SUSPENSION FOR A WHEEL

Abstract: A suspension for a steerable wheel (1) comprising a support plate (6) to which the wheel bearing means are connected. The support construction for connecting to the frame or chassis (2) is also connected to this support plate. This support construction comprises an upper single support member rigidly connected to the support plate and a lower support member (3), being connected through a pivot joint with the support plate, wherein the distance from the center of that pivot joint to the axis of the wheel bearing means being smaller than the distance from the inner wheel bearing ring to said axis. Both upper and lower support members are provided laterally from the wheel in the direction of movement.

Description: This invention relates to a suspension for a wheel according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from J.REIMPELL "Fahrwerktechnik 1" 5th edition, 1982, VOGEL, Würzburg, page 378, fig. 3.5/4. In this publication the pivot point lies at a considerable distance from the wheel bearing means. Although such a structure might be quite satisfactory for driven wheels the space requirement for bearing means and pivot are relatively large for non-driven wheels. Furthermore the pivot is relatively unprotected against water and other external influences. Because the lower support arm is a lowest protruding part of the vehicle it is important that this arm could be positioned as high as possible relative to the wheel without deterioriating the structural stiffness of the wheel suspension. From GB-A-2 100 201 a suspension for a steerable wheel is known comprising a support plate to which which bearing means are connected on the one hand and a support construction for connection to the frame or chassis on the other hand. This support construction comprises an upper single support member pivotly connected to the support plate and rigidly connected to the frame/chassis and a lower support member being connected through a pivot joint with said support joint, whereby the lower support member extends substantially in a direction of the wheel axis and is connected to the frame/chassis at the side of the wheel. The upper support member is connected to the frame at the side of the wheel. In this suspension a short absorber/spring unit are integrated and the lower part of it is provided with two pivot points engaging the support structure. This is a complicated structure requiring a large number of pivot points and except from being expensive to produce the unsprung weight of this structure is considerable. From DE-A-3 243 434 a McPherson strut is known for a fixed wheel, i.e. a non-steerable wheel. The suspension described above is known from EP-A-0 122 161. The structure known from this publication is only suitable for vehicles having two wheels behind each other in the direction of movement and has as further drawback that a considerable number of linkages is used for connecting the wheel to the frame/chassis. Subject invention aims to obviate these drawbacks and to provide a wheel suspension which can be used in vehicles having more than two wheels, or having two wheels not being behind each other in the direction of movement. According to the invention this aim is realized with the characterizing features of claim 1. By arranging both lower support member and upper support member lateral from the wheel and connecting these to the frame/chassis a suspension is obtained suitable for above mentioned vehicles. With this structure a relatively low number of components is sufficient for linking the wheel to the frame/chassis. According to a preferred embodiement the lower support member comprises a triangle structure. In a very simple way it is now possible to obtain a light and yet rigid linkage between the wheel and the chassis. Because one side of the wheel is now totally free from support arms, it is now possible to use this side to arrange a cap which covers the wheel. Because of the large diameter inner ring of the wheelbearing means a very secured mounting of said cap can be obtained. This cap is advantageous with regard to safety and will also lower the drag coefficient of the vehicle provided with such a suspension. To connect the upper support member to the chassis two possibilities are preferred. First of all a further support member can be coupled between the frame/chassis and the upper support member. If this further support member is embodied as a triangle a double triangle construction can be obtained. However it is also possible to embody the upper support member as "Mc Pherson" strut, which is as such well known in the art. Both structures are very simple to realise and their use will depend from design and cost considerations. According to a further preferred embodiment said wheel is a steerable wheel. The invention will be elucidated hereafter in more detail referring to the enclosed drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a wheel suspension according to the invention with "Mc Pherson" strut, Fig. 2 a cross section according to II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a side elevation of an embodiement according to the invention in which a further suspension member is used, and Fig. 4 a cross section according to IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 1 shows a wheel suspension system with wheel 1 for a vehicle, such as for example for a three-wheeled vehicle. Wheel 1 is attached to frame or chassis 2 by means of a support structure comprising a lower support member 3 and a "Mc Pherson" strut generally indicated at 4. Lower support member 3 extends substantially in the direction of the wheel axis. This has to be understood in contrast with support members extending substantially perpendicular to the wheel axis. So it is possible that support member 3 is arranged with a small angle relative to this wheel axis. Because wheel 1 can be rotated in the sense of steering "wheel axis" comprises series of axii defining a plane. End 5 of "Mc Phersons" strut 4 is rigidly connected to support plate 6. Lower support member 3 is connected with support plate 6 through pivot joint 7. From Fig. 2 the connection of support plate 6 to wheelbearing means 8 is clear. The inner ring of wheelbearing means 8 engages support plate 6 whilst the outer ring of wheelbearing means 8 engages hub 9. To hub 9 disk 10 of a brake disk assembly is connected. Calliper 11 which can engage disk 10 is connected to support plate 6. For further details of wheelbearing means 8 and the location of pivot joint 7 reference is made to NL-A-8601667, not yet published, which relates to a wheel suspension system where two pivot joints are used above each other and which are located within the internal bore of the wheelbearing means. Lower suspension member 3 is hinged at 12 to frame 2. For controlling the steering motion of wheel 1 a steering link 13 is provided being hingedly connected with support plate 6 through pivot joint 14 on the one hand and is connected to a steering mechanism (not show) on the other hand. At its upper end "Mc Pherson" strut 4 comprises a piston rod 15, on the one hand connected to frame/chassis 2 and with its other end sliding in the lower end 5 of "Mc Pherson" strut 4. Also spring 16 is shown engaging between frame/chassis 2 and lower end 5 of "Mc Pherson" strut 4. From Fig. 2 it is also clear that a non rotating wheel cap 25 is used, extending over a substantial part of the outer circumference of the wheel. Because large diameter wheelbearing means 8 are used it is possible to have said cap engage support plate 6 over a considerable cross section area, which improves the stability of mounting of cap 25. Because of the presence of cap 25 improved security is obtained as well as a lower drag coefficient of the vehicle in which this cap is used. A further embodiment of the suspension system according to the invention is shown in Fig. 3 and 4. In this embodiment the "Mc Pherson" strut is replaced by a conventional upper support arm 17 being linked to frame/ chassis 2 through a further support arm 18. Further support arm 18 is hingedly connected to chassis 2. In connection with upper support arm 17 is provided through a pivot joint 19. On upper support arm 17 a further pivot joint 20 is provided connecting steering linkage 21 with support plate 6. The structure of lower support member 3 is substantially the same as shown in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2. However, as is particularly clear from Fig. 4 the disk-calliper arrangement is embodied differently. From Fig. 4 it is clear that disk 22 is directly connected to wheel rim 23. Brake calliper 24 is connected to support plate 6. Also a disc and brake calliper system as shown in NL-A-8601667 is possible. Although the above described embodiments are presently preferred, it has to be understood that many modifications can be realised by anyone skilled in the art being within the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims. More particular it is possible to combine several features of the different embodiments described above or to introduce modifications being generally known in the art of suspensioning of wheels. For instance it is possible to replace "Mc Pherson" strut 4 by other arrangements through which it is possible to connect upper support member rotatingly telescopingly with the frame/chassis. Support plate 6 can have any shape suitable to adapt bearingmeans 8 and to receive several support members. Support plate 6 can also be integrally formed with lower end 5 of strur 4. Although in the figures a steerable wheel is shown, it has to be understood, that above suspension can also be used with wheels not being steerable, such as on rear axles on vehicles.

