Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-10-02
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124135, C280S093510, C280S093511, C280S093512
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296264
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a suspension for a single wheel of a motor vehicle. German OS 33 45 952 describes a suspension for a single wheel, with wheel hub, steering knuckle carrier and double suspension arms. The suspension arms are fastened to the steering knuckle carrier by means of a pivot bearing joint. The pivot bearing shaft projects on both sides from the steering knuckle carrier and thus substantially widens it. Such lateral installation of the suspension arms on the steering knuckle carrier limits the wheel lock when steering.
The problem on which the invention is based is to provide a suspension for a single wheel in which the suspension arms are mounted on a steering knuckle carrier so as not to limit the wheel lock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem is solved by the suspension according to the present invention. A ball and socket joint has here the advantage that, unlike a pivot bearing joint or a modular joint, it is very compact.
According to the present invention, a lower suspension arm is preferably connected on its underside with the steering knuckle carrier by means of said ball and socket joint. This mounting of the suspension arm enlarges the lateral expansion of the steering knuckle carrier, that is, the expansion thereof along its transverse axis that extends approximately in travel direction. Thereby the maximum wheel lock is not limited by the suspension arm mounting. The suspension arm can thus be mounted outwardly as far as possible. Thereby better axle kinematics is obtained. Unlike a pivot bearing joint, the ball and socket joint has three degrees of freedom. However, only one degree of freedom of the rotation of the ball is needed to engage the vehicle. The other possibilities of rotation must, therefore, be eliminated. The pitching motion, that is, a torsion of the steering knuckle carrier around the vehicle axis is prevented by a sufficient spacing between the fastening points of the upper and lower suspension arms. A twisting of the steering knuckle carrier around the vertical axis of the vehicle would cause an imprecision of the steering, that is, steering angle, the wheels must accurately turn around the vertical axis of the vehicle on the steering knuckle pin which constitutes the connection between steering knuckle carrier and wheel hub. Such torsion is eliminated by the upper suspension arm being connected by a pair of tapered roller bearings with the steering knuckle carrier. The supporting base of the tapered roller bearings is wide enough for said bearings to alone absorb the torque of the steering knuckle carrier around the vertical axis of the vehicle. The steering knuckle carrier must here have a sufficient resistance to torsion.
The ball of the ball and socket joint preferably sits in a plain bearing race. The ball and socket joint is advantageously connected with the steering knuckle carrier by a pin which has a conical section and a threaded section and which meshes in a bore in the steering knuckle carrier having a tapered seat. The tapered seat ensures the exact positioning of the ball and socket joint. The pin is advantageously retained in the steering knuckle carrier by a locknut. The locknut is desirably housed in a counterbore in the steering knuckle carrier so as not to project therefrom and is thereby protected. The steering knuckle carrier thus has a throughhole that is conical at its lower end and continues as stepped cylinder. The step is the stop surface for the locknut.
The lower suspension arms is preferably placed outwardly relatively farther to the vehicle width than the upper. The axis kinematics are thus improved.
The lower and upper suspension arms are preferably designed as triangular guide rods.
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Culbreth Eric
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Lum L.
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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