Patent ID: 6203039
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
In a vehicle having at least a pair of rotatable wheels and a chassis with a pair of longitudinally-extending opposite sides, an independent suspension system comprising:(a) a pair of generally horizontally-disposed elongated axle beams each independent of one another and supporting one of the rotatable wheels adjacent to a first portion of one of the opposite sides of the chassis, each of said axle beams at one end of a pair of opposite ends thereof being pivotally connected about a generally vertical pivotal axis to the one of the rotatable wheels, each of said axle beams at an other of said opposite ends thereof interconnecting one of the rotatable wheels with a second portion of one of the opposite sides of the chassis being laterally and longitudinally spaced from the corresponding first portion thereof such that said axle beams undergo independent pivotal movements providing for an extended range of vertical travel from a neutral position of each of the rotatable wheels supported on one of said respective axle beams;(b) means for cushioning the chassis as the vehicle traverses terrain, said means for cushioning the chassis being positioned under the first portions of the opposite sides of the chassis and adjacent to said one ends of said axle beams that are pivotally connected about said vertical pivotal axes to the respective wheels;(c) a pair of torque links each independent of one another pivotally interconnected at opposite ends to one of the first portions of the opposite sides of the chassis and to said other end of each of said axle beams so as to counteract rotational forces introduced to said axle beams by acceleration and braking of the vehicle, said torque links in being located adjacent to said other ends of said axle beams, where said axle beams are pivotally connected about horizontal pivotal axes to the second portions of the opposite sides of the chassis, restrain tilting of said vertical pivotal axes, about which said one ends of said axles are pivotally connected to the wheels, relative to a vertical reference at said one ends of said axle beams: and(d) a pair of radius arms pivotally interconnecting said axle beams at said one ends thereof with third portions of the opposite sides of the chassis longitudinally spaced from the respective first and second portions thereof, each of said radius arms at one end being pivotally connected to said one end of said respective axle member where said axle member is pivotally connected about said vertical pivotal axis to one of the wheels and is pivotally connected at an opposite end to the longitudinally spaced third portion of the chassis so as to control fore and aft movement of said axle beam during vertical pivotal movement of said axle member and to maintain said vertical pivotal axis between said one end of each axle beam and the one wheel close to true vertical alignment with the vertical reference over said extended range of vertical travel.