Claims: Suspension for a wheel (1), comprising a support plate (6) to which wheel bearing means (8) are connected and a support construction (3,5,17) for connecting said support plate (6) to the frame or chassis (2), said support construction (3,5,17) comprising an upper support member (5,17) rigidly connected at one end to the upper part of said support plate and pivotly connected at its other end to the frame/chassis (2) and a lower support member (3), being connected through a pivot joint (7) with said support plate (6), whereby the lower support member (3) extends substantially in the direction of the wheel axis and is connected to the frame/chassis (2) at a distance from the side of the wheel, the upper support member (5,17) also being connected to the frame on the same side of said wheel, characterized in that the distance from the center of said pivot joint (7) to the axis of the bearing means (X-X) is smaller than the distance from the inner wheel bearing ring (8) to said axis (X-X). Suspension according to claim 1 wherein the lower support member (3) comprises a triangle structure. Suspension according to one of the preceding claims wherein at the side of the wheel opposite to the side where the support members are provided, a non-rotating cap (25) is connected to the internal wheel bearing means, covering the wheel. Suspension according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper support member (17) is connected to a further support member (18) through a pivot joint (19), said further support member (18) being hingedly connected to said frame/chassis (2) and extending substantially in the direction of the wheel axis. Suspension according to one of the claism 1-3, wherein the upper support member (5) is rotatingly and/or telescopingly conected with a member being connected to the frame/chassis (2).

Inventors: HUIDEKOPER, LOUIS
Applicants: HUIDEKOPER, LOUIS
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B62K25
IPC codes: B62K25, B60G3