Vehicle suspension arrangement and vehicle provided with such a suspension

• US 20050263972A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Svartz, Bjorn O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.107
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/314 with longitudinally arranged arms articulated on the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/341 Panhard rod
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/025 using linkages for the suspension of the axle allowing its lateral swinging displacement

Abstract

An axle suspension arrangement for rigid axles in vehicles with a frame having a pair of longitudinal beams. The suspension arrangement includes at least one first longitudinal control arm extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, each longitudinal control arm being connected to the vehicle by a first pivotal joint and being connected to the vehicle axle by a second pivotal joint. The arrangement further includes a second longitudinal control arm connected to the vehicle by a third pivotal joint and connected to the vehicle axle by a fourth pivotal joint, the control arms being arranged on each side of the vehicle approximately at the same level, positioned above the first control arm, and a stabilizer bar counteracting lateral tilting movements of the axle. The stabilizer bar is arranged directly between and fixedly attached to the second longitudinal control arms at its ends. There is further disclosed a vehicle provided with such an axle suspension.

Claims

1. An axle suspension arrangement for rigid axles in vehicles with a frame having a pair of longitudinal beams, the suspension arrangement comprising:

at least one first longitudinal control arm extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a vehicle axle vertically movable to the vehicle body, each longitudinal control arm being connected to the vehicle by a first pivotal joint and being connected to the vehicle axle by a second pivotal joint, and control arms being arranged on each side of the vehicle;

a second longitudinal control arm being connected to the vehicle by a third pivoting joint and being connected to the vehicle axle by a fourth pivoting joint, and second control arms being arranged on each side of the vehicle approximately at the same level, positioned above first control arms;

a stabilizer bar counteracting lateral tilting movements of the axle, the stabilizer bar being arranged directly between and fixedly attached to the second longitudinal control arms at its ends.

2. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first and second control arms form a parallelogram.

3. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer bar is attached to the second longitudinal control arm at or near the third pivoting joint.

4. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 3, wherein the stabilizer bar is positioned in a roll center of the vehicle.

5. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 4, wherein the stabilizer bar is arranged to pass through the longitudinal beams of the vehicle.

6. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth pivoting joints comprise resilient bushings.

7. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 6, wherein the fourth pivoting joint has an axis parallel to a horizontal plane and angled outwards and forward relative to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

8. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 6, wherein the fourth pivoting joint is resiliently displaceable relative to an axis of the bushing.

9. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 6, wherein the third pivoting joint has an axis parallel to a lateral, vertical plane and angled outwards and upward relative to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

10. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 9, wherein the third pivoting joint is resiliently displaceable relative to an axis of the bushing.

11. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 9, wherein the fourth pivoting joint has an axis parallel to a horizontal plane and angled outwards and forward relative to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

12. The axle suspension arrangement of claim 9, wherein the fourth pivoting joint is resiliently displaceable relative to an axis of the bushing.

13. A vehicle, comprising at least one axle suspension arrangement according to claim 1.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the stabilizer bar is positioned in front of the axle.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the stabilizer bar is positioned rearward of the axle.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein for a vehicle with two rear axles, a first stabilizer bar is positioned rearward of a first rear axle and a second stabilizer bar is positioned in front of a second rear axle.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein for a vehicle with two rear axles, a first stabilizer bar is positioned in front of a first rear axle and a second stabilizer bar is positioned rearward of a second rear axle.