초록 ▼

An independent wheel suspension system having at least two indispensable suspension members, the first of which includes two couplings one of which is a constant velocity universal joint connected by a drive shaft to the other coupling, the balls of the constant velocity universal joint carrying dri

An independent wheel suspension system having at least two indispensable suspension members, the first of which includes two couplings one of which is a constant velocity universal joint connected by a drive shaft to the other coupling, the balls of the constant velocity universal joint carrying driving torque and the inner and outer members of the constant velocity universal joint carrying thrust loads generated externally of the constant velocity universal joint, both indispensable suspension members swinging about the articulation axis of the constant velocity universal joint about a swing axis therethrough and a pivot supporting the second indispensable suspension member from the vehicle frame.

대표청구항 ▼

An independent wheel suspension system for a vehicle having a chassis supported by chassis support means and power delivery means mounted to said chassis support means, said power delivery means adapted to provide a driving torque to wheel means positioned laterally of said power delivery means and

An independent wheel suspension system for a vehicle having a chassis supported by chassis support means and power delivery means mounted to said chassis support means, said power delivery means adapted to provide a driving torque to wheel means positioned laterally of said power delivery means and to rotate said wheel means on a driving surface in response to said driving torque, said independent wheel suspension system comprising at least a first and a second suspension member, said first suspension member comprising: a first and a second coupling, one coupling of said first and second coupling comprising an inboard constant velocity joint, having an inner joint member, an outer joint member, and a cage member located therebetween, said inner joint member, outer joint member, and cage member having partially-spherical surfaces thereon adapted to allow a joint articulation therebetween about a first predetermined axis, said partially-spherical surfaces of said inner joint, outer joint, and cage members adapted to transmit an axial thrust load therebetween, said inner and outer joint members further having sets of opposed grooves formed therein along a joint axis and distributed angularly thereabout, each said set of opposed grooves engaged by torque-transmitting balls rotatably constrained by said cage member and adapted to move axially along said grooves during said articulation to transmit said driving torque therebetween, one of said inner and outer joint members of said inboard constant velocity joint being respectively connected to one of said power delivery means and said wheel means, said first predetermined axis and said joint axis having an intersection, said intersection establishing a joint center; drive shaft means connected to the other of said inner and outer joint members of the other coupling of said first and second coupling, whereby said drive shaft means communicates between said first and said second coupling, both said driving torque transmitted by said torque-transmitting balls and also said axial thrust load transmitted between said partially-spherical surfaces of said inner joint, outer joint, and cage members; said second suspension member comprising a suspension control arm having a wheel end connected to said wheel means and a frame end connected to said chassis support means; and a swing axis through said frame end and said joint center; whereby said first and said second suspension members allow said wheel means to swing at said inboard constant velocity joint about said swing axis therethrough.