Vehicle front suspension

• US 8,870,205 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Corby, Ryan, Lam, Joyce, Ameloot, Kenneth, Dix, Jeffery
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPISICH, GEORGE D
• Application Number:
  US13/794,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20140252741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.1, 280/124.128, 280/124.134, 280/124.135, 280/93.512, 280/124.145, 280/124.146, 280/124.147, 180/274, 180/271, 188/376
• US Class Current: 280/124.134
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/142 with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/1424 the lateral arm having an L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/154 the lateral arm having an L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1431 of an L-shaped arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/016 allowing controlled deformation during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/122 the arm having L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/91 Assembly procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/06 the arm being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/166 substantially perpendicular, e.g. between tie-rod and steering knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 Steering knuckles; King pins
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/20 Links, e.g. track rods means for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in B62D17/00

Abstract

A vehicle front suspension includes a lower suspension support structure, a transverse link, a steering knuckle and a lower knuckle breakaway structure. The transverse link has an inboard side and an outboard side, with the inboard side being attached to the lower suspension support structure. The steering knuckle is pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link. The lower knuckle breakaway structure is formed on one of the transverse link and the steering knuckle to release the steering knuckle from the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle front suspension comprising;

a lower suspension support structure;

a transverse link having an inboard side and an outboard side, the inboard side attached to the lower suspension support structure;

a steering knuckle pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link; and

a lower knuckle breakaway structure formed on the transverse link to release the steering knuckle and an outer portion of the transverse link from an inner portion of the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure with the outer portion of the transverse link remaining attached to the steering knuckle.

2. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 1, wherein

the lower knuckle breakaway structure includes a frangible part formed on the transverse link between the outboard side of the transverse link and the inboard side of the transverse link.

3. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 2, wherein

the inboard side of the transverse link includes a front attachment point and a rear attachment point that are both attached to the lower suspension support structure, and

the frangible part includes a first frangible part located between the outboard side of the transverse link and the rear attachment point of the transverse link, and a second frangible part located between the front attachment point of the transverse link and the outboard side of the transverse link.

4. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 1, further comprising

an upper suspension support structure;

a strut having an upper end connected to the upper suspension support structure, and a lower end fixedly attached to the steering knuckle by a knuckle attachment structure; and

an upper knuckle breakaway structure formed on one of the upper end of the steering knuckle and the knuckle attachment structure that releases the upper end of the steering knuckle from the strut upon application of the prescribed rearward force directed to the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.

5. A vehicle front suspension comprising;

a lower suspension support structure;

a transverse link having an inboard side and an outboard side, the inboard side attached to the lower suspension support structure;

a steering knuckle having a lower end pivotally coupled to the outboard side of the transverse link, and an upper end;

a lower knuckle breakaway structure formed on the transverse link to release the steering knuckle and an outer portion of the transverse link from an inner portion of the transverse link upon application of a prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure;

an upper suspension support structure;

a strut having an upper end connected to the upper suspension support structure, and a lower end fixedly attached to the upper end of the steering knuckle by a knuckle attachment structure; and

an upper knuckle breakaway structure formed on one of the upper end of the steering knuckle and the knuckle attachment structure to release the steering knuckle from the knuckle attachment structure upon application of the prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.

6. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 5, wherein

the upper knuckle breakaway structure includes a predetermined frangible part that releases the upper end of the steering knuckle from the strut upon application of the prescribed rearward directed force on the vehicle front suspension outboard of the lower suspension support structure.

7. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 6, wherein

the upper knuckle breakaway structure includes the frangible part formed at the upper end of the steering knuckle.

8. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 6, wherein

the upper knuckle breakaway structure includes the frangible part formed on the knuckle attachment structure.

9. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 5, wherein

the lower knuckle breakaway structure includes a frangible part formed on the transverse link between the outboard side of the transverse link and the inboard side of the transverse link.

10. The vehicle front suspension according to claim 9, wherein

the inboard side of the transverse link includes a front attachment point and a rear attachment point that are both attached to the lower suspension support structure, and

the frangible part includes a first frangible part located between the outboard side of the transverse link and the rear attachment point of the transverse link, and a second frangible part located between the front attachment point of the transverse link and the outboard side of the transverse link.