Patent ID: 7607671

Claim:
A wheel suspension system ( 20 ) for a vehicle, said system comprising; a housing ( 22 ), a lateral support ( 26 ) extending laterally to a knuckle end ( 28 ) from and pivotably coupled relative to said housing ( 22 ) for up and down movement, a first link ( 30 ) and a second link ( 32 ) each extending laterally to a distal end ( 34 ) from and pivotably connected to said housing ( 22 ) in spaced relationship to said lateral support ( 26 ) for up and down movement, a knuckle ( 36 ) pivotably connected to said knuckle end ( 28 ) of said lateral support ( 26 ) for rotation about a king pin axis (K) for steering the vehicle, said knuckle ( 36 ) pivotably connected to said distal ends ( 34 ) of said first link ( 30 ) and said second link ( 32 ) at laterally spaced positions spaced from said king pin axis (K) for rotation about said king pin axis (K) whereby said king pin axis (K) is skewed relative to said connection between said knuckle ( 36 ) and said lateral support ( 26 ) in response to rotation of said knuckle ( 36 ) about said king pin axis (K), a rod ( 64 ) having a first end ( 66 ) pivotably connected to said knuckle ( 36 ) and extending to a second end ( 68 ), a crank ( 70 ) having a pivotal connection pivotably connected to said housing ( 22 ) and attached to said second end ( 68 ) of said rod ( 64 ) at a position spaced from said pivotal connection of said crank ( 70 ) to said housing ( 22 ) for pivotal movement by said rod ( 64 ) in response to vertical movement of said knuckle ( 36 ) relative to said housing ( 22 ) and rotational movement of said knuckle ( 36 ) about said king pin axis (K), and a dampening device ( 72 ) attached to said crank ( 70 ) and said housing ( 22 ) for controlling pivotal movement of said crank ( 70 ), said first end ( 66 ) of said rod ( 64 ) being pivotably attached to said knuckle ( 36 ) adjacent said lateral support ( 26 ) for minimizing movement of said rod ( 64 ) in response to rotational movement of said knuckle ( 36 ) about said king pin axis (K).