion and a rack, said pinion transferring rotary power from said steering wheel to translate said rack in a selected transverse direction, said rack being connected to or formed with said guide plate.

7. The steering system according to claim 1, wherein opposite sides of said steering system are mirror image identical across a vertical, longitudinal center plane.

8. The steering system according to claim 1, comprising a second pair of wheels, said second pair of wheels being mounted spaced from said first pair of wheels, said second pair of wheels being mounted to said frame by wheel supports having camber adjusting mechanisms coordinated in movement with movement of said guide plate during steering.

9. A steering system in a vehicle having a pair of turnable wheel supports for mounting a pair of steerable wheels to a vehicle frame, comprising:

a driver steering device;

a steering member arranged to move laterally by input from said driver steering device;

said steering member operatively connected to the pair of turnable wheel supports to turn said front wheels about vertical axes;

a cam arrangement connected to said steering member and to said turnable wheel supports, said cam arrangement having a pair of cam surfaces that are configured to adjust camber of said steerable wheels in proportion to the amount of turning of said steerable wheels, wherein during steering an inside wheel increases in camber and an outside wheel decreases in camber.

10. The steering system according to claim 9, wherein said cam arrangement comprises a pair of cam grooves having said pair of cam surfaces, each of which receives a follower.

11. The steering system according to claim 9, wherein said steering member comprises a moveable plate and a pair of movable camber links connected to said turnable wheel supports at a vertical distance from an axis of rotation of said steerable wheels on said turnable wheel supports, movement of said movable camber links changing the camber of said steerable wheels.

12. The steering system according to claim 9, wherein said steering member comprises a pair of movable steering links connected to said turnable wheel supports each at a horizontal distance from an axis of rotation of each of said wheels, movement of said movable steering links changing the turning angle of said steerable wheels.

14. The steering system according to claim 9, wherein said turnable wheel supports comprise strut suspension elements mechanically connected to said steering member and movable at the top mounting thereof by said steering member to adjust the camber of said turnable wheels in proportion to the degree of turning.

13. A steering system in a vehicle having a pair of turnable wheel supports for mounting a pair of steerable wheels to a vehicle frame, comprising:

a driver steering device;

a steering member arranged to move laterally by input from said driver steering device;

said steering member operatively connected to the pair of turnable wheel supports to turn said front wheels about vertical axes;

a cam arrangement connected to said steering member and to said turnable wheel supports, said cam arrangement configured to adjust camber of said steerable wheels in proportion to the amount of turning of said steerable wheels, wherein during steering an inside wheel increases in camber and an outside wheel decreases in camber;

wherein said steering member comprises a moveable plate and a pair of movable camber links connected to said turnable wheel supports at a vertical distance from an axis of rotation of said steerable wheels on said turnable wheel supports, movement of said movable camber links changing the camber of said steerable wheels, wherein said steering member comprises a sliding connection between said movable link and said movable plate, wherein an end of said movable link at said sliding connection moves in part inwardly when said movable plate moves transversely.

15. A steering mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of steerable wheels, said wheels being carried by turnable wheel supports pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame, the turnable wheel supports being pivoted to turn the vehicle, comprising:

a driver-controlled steering element;

a laterally movable elongated steering member operatively connected between the turnable wheel supports and operatively connected to the steering element for turning the turnable wheel supports to turn the vehicle by the steering member shifting laterally; and

a direct mechanical linkage between the wheel supports and the steering member to adjust the camber of the wheels proportionally to the degree of turning of the wheels, wherein said direct mechanical linkage comprises at least one cam surface applied between said steering member and at least one of the turnable wheel supports.

16. The steering mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said direct mechanical linkage comprises at least one follower in a cam groove having said cam surface, applied between said elongated steering member and at least one turnable wheel support.

17. The steering mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said cam groove comprises an angular cam groove.

18. The steering mechanism according to claim 16, wherein said cam groove comprises a curved cam groove.

19. The steering system according to claim 15, comprising a second pair of wheels, said second pair of wheels being mounted spaced from said pair of steerable wheels, said second pair of wheels being mounted to said vehicle frame by wheel supports connected to camber adjusting mechanisms, said camber adjusting mechanisms adjusting camber of said second pair of wheels coordinated in adjustment with movement of said elongated steering member during steering.