INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR A SUSPENSION FOR A DIRECTIONAL WHEEL FOR VEHICLES

• US 20190144034A1
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Published: 05/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BRIST Axle Systems Srl.
• Original Assignee: BRIST Axle Systems Srl.
• Inventors: BERTASSI, Matteo, BONERA, Danilo
• Granted Patent: US 10,919,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/144 with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/17 with a strut contributing to the suspension geometry by being articulated onto the wheel support
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/44 steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1484 on an intermediate upright strut upon which the stub axle is pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/50 Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/20 all arms being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/143 Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/18 Steering knuckles; King pins

Abstract

An independent suspension for vehicles, in particular for heavy vehicles, includes a steering knuckle developing between an outer portion, defining the axis of rotation of a wheel hub, and an inner portion, having a receiving seat extending transversely to the outer portion along a steering axis and a knuckle-carrier assembly rotatably coupled to the inner portion of the knuckle to allow a relative rotation around the steering axis, and including at least a first and a second supporting portion defining each a substantially horizontal hinge point for one end of a respective cross arm. The knuckle-carrier assembly includes a first and a second body, separate to each other, in which the first body includes a steering pin developing along the steering axis and the first supporting portion and the second body is partially fitted around the steering pin and includes the second supporting portion.

Claims

1. An independent suspension for vehicles, in particular for heavy vehicles, comprising:

a steering knuckle extending between an outer portion, defining the axis of rotation of a hub of a wheel of said vehicle, and an inner portion, in which the inner portion comprises at least one receiving seat extending transversely to said outer portion along a steering axis;

a knuckle-carrier assembly rotatably coupled to said inner portion of the knuckle to allow a relative rotation around the steering axis, and comprising at least a first and a second supporting portion each defining a hinge point substantially horizontally to one end of a respective cross arm;

wherein said knuckle-carrier assembly comprises a first and a second body distinct from one another, in which;

the first body is substantially “

L”

shaped and has a linear portion, defining a steering pin, and an angled portion, defining said first supporting portion and extending transversely to the linear portion to misalign the respective hinge point by said steering axis;

the second body comprises a coupling portion fitted around the steering pin from which a supporting arm extends, comprising the second supporting portion and projecting laterally to the linear portion of the first body to misalign the respective hinge point from said steering axis.

2. The independent suspension according to claim 1, wherein said coupling portion of the second body of the knuckle-carrier assembly comprises at least one sleeve fitted around said steering pin and housed in the receiving seat of the steering knuckle.

3. The independent suspension according to claim 2, wherein the coupling portion of the second body of the knuckle-carrier assembly comprises at least an auxiliary support fitted around said steering pin at one of its end portion opposite to the first supporting portion of the first body;

said auxiliary support being coaxial to and spaced from said sleeve to define a housing.

4. The independent suspension according to claim 1, wherein said inner portion of the steering knuckle comprises a fork body provided with two arms facing each other and spaced apart to define, between the arms, said receiving seat, wherein said steering pin is inserted rotatably in the arms of the fork body.

5. The independent suspension according to claim 4, wherein the fork body comprises a lower arm and an upper arm, wherein said first supporting portion of the first body protrudes externally to said receiving seat upwardly to the upper arm or below the lower arm.

6. The independent suspension according to claim 5, wherein said end portion of the steering pin protrudes externally to said receiving seat, on the side opposite to the first supporting portion.

7. The independent suspension according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve is interposed between the arms of the fork body.

8. The independent suspension according to claim 3, wherein at least one arm of said fork body is placed in said housing, wherein the steering pin is arranged astride the sleeve, the arm and the auxiliary support.

9. The independent suspension according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion of the knuckle and the second body of the knuckle-carrier assembly are at least partly “

C”

shaped opposite and mutually interpenetrating elements;

said first body of the door-knuckle assembly being inserted in said “

C”

shaped elements with their protruding end portions.

10. The independent suspension according to claim 1, wherein said second body comprises at least a bearing or unloading area on said inner portion of the knuckle, in which a thrust bearing is operatively interposed between the second body of the knuckle-carrier assembly and the inner portion of the knuckle at said bearing area.

11. The independent suspension according to claim 10, wherein said thrust bearing is arranged around the steering pin, between said sleeve and said lower arm of the fork body.

12. The independent suspension according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a clamping nut coupled to an end portion of the steering pin opposite to the first supporting portion in order to lock it axially with respect to the knuckle.

13. The independent suspension according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary support of the second body or said upper arm of the fork have a housing slot for the end portion of the steering pin and for the clamping nut.

14. The independent suspension according to claim 13, wherein the housing seat comprises a through hole having a narrow portion facing the steering knuckle to receive the pin and an enlarged portion facing away from the knuckle and sized to receive and accommodate both the end portion of the steering pin and the clamping nut.