Patent ID: 7357396

Claim:
An automotive suspension for connecting a wheel hub to a frame of a car; the suspension comprising: a supporting member for supporting the wheel hub; first coupling means for mechanically connecting the supporting member to said frame to permit movement of the supporting member with respect to the frame in a substantially vertical direction; a spring-shock absorber assembly fixed to said frame; second coupling means comprising a crank mechanism of variable geometry for mechanically connecting the spring-shock absorber assembly to the supporting member to oppose movement of the supporting member with respect to said frame in said direction; and actuating means to selectively control the geometry of the crank mechanism of the second coupling means to vary a suspension ratio between vertical movement of the supporting member and a corresponding variation in length of the spring-shock absorber assembly; wherein the crank mechanism comprises a first crank extending between a first axes of rotation of the crank mechanism with respect to the frame and a second axes of rotation of the crank mechanism with respect to the spring-shock absorber assembly, a second crank extending between the first axes of rotation and a third axes of rotation, and a connecting rod extending between the second axes of rotation and the third axes of rotation; wherein the actuating means comprise at least one actuating cylinder defining the first crank; and wherein the first crank and the spring-shock absorber assembly have respective longitudinal axes forming an angle close to 90°.