Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1983-07-05
1985-10-08
Bertsch, Richard A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
267 67, 280666, B60G 1158
Patent
active
045456011
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 and wheel 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 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. No. 3,083,032 to Cuskie; U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,877 to Bajer; and U.S. Pat. No. 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 suspension system disclosed herein 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, thereby eleminating the need for a roll bar and/or high rate suspension springs. This feature of the present suspension system is claimed in the concurrently filed application of one of the present applicants entitled "ELEVATED ROLL CENTER TRAILING ARM SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES" U.S. Ser. No. 525,057, filed July 5, 1983.
The present 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 th
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: 4223903 (1980-09-01), Grabb et al.
patent: 4274654 (1981-06-01), Travaglio
patent: 4441593 (1984-04-01), Axthammer
patent: 4491340 (1985-01-01), Grunberg et al.
Chance Buddy K.
Muller George H.
Bertsch Richard A.
Ford Motor Company
Stock Daniel M.
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