Resilient Coupling Patents (Class 280/124.144)
  • Patent number: 11938770
    Abstract: A shock absorber mounting assembly for an off-road vehicle is provided. The shock absorber mounting assembly may provide A-arm brackets dimensioned and adapted to interconnect body and wheel framing of the off-road vehicle, wherein the lower bracket adjustably engages a lower portion of the shock absorber. The present invention also enables any model year shock absorber to be adapted to operatively associate with the steering system of any off-road vehicle of the same make and model, regardless of model year, through a shock absorber adapter bracket assembly that attaches to the original equipment manufacturer A-arms of the off-road vehicle adding the non-model year shock absorbers. The brackets may be of unitary construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Richard Mellick Zock, Miles John Zock
  • Patent number: 11872865
    Abstract: A multi-link motor vehicle axle for the attachment of a wheel carrier to a motor vehicle body. The axle includes a first link plane and a second link plane. A first transverse link and a second transverse link are assigned to the first link plane. The second link plane includes a trapezoidal link which is attached by way of a first coupling link to the wheel carrier and by way of a second coupling link to the motor vehicle body. A longitudinal link of the multi-link motor vehicle axle is formed, which longitudinal link is connected, at its longitudinal link end facing away from the second link plane, to the motor vehicle body. The longitudinal link is attached, by way of its longitudinal link end facing toward the second link plane, to the trapezoidal link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan Zeretzke, Stefan Sabath, Andreas Munzert, Marcel Krawietz, Jens Kemna
  • Patent number: 11846337
    Abstract: A damping element (1) has a multi-start thread on its circumferential surface (4). The damping element (1) can engage in a recess in a first body (12). To this end, the damping element (1) has a thread portion on its circumferential surface and the recess (13) in the first body (12) has in its inner lateral surface at least one mating thread portion which corresponds to the thread portion of the damping element (1). Through engagement of the thread in the mating thread, the damping element can be screwed together with the first body (12). By means of the thread, the damping element (1) can be fastened to the first body (12) and separated therefrom again with little effort. A fastening element (23) can fasten the damping element (1) to a second body in order to fasten the first (12) and the second bodies to one another in a vibration-damped manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC GPM GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Vippach, Maik Büttner
  • Patent number: 11780283
    Abstract: A suspension and drive mechanism for a steerable wheel of a vehicle, comprising a wheel support assembly supporting the wheel having a rolling axis and a wheel width defined by inner and outer wheel edges. Front and rear upper control arms coupled between a chassis and the wheel support assembly, and front and rear lower control arms between the chassis and the wheel support assembly. The front and rear upper control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly above the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge, and front and rear lower control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly below the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge. The control arms are angled so as to establish a virtual steering pivot axis for the wheel support assembly, the virtual steering pivot axis extending transverse of the rolling axis and located within the width of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED ELECTRIC VEHICLES LTD
    Inventor: Julian Broadbent
  • Patent number: 11345405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle chassis (3), comprising an underbody frame covered by a floor (7) secured to the frame. The frame comprises side rails (4) and at least one longitudinal tube (5) placed at a transverse distance from one such rail (4) to which the tube (5) is connected via a crossmember (6) which is secured by one of the ends (6a) thereof to the tube (5) and by the other end (6b) thereof to the rail (4). The crossmember (6) forms a first member for transmitting to the tube (5) a first thrust force (EP1) generated by an impact applied laterally against the chassis (3). A strut (8) is jointly secured by the respective ends (8a, 8b) thereof to the crossmember (6) and to the tube (5), and is inclined with respect to the main direction in which they extend in a plane parallel to the floor (7). The strut (8) forms a second member for transmitting to the tube (5) a second thrust force (EP2) generated by said impact and transmitted to the strut (8) by the crossmember (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Tou Thor, Stéphane Fonfrede
  • Patent number: 11084347
    Abstract: A motor vehicle independent rear-wheel suspension system including a left-hand and a right-hand transverse link, each articulated at an inner end on a chassis of the motor vehicle and fixedly connected at an outer end to a wheel carrier. The suspension system having a left-hand and a right-hand trailing arm unit. Each trailing arm unit articulated a front end on the chassis of the motor vehicle and at a rear end on a wheel carrier. Open installation space is formed between the trailing arm units and the transverse links for at least a partial accommodation of an electrical drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 10800453
