Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2001-10-23
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124134, C280S124138, C280S124150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305700
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an independent suspension for the front wheels of a motor vehicle with a steering knuckle that is pivotable for steering purposes. The lower end of the knuckle is mounted on a lower suspension link, and its upper area is supported by a coupling rod to the lower suspension link and by an upper suspension link to the vehicle body.
A compact independent suspension for a steerable motor vehicle wheel is shown in DE 26 42 939. The known steering knuckle is articulated at three points by a lower semi-trailing link and an upper rod link on the vehicle body. The steering knuckle is supported by a coupling rod on the semi-trailing link. The articulation points between the steering knuckle and the two links are located on the steering axis. This limits the space available for the braking device on the wheel.
In addition, an independent suspension is shown in JP 08 156 545 A in which the lower end of the steering knuckle is articulated to the vehicle body by two separate lower individual links that are essentially horizontal. The upper end of the steering knuckle is supported firstly by an upper approximately horizontal individual link on the vehicle body and secondly by a coupling rod to one of the lower individual links. Because the intersection between the coupling rod and the upper individual link is far from the wheel, the line of application of the coupling rod does not intersect the theoretical steering axis. It also does not cross it in the vicinity of the steering knuckle at a short distance. Therefore, the wheel suspension takes up considerable space in the wheel well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a multilink wheel suspension which, with the smallest possible number of articulation points at the wheel, requires only a small amount of space in the vicinity of the rim depression and the space near the tire.
This object has been achieved by providing an independent suspension with either the upper link is articulated in the vicinity of the upper end of steering knuckle on coupling rod or coupling rod is articulated in the vicinity of the upper end of steering knuckle on upper link and that in both cases, the line of application of upper link and the line of application of coupling rod intersect steering axis and/or cross it at a short distance.
In the novel independent suspension of the present invention, either the upper link is articulated to the coupling rod in the vicinity of the upper end of the steering knuckle or the coupling rod is articulated to the upper link in the vicinity of the upper end of the steering knuckle.
In both arrangements, the steering knuckle requires one less articulation point, so that the steering knuckle requires less space in the immediate vicinity of the wheel. As a result of the backward displacement of the articulation point saved on the steering knuckle, the center of gravity of the unsprung mass of the wheel suspension of the individual wheel is displaced toward the middle of the vehicle, thereby improving driving dynamics.
The line of application of the upper link and the line of application of the coupling rod intersect the theoretical or real steering axis and/or intersect it at a short distance of 1 to 10 mm. This achieves precise steering behavior and minimum tire wear. For example, the upper link or the coupling rod can terminate in space in front of the theoretical steering axis.
In addition, the independent suspension, instead of the prior art lower semi-trailing link, can have two individual links. The two links can be arranged so that their lines of application, at least in the projection on the road, form a triangle that corresponds to a transverse or semi-trailing link. The theoretical steering axis is either cut or intersected by the lines of application. The two links end in space in front of the theoretical steering axis in two separate, adjacent articulation points on the steering knuckle.
In this improvement on the known semi-independent suspension for a four-link axle, the steering axis can be freely selected on the wheel, so that there is sufficient space in the rim area for example for a braking device of large dimensions. The important axle-kinematic parameters such as the scrub or impact radius, the “Stossradius,” or the trail for example may be chosen freely despite limited space. By dividing the lower link into two individual links and articulating the coupling rod at or near the line of application of a lower link, a momentary steering axis for the wheel. is produced that passes at least approximately through the point of intersection or crossing of the lines of application of the lower individual links.
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patent: 2642939 C2 (1978-03-01), None
patent: 39 39 312 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 0 374 504 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 08 156 545 A (1896-06-01), None
patent: 9-2032 (1997-01-01), None
Crowell & Moring LLP
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Shriver J. Allen
Swann J. J.
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