Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-01-30
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124106, C280S124116
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179328
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle wheel suspension apparatuses, and more particularly to an automotive rear suspension apparatus incorporating an axle that includes trailing arms with a beam that serves as an axle beam having wheel supports at each end thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
JP-A 5-246223 discloses an automotive axle suspension incorporating a laterally extending link and a control rod to restrain lateral displacement of an axle with a transverse beam. At one end, the lateral link is pivotally connected to a portion of the vehicle superstructure on the vehicle longitudinal centerline. The lateral link has an opposite end pivotally connected to a portion of the beam. The control rod is pivotally connected at one end to a portion of the lateral link and at an opposite end to a portion of the beam. An anisotropic resilient bushing is operatively connected between the opposite end of the lateral link and the beam to accommodate by internal flexure longitudinal displacement of the lateral link.
JP-A 6-262921 discloses a compact anisotropic resilient bushing operatively disposed between one end of a lateral link and a transverse beam of an axle suspension of the kind taught by JP-A 5-246223.
JP-A 7-125516 discloses an automotive axle suspension incorporating a lateral link to restrain lateral displacement of an axle. At one end, the lateral link is pivotally connected to a first portion of the vehicle superstructure. The lateral link has an opposite end pivotally connected to a second portion of a transverse beam of the axle. The lateral link has a longitudinal link axis that interconnects a center of articulation at the one end thereof and a center of articulation at the other end thereof. The center of articulation at the one end of the lateral link is placed rearwards as compared to the center of articulation at the other end of the lateral link. Viewing this arrangement in a top plan view of the vehicle, the link axis is oriented at an angle with respect to the beam. Under a force causing lateral displacement of the axle, the lateral link pivots about the first portion of the vehicle superstructure to exert a force on the beam in a direction to suppress compliance oversteer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A general object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle wheel suspension apparatus.
Specifically, an object of the present invention is to improve a vehicle wheel suspension apparatus of the above kind such that the performance when the vehicle negotiates a turn is improved with least modification on the part of the conventional structure of an axle.
According to the present invention, there is provided a wheel suspension apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
an axle including a pair of trailing arms each having one end pivotally connected to the vehicle superstructure and a beam connected to said pair of trailing arms, said axle having wheel supports,
an interconnecting assembly connecting said axle with the vehicle superstructure, and
a linkage mechanism operatively connected between the vehicle superstructure and said beam, so that, under force causing lateral displacement of said axle, said linkage mechanism includes moment on said beam to counteract oversteer tendency due to said lateral displacement of said axle.
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Kawagoe Kenji
Nakajima Hikaru
Suetsugu Yukihiro
English Peter C.
Foely & Lardner
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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