Elevated roll center trailing arm suspension for motor vehicles

Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear

Patent

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Details

280692, B60G 1158

Patent

active

045456003

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to wheel suspension systems for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to such systems which include pivotally mounted trailing arms as an element of the wheel support in conjunction with a strut assembly at a common ball joint.


BACKGROUND ART

It is known in the vehicle suspension arts to provide an independent wheel suspension for the front wheels of the vehicle which incorporates a pair of trailing arms mounted to a portion of the chassis of the vehicle. Exemplary of such independent wheel suspension systems is that disclosed in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 2,760,787 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Such systems provide the advantageous vehicle design capability of providing for anti-brake dive force and attitude control of the vehicle during braking. Such systems, do, however, define a low roll center for the vehicle about its longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry. This has necessitated the provision of transversely extending roll bars which detract from the true independent nature of the vehicle wheel suspension system and add to vehicle weight and cost or relatively high rate suspension springs which, while increasing roll control, detract from the riding comfort of the vehicle.
It is also known in the prior art to provide spring biasing or resilient members which effect resistance to wheel recession or which control wheel recession, that is, generally rearward wheel movement in response to the imposition of a frontal impact. Exemplary of systems which employ such devices are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,083,032 to Cuskie; 3,151,877 to Bajer; and 3,195,878 to Rosky et al. The deficiency in attempting to apply such technology to a trailing arm suspension of the type of interest here is that the wheel motion occuring during recession with such cushioning structures tends to produce toe out between the front wheels of the vehicle wheel which is disadvantageous in terms of vehicle steering capability and which increases tire wear.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Responsive to the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a trailing arm suspension system. The trailing arm is mounted to the vehicle chassis through a pair of pivotal connections, at least one of which is preferably resilient which define an axis for pivotal movement of the trailing arm which is canted upwardly toward the vertical plane of symmetry of the vehicle and in which a connection from the trailing arm to a suspension strut assembly mounted between the vehicle wheel and the body is positioned at a point above and to the rear of the pivotal axis of the trailing arm. This positioning of the chassis and strut connections of the suspension system yields a trailing arm suspension system which makes use of the anti-dive teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 2,760,787 while defining a roll center for the vehicle that is elevated above the low roll center defined by the system disclosed in that patent for roll resistance due to suspension geometry, thereby eliminating the need for a roll bar and/or high rate suspension springs.
The invention suspension system further provides resilient mounting of the outboard pivotal connection of the trailing arm to provide for measurable longitudinal and rearward movement of the wheel, thus inducing wheel recession that may occur during wheel forward rolling motion over pavement irregularities. Since connection of the trailing arm to the strut assembly is effected through a ball joint connection and steering movement of the wheel is effected through another ball joint connection to the strut assembly, the toe out tendency of the wheel during recession is counteracted by the imposition of the steering load on the strut on the one hand and the freedom of pivoting movement afforded at the steering arm ball joint connection and the outboard resilient mount of the trailing arm on the other hand. This cooperative control of wheel recession movement disclosed herein is claimed in applicant's concurrently filed application en

REFERENCES:
patent: 2760787 (1956-08-01), Muller
patent: 3083032 (1963-03-01), Cuskie
patent: 3151877 (1964-10-01), Bajer
patent: 3195878 (1965-07-01), Rosky et al.
patent: 4065152 (1977-12-01), Bodnar
patent: 4210343 (1980-07-01), Shiomi et al.
patent: 4364447 (1982-12-01), Yoshida

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