Suspension assemblies and systems for land vehicles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62D-017/00
B60G-007/02
출원번호
US-0946487
(2010-11-15)
등록번호
US-8360449
(2013-01-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Polakowski, Stephen E.
Muehlfeld, Christian Michael
Pruetz, Jeffrey Edward
출원인 / 주소
Great Lakes Sound & Vibration, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
22
초록▼
A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprises a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact; an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled
A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprises a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact; an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a resilient member having an upper end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle; a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster; and a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber.
대표청구항▼
1. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact;an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coup
1. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact;an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster; anda camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the upper pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber. 2. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the camber adjustment mechanism and caster adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable ball joint. 3. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the camber adjustment mechanism and caster adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded shank. 4. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the camber adjustment mechanism and caster adjustment mechanism comprises a telescoping sleeve. 5. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the resilient member is coupled to the spindle via the outboard end of the lower pivotable member. 6. A suspension assembly according to claim 5, wherein the lower end of the resilient member is coupled to the spindle via the caster adjustment mechanism. 7. A suspension assembly according to claim 6, comprising a clevis and pin coupling the lower end of the resilient member to the caster adjustment mechanism. 8. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises a spring and a shock. 9. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, comprising a steering link having an outboard end coupled to the spindle. 10. A suspension assembly according to claim 9, comprising a toe adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the steering link relative to the spindle to thereby adjust toe. 11. A suspension assembly according to claim 10, wherein the toe adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustable ball joint. 12. A suspension assembly according to claim 10, wherein the toe adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded shank. 13. A suspension assembly according to claim 10, wherein the toe adjustment mechanism comprises a telescoping sleeve. 14. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, comprising a caster trail adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail. 15. A suspension assembly according to claim 14, wherein the caster trail adjustment mechanism comprises a slot and pin connection. 16. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spindle comprises an upper surface for coupling to the upper pivotable member, a middle surface for coupling to the lower pivotable member, and a lower surface for coupling to the ground contact. 17. A suspension assembly according to claim 16, wherein the spindle has an outer convex surface located aft of the upper surface and an inner concave surface fore of the upper surface. 18. A suspension assembly according to claim 17, wherein the spindle has an inner convex surfaces and wherein the middle surface is located between the inner concave and convex surfaces. 19. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the land vehicle is a snowmobile. 20. A suspension assembly according to claim 19, wherein the inboard end of the upper pivotable member is configured for attachment to a chassis of the land vehicle. 21. A suspension assembly according to claim 20, wherein the inboard end of the lower pivotable member is configured for attachment to a chassis of the land vehicle. 22. A suspension assembly according to claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a front suspension assembly. 23. A suspension assembly according to claim 22, wherein the land vehicle comprises a snowmobile. 24. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle that extends in three dimensions including a length dimension, a radial dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension, and a vertical dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension and substantially perpendicular to the radial dimension, the suspension assembly comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact extending in the length dimension;an upper pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and located below the upper pivotable member in the vertical dimension, the lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle; anda caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the lower pivotable member relative to the spindle in the length dimension to thereby adjust caster. 25. A suspension assembly according to claim 24, comprising a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle in the radial dimension to thereby adjust camber. 26. A suspension assembly according to claim 24, comprising a steering link having an outboard end coupled to the spindle and a toe adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the steering link relative to the spindle to thereby adjust toe. 27. A suspension assembly according to claim 24, comprising a caster trail adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail. 28. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle that extends in three dimensions including a length dimension, a radial dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension, and a vertical dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension and substantially perpendicular to the radial dimension, the suspension assembly comprising: a spindle configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact extending in the length dimension and define a steering axis for the land vehicle;an upper pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and located below the upper pivotable member in the vertical dimension, the lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member extending substantially in the vertical dimension and having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle; andmeans for adjusting the position of the lower pivotable members relative to the spindle in the length dimension to thereby adjust caster. 29. A suspension assembly according to claim 28, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a front suspension assembly. 30. A suspension assembly according to claim 29, wherein the land vehicle comprises a snowmobile. 31. A suspension assembly according to claim 30, comprising means for adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber. 32. A suspension assembly according to claim 30, comprising a steering link and means for adjusting the position of the steering link relative to the spindle to thereby adjust toe. 33. A suspension assembly according to claim 30, comprising means for adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail. 34. A suspension system for a land vehicle that extends in three dimensions including a length dimension, a radial dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension, and a vertical dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension and substantially perpendicular to the radial dimension, the suspension system comprising: a spindle configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact extending in the length dimension and define a steering axis for the land vehicle;an upper pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and located below the upper pivotable member in the vertical dimension, the lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member extending substantially in the vertical dimension and having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle in the length dimension to thereby change caster of the spindle; anda controller programmed to control adjustment of the caster adjustment mechanism. 35. A suspension system according to claim 34, comprising a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby change camber of the spindle, wherein the controller is programmed to control adjustment of the camber adjustment mechanism. 36. A suspension system according to claim 35, comprising an input device configured to receive input commands regarding camber and caster adjustment, wherein the controller is in communication with the input device to receive the input commands and control the camber and caster adjustment mechanisms accordingly. 37. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact;an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster;a camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber; anda caster trail adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail. 38. A suspension assembly according to claim 37, wherein the caster trail adjustment mechanism comprises a slot and pin connection. 39. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle that extends in three dimensions including a length dimension, a radial dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension, and a vertical dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension and substantially perpendicular to the radial dimension, the suspension assembly comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact extending in the length dimension;an upper pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and located below the upper pivotable member in the vertical dimension, the lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle in the length dimension to thereby adjust caster; anda caster trail adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail. 40. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle that extends in three dimensions including a length dimension, a radial dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension, and a vertical dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the length dimension and substantially perpendicular to the radial dimension, the suspension assembly comprising: a spindle configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact extending in the length dimension and define a steering axis for the land vehicle;an upper pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member extending in the radial dimension and located below the upper pivotable member in the vertical dimension, the lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member extending substantially in the vertical dimension and having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;means for adjusting the position of at least one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle in the length dimension to thereby adjust caster; andmeans for adjusting the position of the spindle relative to the ground contact to thereby adjust caster trail;wherein the suspension assembly comprises a front suspension assembly; andwherein the land vehicle comprises a snowmobile. 41. A suspension assembly for a land vehicle comprising: a spindle defining a steering axis for the land vehicle and configured to pivotably couple to a ground contact;an upper pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a lower pivotable member having an inboard end configured to pivotably couple to the land vehicle and an outboard end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a resilient member having an upper end configured to couple to the land vehicle and a lower end pivotably coupled to the spindle;a caster adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust caster; anda camber adjustment mechanism adjusting the position of one of the upper pivotable member and lower pivotable member relative to the spindle to thereby adjust camber;wherein the lower end of the resilient member is coupled to the spindle via the caster adjustment mechanism.
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