Suspension arrangement for a motor vehicle

Details Suspension arrangement for a motor vehicle Suspension arrangement for a motor vehicle

2000-01-24

2001-05-15

Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Running gear

C280S124134, C280S124145

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231062

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a suspension arrangement for a motor vehicle and in particular to a suspension arrangement for a steerable wheel of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to provide a suspension for a steerable road wheel of a vehicle comprising a steering knuckle rotatable about a steering axis to allow steering of the wheel, a suspension arm having connection means at two spaced apart positions at an inner end thereof for pivotably connecting the suspension arm to a sprung part of the vehicle such that it can rotate about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, and being pivotably connected at an outer end thereof to a lower end of the steering knuckle, and a substantially vertical suspension strut pivotably connected at a lower end thereof to the steering knuckle and resiliently connected at an upper end thereof to said sprung part. Such suspension arrangements are often referred to as McPherson strut suspensions.
It is a problem with such a prior art suspension arrangement that it is difficult to arrange for the steering actuator to be positioned close to the pivot axis of the suspension arm without causing interference between the suspension arm and the tie rod. If sufficient clearance is left to avoid this interference, undesirable levels of bump steer can be caused.
Although it is possible to get the steering actuator close to the pivot axis of the suspension arm by using a suspension arm that is of a non-planar configuration this results in the arm being weaker than a planar one, and such a non-planar suspension arm is more expensive and difficult to produce.
It is an object of this invention to provide a suspension arrangement for a motor vehicle that utilizes a substantially planar suspension arm while producing a desired amount of bump steer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a suspension for connecting a steerable road wheel to a sprung part of a vehicle which has a longitudinal axis, the suspension comprising a suspension arm having an inner end and an outer end, pivotable connections at two spaced apart positions at said inner end for pivotably connecting the suspension arm to the sprung part of the vehicle such that it can rotate about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, a substantially vertical suspension strut having an upper end and a lower end and being connected at its upper end to said sprung part, and a steering knuckle pivotably connected to the outer end of the suspension arm and the lower end of the suspension strut such that it is rotatable about a steering axis to allow steering of the wheel, wherein the suspension arm is a substantially planar member and its pivot axis lies outside its plane.
Preferably the plane of the suspension arm is inclined to the pivot axis of the suspension arm.
The present invention further provides a vehicle including a suspension according to the invention and a steering actuator for applying a steering torque to the steering knuckle, the steering actuator having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis that extends transversely across the vehicle.
The steering actuator preferably extends over the plane of the suspension arm, and the pivot axis of the suspension arm preferably lies above the plane of the suspension arm.
In a preferred embodiment the longitudinal axis of the steering actuator lies closer to the pivot axis of the suspension arm than it does to the plane of the suspension arm.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4715615 (1987-12-01), Kijima et al.
patent: 4844505 (1989-07-01), Higuchi
patent: 75020 (1917-05-01), None

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