    Abstract: A wheel steering system includes: a rear suspension mechanism inclusive of a knuckle member for rotatably holding a right rear wheel; a first cam and a second cam that are rotatably supported; a first cam follower 18 that follows the first cam; a second cam follower 20 that follows the second cam 16; cam grooves 48 respectively provided in the first and second cams; a first engaging pin and a second engaging pin that engage with the respective cam grooves; and a rotational driving force transmitter that transmits a rotational driving force of an electric motor to the first and second cams, wherein the first cam and the first cam follower are arranged on a front side in the vehicle front-rear direction of an axle, and the second cam and the second cam follower are arranged on a rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yamazaki, Takumi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10710634
    Abstract: An active geometry control suspension may include a first link having one side connected to a wheel carrier engaged to a wheel and the other side extending along a width direction of a vehicle; a second link having one side connected to the wheel carrier and the other side extending in the width direction of the vehicle; a first lever having one side connected to the other side of the first link; a second lever having one side connected to the other side of the second link; a connection lever connecting the other side of the first lever and the other side of the second lever; and an actuator connected to the connection lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: In Seok Seo, Jae il Park
  • Patent number: 10703153
    Abstract: An axle device for the connection of a wheel to the body of a vehicle, having a wheel carrier for the fastening of the wheel, a first link and a second link for force-transmitting connection to the body, which links are both connected to the wheel carrier, furthermore having a supporting link with a carrier portion, which is connected to the wheel carrier, and with a body portion for force-transmitting connection to the body. The supporting link has a spring portion or supporting a spring unit and a damper portion for supporting a damper unit, which spring portion and damper portion are spaced apart from each other in the direction of travel of the body. The body portion has a torsion support portion with fastening freedom in the direction of travel and in the transverse direction of the body and with fastening stiffness in the vertical direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Munzert
  • Patent number: 10384673
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for controlling vehicle motion and a vehicle equipped with the device, such that driving force and/or braking force is properly distributed between front wheels and rear wheels so that steering characteristics are made suitable and controllability and stability improve. This device comprises a means for controlling braking and/or driving force distribution between the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle such that when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle increases, the distribution to the front wheels is made smaller, and when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle decreases, the distribution to the front wheels is made larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Toshiyuki Innami, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 8678409
    Abstract: A suspension structure includes lower front and rear links arranged to connect a wheel support member to support a wheel and a vehicle body member swingably, and an upper link located above the lower front link and arranged to connect the wheel support member and the vehicle body swingably. There is further provided a connect bush arranged to connect the lower front link and the lower rear link with each other. The connect bush is located below a connection point between the lower front link and the wheel support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Reo Koide, Keiichi Nakajima, Yoshihiro Kawabe
  • Patent number: 8505940
    Abstract: A bushing attachment assembly for a vehicle stabilizer bar is provided. The mounting structure includes a bushing, a bracket assembly, and a bracket mount, which may be configured to couple the bracket assembly and bushing to a vehicle frame. The bracket assembly may include an outer pre-compression component and an inner retention component. The bushing may be disposed within a cavity formed between the outer pre-compression component and the inner retention component. The bushing may also define a central bore configured to receive a vehicle stabilizer bar. Each of the respective outer pre-compression and inner retention components may include planar tabs or other similar retention features configured to engage one another to form a compression assembly, which applies and maintains a compressive load upon the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward C. Hufnagle, Jose Adrian Paez Morales, Jason T. Kline, Peter Massos, Christopher P. Scolaro
  • Patent number: 8061726
    Abstract: As a result of a configuration and position of an upper transverse link and of a lower transverse link, a wheel pivot axis is created which has a point of intersection with an area region of a vertical wheel central transverse plane and a wheel central longitudinal plane. An adjustment of the wheel in a toe-out sense takes place under the influence of braking forces and an adjustment of the wheel in a toe-in sense takes place under the influence of drive forces. Furthermore, as a result of different mount characteristics at the lower transverse link and at the track rod, it is ensured that, in the event of side forces, the wheel which is at the outside of the corner is adjusted in a toe-out sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Kunert, Wilhelm Frasch, Norbert Schote
  • Patent number: 8056912
    Abstract: A wheel suspension device for a vehicle includes a wheel supporting member rotatably supporting a wheel. The wheel supporting member is linked to a vehicle-body side by a first link and a second link, with the second link arranged substantially parallel to the first link in a vehicle width direction. The first link has a projecting portion, and at least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion to the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawabe, Masahiko Nishida, Isao Watanabe, Kenji Sagara, Kazuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8011679
    Abstract: A wheel suspension device for a vehicle includes a wheel supporting member rotatably supporting a wheel. The wheel supporting member is linked to a vehicle-body side by a first link and a second link, with the second link arranged substantially parallel to the first link in a vehicle width direction. The first link has a projecting portion, and at least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion to the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawabe, Masahiko Nishida, Isao Watanabe, Kenji Sagara, Kazuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20110127745
    Abstract: A vehicle and a suspension system, for stabilizing vehicle disposition by lowering the center of gravity, and improving stability control performance are provided. The vehicle includes a body, at least one arm, a bottom unit, which may be a wheel, coupled to one end of an arm of the at least one arm, and a suspension system having a spring disposed to generate a counter moment in a direction that offsets an impact moment applied to the arm that is subjected to an impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-hyuk SONG, Rickey NEWMAYER, Jong-yoon PECK
  • Patent number: 7934735
    Abstract: A suspension arm assembly for a vehicle includes a pivot pipe pivotally attached to a vehicle body frame, a pair of pipes extending in a lateral direction of a vehicle body, a joint member attached to distal end portions of the pipes, and a substantially U-shaped band. Proximal end portions of the pipes are connected to the pivot pipe and spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction, and distal end portions thereof are arranged close to each other, thereby forming a substantially triangular profile. The joint member includes a plate portion and a boss portion having a knuckle attached thereto. The distal end portions of the pipes are operatively connected to a convex surface of the U-shaped band, and the plate portion of the joint member is attached to the pipes for covering the U-shaped band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7832750
    Abstract: The arm (12) comprises a pair of transverse rods (16, 18) articulated at their outer ends (24, 28) to the wheel-carrier of a vehicle wheel and at their inner ends (26, 30) to the vehicle body, and at least one pair of connecting elements (20, 22) which connect the rods (16, 18) to one another and are preferably formed as blade-like or plate-like elements, in such a manner that their bending stiffness in a plane is higher than their bending stiffness in a direction perpendicular to that plane. The arm (12) is capable of controlling two translational degrees of freedom (DOFx, DOFy) along the axes of the rods (16, 18) and, by virtue of the geometry and torsional stiffness of the rods (16, 18), as well as of the geometry and bending stiffness of the connecting elements (20, 22) in their plane, a first rotational degree of freedom (DOF?y) about a first, mainly transverse and horizontal axis (ESAy).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sistemi Sospensioni S.p.A.
    Inventor: Miles Barnaby Gerrard
  • Patent number: 7798507
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus 10 includes a plurality of arms 14, 27 to 29 respectively extending from the side of a vehicle body, and a knuckle 13 swingably supported on the leading ends of these arms 14, 27 to 29 for swingably mounting a wheel 12 thereon. The arm 27 includes a straight arm portion 31, a first rubber bush 32 provided on one end of the arm portion 31 and a second rubber bush 34 provided on the other end of the arm portion 31. And, the center lines C1 and C2 of the first and second rubber bushes 32 and 34, when they are viewed from the axial direction of the arm portion 31, are set to have a predetermined angle of inclination between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hirai
  • Patent number: 7789406
    Abstract: A suspension device including two lower links that link a wheel supporting member and a vehicle-body side member to each other. The links are disposed substantially in parallel in a vehicle width direction. At least one projecting portion extends from at least one of the two links towards the other link. At least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion of one of the links to at least one of the other link and the projecting portion of the other link. The at least one elastic linking portion has a rigidity that increases when a vibration input frequency increases to a value in a predetermined frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisayoshi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7703780
    Abstract: A wheel supporting apparatus includes dampers, ball joints, a knuckle, an upper arm and a lower arm. The dampers are attached to a case of an in-wheel motor in the top-bottom direction of the vehicle's body and are connected respectively to the ball joints. The upper arm and the lower arm have respective one-ends connected to respective dampers via the ball joints and respective other ends pivotably fixed to the vehicle's body. The knuckle is connected to the ball joints to rotatably support a wheel hub via hub bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoji Mizutani, Yuki Tojima, Shigetaka Isogai, Atsushi Torii, Junichiro Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20100078911
    Abstract: A wheel suspension device for a vehicle includes a wheel supporting member rotatably supporting a wheel. The wheel supporting member is linked to a vehicle-body side by a first link and a second link, with the second link arranged substantially parallel to the first link in a vehicle width direction. The first link has a projecting portion, and at least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion to the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kawabe, Masahiko Nishida, Isao Watanabe, Kenji Sagara, Kazuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20100001486
