Abstract:
In a suspension for a steerable wheel of a motor-vehicle, with a semi-virtual steering axis, the wheel support (M) is connected to the vehicle structure by an upper arm (B) and two lower rods (A1, A2), one of which (A2) supports the lateral loads, whereas the other (A1) supports the longitudinal loads and is located forwardly with respect to the rod (A2) which supports the lateral loads. In a condition of non-steered wheel, the articulated joint (S5) which connects the lower rod (A1) which supports the longitudinal loads to the wheel support (M) is located more outwardly, i.e. is spaced more far away from the median longitudinal vertical plane of the motor-vehicle with respect to the articulated joint (S6) which connects the lower rod (A2) which supports the lateral load to the wheel support (M). The arrangement is such that during steering with a wheel being on the outer side of the curve, the point of intersection of the projections on a horizontal plane of the two lower rods (A1, A2) is displaced more inwardly, causing a less inclined orientation with respect to the vertical of the steering axis of the wheel. In the condition of steered wheel, with said wheel being on the inner side of the curve, the projections on a horizontal plane of said lower rods (A1, A2) meet at a point (AX') displaced longitudinally forwardly with respect to the position (AX) of this intersection point in the condition of non-steered wheel, so that the steering axis, in a lateral view, forms a caster angel (”) with respect to the vertical direction which is greater than the value of the same angle in the condition of non-steered wheel.
Abstract:
The four wheel vehicle uses an electric motor (142) for driving the vehicle and a battery unit (160) for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The lower chassis (5) of the vehicle includes a pair of front side frames (10) extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant and a progressively increasing lateral mutual spacing from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof, a pair of rear side frames (12) connected to rear ends of the respective front side frames, and extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof in continuation of the corresponding front side frames in a mutually parallel relationship, and a plurality of cross members (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) connecting the side frames to each other.
Abstract:
A steerable wheel assembly for a vehicle comprises a mounting bracket (1) incorporating a vertical pivot mounting (2) for attachment to the vehicle. A second bracket (6) has a first arm (7) carrying a road wheel and a second arm (8) generally upstanding from the first and linked at the upper end thereof to the mounting bracket by a parallelogram linkage (4,5). A spring and shock-absorber unit (9) is pivotally connected between the second bracket and the parallelogram linkage. Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle suspension system comprising a mounting bracket (20) for attachment to a vehicle body or chassis, and a wheel-mounting arm (21) pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and having a wheel mounted thereon. A spring and shock-absorber unit (22) extends between the mounting bracket and the wheel-mounting arm, at least one end of the spring and shock-absorber unit being connected through a member (23) whose position is adjustable along the axis of the respective bracket or arm.