Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A steerable wheel suspension system comprising: a hub suspended from the vehicle body by a spring and damper strut system, a steering arm extending outwards and forwards from a steering rack positioned relatively low down and behind the engine to a ball joint on the hub, a first linkage arm extending outwards and rearwards from a forwardly mounted bush on the vehicle body to a ball joint on the hub, and a second linkage arm extending outwardly and forwardly from a hinge pivot on the vehicle body to a pivot joint on the first linkage arm, the arrangement being such that during rearward compliance of the hub, e.g. during braking, the second linkage arm constrains the pivot and hence the ball joint to move along an arc which is matched with an arc along which the ball joint is constrained to move by the steering arm and so reduce or eliminate induced steer during rearward compliance. The mounting of the first linkage arm directly to the hub also avoids multiplying the forces it imposes upon the bush and allows the provision of a less substantial forwards structural member in the vehicle body to support the bush, which in turn produces a reduction in overall body width.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim