Low profile chassis and suspension

• US 20020105170A1
• Filed: 10/08/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloha, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aloha, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Earl Dallas
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/683
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/113 Mountings on the axle B60G11/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/28 characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/12 and fluid damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/13 with longitudinal arms only
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/112 longitudinally arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/12 Wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1244 on a suspension arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/13 with the spring, i.e. coil spring, or damper horizontally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/10 Constructional features of arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/124 the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/04 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/14 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/38 Low or lowerable bed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/14 the arm being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/145 : the arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/053 : a leafspring being used as equilibration unit between two axle-supporting units
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 : Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/134 : Handicapped person handling

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. A trailing arm-type wheel support supports a stub axle in a cantilevered fashion. A spring urges the wheel support apart from the frame. A planar portion of the wheel support, the wheel support pivot joints, and the spring are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In another embodiment, the frame includes a recessed pocket which facilitates use of ramp for wheel chair access.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with a front engine and a pair of powered, steerable front wheels, comprising:

a first frame supporting one of the engine and the front wheels;

a second frame with a top surface, said second frame being rigidly coupled to said first frame;

a first rear wheel;

a second rear wheel;

a first stub axle providing cantilevered support to said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a first pivot axis; and

a second stub axle providing cantilevered support to said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second stub axle being pivotally coupled to said second frame and pivotal about a second pivot axis;

wherein said first pivot axis is parallel to said first rotational axis and below and in front of said first rotational axis, said second pivot axis is parallel to said second rotational axis and below and in front of said second rotational axis, and the top surface of said second frame is below the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises:

a first spring for urging said first wheel apart from said second frame; and

a second spring for urging said second wheel apart from said second frame;

wherein said first spring and said second spring are below the top surface of said second frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame, and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said second frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second wheel supports are pivotal about a pivot axis that is forward and below the rotational axis of each said rear wheel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pivot axis is parallel to the rotational axis.

6. A road vehicle comprising:

a cab section from a second vehicle, said cab section including a sub-frame, an engine, a pair of powered steerable front wheels, and a driver'"'"'s compartment with a first floor; and

a chassis section including a substantially flat frame disposed generally beneath the rotational axis of a pair of rear wheels, each said rear wheel being rotatably coupled to a stub axle, each said stub axle being pivotally supported from said chassis section, said chassis section being rigidly coupled to the sub-frame by a plurality of fasteners.

7. The road vehicle of claim 6 which further comprises a payload compartment on top of said chassis section and coupled to said chassis section, said payload compartment having a second floor, the second floor being lower than the first floor.

8. The road vehicle of claim 7 wherein the second floor is below the rotational axis of the rear wheels, and the first floor is above the rotational axis of the rear wheels.

9. The road vehicle of claim 6 wherein said chassis section is rigidly coupled to said sub-frame without welding of said sub-frame to said chassis section.

10. The road vehicle of claim 6 wherein each said stub axle is pivotal about a pivot axis that is forward and below the rotational axes of said rear wheels.

11. The road vehicle of claim 10 wherein the pivot axes are parallel to the rotational axes of said rear wheels.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said frame includes a longitudinal channeled member proximate the centerline of said frame, and said exhaust pipe is located within the channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said frame includes a pair of longitudinal members proximate the centerline of said frame, and said exhaust pipe is located between said longitudinal members.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 which further comprises a first stub axle rotatably supporting said first rear wheel and a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame, and a second stub axle pivotally supporting said second rear wheel and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises a first airspring for urging apart said first wheel support from said frame, the top of said first airspring being below the top surface of said frame, and a second airspring for urging apart said second wheel support from said frame, the top of said second airspring being below the top surface of said frame.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each said wheel support is pivotal about a pivot axis that is forward and below the rotational axes of said rear wheels.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each pivot axis is parallel to the rotational axes of said rear wheels.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises a first pair of pivot joints laterally spaced apart and coupling said first wheel support to said frame, and a second pair of pivot joints laterally spaced apart and coupling said second wheel support to said frame.

12. An apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a first rear wheel having a first rotational axis;

a second rear wheel having a second rotational axis;

a frame having a planar portion with a top surface and a bottom surface, said frame interconnecting said first and second rear wheels and being located between said first and second rear wheels, the first and second rotational axes being located above the top surface; and

an exhaust pipe supported within said frame below the top surface and above the bottom surface.

20. An apparatus for a road vehicle, comprising

a first frame section with a substantially planar top surface which is generally parallel to a substantially planar bottom surface, the top surface of said first frame section and the bottom surface of said first frame section being spaced apart by a first distance;

a second frame section with a substantially planar top surface which is generally parallel to a substantially planar bottom surface, the top surface of said second frame section and the bottom surface of said second frame section being spaced apart by a second distance which is less than the first distance; and

first and second rear wheels each mounted on opposing sides of said chassis, each said rear wheel being located longitudinally between said first frame section and said second frame section, each said rear wheel having a rotational axis located above the top surface of said first frame section and above the top surface of said second frame section.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the top surface of said first frame section and the top surface of said second frame section are coplanar.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 which further comprises a first stub axle and a first wheel support for rotatably supporting said first rear wheel on said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame, and a second stub axle and a second wheel support for rotatably supporting said second rear wheel on said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 which further comprises a first pair of pivot joints laterally spaced apart and coupling said first wheel support to said first frame, and a second pair of pivot joints laterally spaced apart and coupling said second wheel support to said first frame.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said first pair of pivot joints and said second pair of pivot joints are below the top surface of said first frame section and above the bottom surface of said first frame section.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said frame section includes an angled member along a boundary of the pocket, said member being angled downward from an inboard portion of said frame section to an outboard portion of said frame section.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the angle is more than about 5 degrees and less than about 18 degrees.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the angle is more than about 14 degrees and less than about 15 degrees.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said frame section includes a substantially planar bottom surface underneath the recessed pocket, and the bottom surface is less than about 9 inches above the road surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the outboard edge of the bottom boundary is less than about 9 inches from the road surface, and the inboard edge of the bottom boundary is more than about 20 inches from the outboard edge of the bottom boundary.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said frame section includes an outboard frame member parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame section and along an outboard boundary of the pocket, said outboard frame member having a top surface that is more than about 6 inches above the road surface and less than about 9 inches above the road surface.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said pocket is located in front of said left and right wheels.

25. An apparatus for a road vehicle comprising:

a left rear wheel rotatable about a first rotational axis;

a right rear wheel rotatable about a second rotational axis;

a frame section having right and left sides and a top surface located below said first rotational axis and said second rotational axis, said frame section defining a recessed pocket extending from an inboard portion of said frame section to an outboard portion of said frame section along one of the right or left sides and extending below the top surface, said pocket being adapted and configured for wheelchair access.

33. A front suspension for a road vehicle, comprising:

first and second longitudinally extending frame members;

first and second front wheels;

a front axle for providing power to said first and second front wheels;

a trailing arm support having two ends with one end pivotally coupled to said first frame member and supporting one side of said front axle, a portion of said front axle extending between the bottom side of said first frame member and the top side of said trailing arm; and

a pivotal member with two ends, a first end pivotally coupled to said trailing arm support, and a second end pivotally coupled to said second frame member.

34. The front suspension of claim 33 wherein the first end of said pivotal member is pivotal about a first axis, the second end of said pivotal member is pivotal about a second axis, said trailing arm is pivotal about a third axis, and the first and second axes are parallel, and the first and second axes are perpendicular to the third axis.

35. The front suspension of claim 34 wherein said trailing arm support is pivotally coupled to the bottom side of said first frame member.

36. The front suspension of claim 35 which further comprises an air spring having two ends, with one end of said air spring coupled to said trailing arm and the other end of said air spring coupled to said first frame member, said air spring urging apart said trailing arm and said first frame member.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 which further comprises a first stub axle rotatably supporting said first rear wheel and a first wheel support supporting said first stub axle, said first wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame, and a second stub axle pivotally supporting said second rear wheel and a second wheel support supporting said second stub axle, said second wheel support being pivotally coupled to said frame.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said first wheel support is pivotal about a first pivot axis that is forward and below the rotational axis of said left rear wheel, and said second wheel support is pivotal about a second pivot axis that is forward and below the rotational axis of said right rear wheel.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the first pivot axis is parallel to the first rotational axis, and the second pivot axis is parallel to the second rotational axis.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the first and second pivot axes are below the top surface of said frame section.

37. A an apparatus for a road vehicle, comprising:

a left rear wheel rotatable about a first rotational axis;

a right rear wheel rotatable about a second rotational axis;

a frame section located between said left rear wheel and said right rear wheel, said frame section having a substantially planar top surface located below said first rotational axis and said second rotational axis;

a hydraulic brake assembly coupled to one of said left wheel or said right wheel for braking of said one rear wheel, said brake assembly having an inboard surface and defining a port for the flow of hydraulic fluid from said brake cylinder; and

a hydraulic line for receiving the flow of hydraulic fluid from said port of said brake assembly;

wherein said port is oriented on said brake assembly so that said hydraulic line does not extend inward of the inboard surface of said brake assembly.

42. A vehicle, comprising:

a pair of driven front wheels;

a front axle providing power to said front wheels, said front axle having a rotational axis;

an engine and transmission for providing power to said front wheels, said engine having a rotational centerline that is approximately perpendicular to the rotational axis of said front axle, said transmission being located between said front axle and said engine;

a rear frame with a substantially planar top surface; and

a pair of rear wheels coupled to said rear frame, each said rear wheel having a rotational axis located above the planar top surface.

43. The vehicle of claim 42 wherein the rotational axis of said front axle and the rotational centerline of said engine are approximately planar.

44. The vehicle of claim 42 wherein the centerline of said engine is coaxial to the centerline of said transmission, and the centerline of said engine is perpendicular to the rotational axis of said front axle.

45. The vehicle of claim 42 wherein said rear wheels are pivotally coupled to said rear frame, and the pivot axes are located below the planar top surface.