    Abstract: A suspension device includes a first and a second link that link a vehicle-body side member and a wheel supporting member to each other. The two links are linked to each other through an elastic linking portion. The rigidity of an elastic bush thereof is less than the rigidity of an elastic member of a linking portion of at least one of the two links with the wheel supporting member and the vehicle-body side member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Maho Natsukari, Yusuke Kageyama
  • Publication number: 20090184484
    Abstract: The arm (12) comprises a pair of transverse rods (16, 18) articulated at their outer ends (24, 28) to the wheel-carrier of a vehicle wheel and at their inner ends (26, 30) to the vehicle body, and at least one pair of connecting elements (20, 22) which connect the rods (16, 18) to one another and are preferably formed as blade-like or plate-like elements, in such a manner that their bending stiffness in a plane is higher than their bending stiffness in a direction perpendicular to that plane. The arm (12) is capable of controlling two translational degrees of freedom (DOFX, DOFy) along the axes of the rods (16, 18) and, by virtue of the geometry and torsional stiffness of the rods (16, 18), as well as of the geometry and bending stiffness of the connecting elements (20, 22) in their plane, a first rotational degree of freedom (DOF?y) about a first, mainly transverse and horizontal axis (ESAy).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Miles Barnaby Gerrard
  • Publication number: 20080246243
    Abstract: A suspension device including two lower links that link a wheel supporting member and a vehicle-body side member to each other. The links are disposed substantially in parallel in a vehicle width direction. At least one projecting portion extends from at least one of the two links towards the other link. At least one elastic linking portion links the projecting portion of one of the links to at least one of the other link and the projecting portion of the other link. The at least one elastic linking portion has a rigidity that increases when a vibration input frequency increases to a value in a predetermined frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisayoshi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7246807
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for use in a automotive suspension system, adapted to be disposed at a linking portion between a body of the vehicle and a suspension member that connects and supports a wheel on the body is disclosed. The vibration damping device comprises a load sensing unit adapted to sense a signal corresponding to a load exerted between the body and the suspension member. A suspension system equipped with the same is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Katagiri, Shiro Nakajima, Yasuhiro Kubota
  • Patent number: 7178818
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for use in a automotive suspension system, adapted to be disposed at a linking portion between a body of the vehicle and a suspension member that connects and supports a wheel on the body is disclosed. The vibration damping device comprises a load sensing unit adapted to sense a signal corresponding to a load exerted between the body and the suspension member. A suspension system equipped with the same is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Katagiri, Shiro Nakajima, Yasuhiro Kubota
  • Publication number: 20070018419
    Abstract: There is provided a wheel suspension arm mounting structure of a vehicle in which a suspension arm is mounted to a vehicle body frame member so as to freely swing upward and downward. The wheel suspension arm mounting structure comprises a suspension arm support shaft provided to a base of the suspension arm so as to rotate relatively with respect to the suspension arm, a mounting boss provided to the suspension arm support shaft, and a bolt insertion hole provided to the mounting boss. The bolt insertion hole is formed so that a bolt can be inserted into the direction perpendicular to an axis of the suspension arm support shaft, the suspension arm support shaft is fixed to an arm mounting portion provided to the vehicle body frame member by the bolt inserted into the insertion hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Sosuke Kinouchi, Kazuhiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20050057015
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pivot bearing for a vehicle having a base body for connecting wheel guiding elements to a wheel. The base body is composed of a planar piece of sheet metal to which a flange plate is assigned. The flange plate is connected to the base body in a frictionally locking fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Frantzen, Peter Porschen, Wolfgang David, Torsten Hallfeldt, Marc Simon
  • Patent number: 6616162
    Abstract: In a coupling of an axle member to a vehicle leaf spring or a longitudinal link, the axle member is coupled to a vehicle leaf spring or a longitudinal link with spring/damper elements therebetween. Arranged between the axle member and the vehicle leaf spring or the longitudinal link are at least two spring/damper elements, which, in the direction of travel, are arranged in front of and behind the section of the axle member to which the leaf spring or the longitudinal link is coupled. The stiffness of the spring/damper elements is greater in the horizontal directions than in the vertical direction. Vibrations of the body of a vehicle with a rigid axle that are caused by the vehicle drive, irregularities in the roadway and unbalance of the wheels are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Kai-Ulrich Machens, Thomas F. Schreiber