EP0174007A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Strut suspension structure of automotive vehicle with variable geometry
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1985-09-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A strut suspension for an automotive vehicle has its upper end connected to a suspension support which allows the upper end of the suspension strut (1) to shift in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the strut in response to vertical movement of a vehicle wheel. Shifting of the upper end of the strut is controlled by means of a link member (43) rotatably connected to the upper end of the strut. The link member is rotatably connected to the suspension support (21). This structure ensures negative camber during roll-steer, anti-dive characteristics, and weak under-steer, and suppresses harshness by providing a suspension geometry which optimizes suspension characteristics depending upon the vehicle driving conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshihiko Kakimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G15/067; B60G15/068; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/26; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/14; B60G2200/142; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/46; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/30; B60G2202/31; B60G2202/312; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/124; B60G2204/1242; B60G2204/128; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/418; B60G2204/45; B60G2204/4502; B60G2204/45021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A strut suspension for an automotive vehicle comprising: a strut assembly (1) having a lower end connected to a vehicle wheel (19) for displacement with the latter and an upper end; a suspension support (21) disposed between said upper end of said strut assembly (1) and a vehicle body (23) for displaceably connecting the upper end of the strut assembly (1) to the vehicle body (23); and means (3-7), responsive to displacement of the upper end of the strut assembly (1) with respect to the vehicle body essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strut assembly (1), for shifting said upper end of said strut assembly with respect to said vehicle body(23) in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A strut suspension for an automotive vehicle comprising: a strut assembly (1) having a lower end connected to a vehicle wheel (19) for displacement with the latter and an upper end; a suspension support (21) disposed between said upper end of said strut assembly (1) and a vehicle body (23) for displaceably connecting the upper end of the strut assembly (1) to the vehicle body (23); and means (3-7), responsive to displacement of the upper end of the strut assembly (1) with respect to the vehicle body essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strut assembly (1), for shifting said upper end of said strut assembly with respect to said vehicle body(23) in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The strut suspension as set forth in claim 1. wherein said means for shifting the upper end of said strut assembly is responsive to relative vertical displacement of said vehicle wheel and said vehicle body to shift the upper end of said strut assembly in a direction preventing camber change toward positive-camber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The strut suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for shifting the upper end of said strut assembly is responsive to relative vertical displacement of said vehicle wheel and said vehicle body to shift the upper end of said strut assembly in a direction of increased caster trail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The strut suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for shifting the upper end of said strut assembly is responsive to relative vertical displacement of said vehicle wheel and said vehicle body to shift the upper end of said strut assembly in a direction of decreased forward-rearward lever arm of the suspension system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
5 . The strut suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for shifting of the upper end of strut assembly comprises a bushing (25) built into said suspension support and deformable along an axis allowing said strut assembly to shift in a direction oblique to said longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
6 ' . The strut suspension as set forth in claim 5, wherein said means further comprises a pivotal link member pivotably connecting said upper end of said strut assembly to said vehicle body, which pivotal link member ( 43 ) cooperates with said bushing to allow oblique shifting of said upper end of said strut assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the deformation axis of said bushing (25) lies oblique to the longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein the deformation axis of said bushing is offset inward from the longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein provided with the deformation axis of said bushing is offset rearward from the longitudinal axis of said strut assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said pivotal link has one end connected to a first bearing allowing said link to rotate about said upper end of said strut assembly and the other end connected to said vehicle body through a second bearing allowing pivotal movement of said pivotal link about its pivot axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
11 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said strut assembly comprises a shock asorber (3), with a piston (36) thrustingly moveable within a shock absorber cylinder and a piston rod extending upwardly from the top of the shocck absorber cylinder, the upper end of said piston rod forming said upper end of strut assembly. and said first bearing comprises a pillow-ball bearing secured to said upper end of said piston rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second bearing comprises a pillow-ball bearing secured to said vehicle body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 9. said bushing is mounted on said vehicle body by means of a mounting bracket which is inclined inwardly and/or rearwardly for defining said deformation axis of said bushing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said bushing is separated into a plurality of sections by means of at least one annular partitioning ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said bushing has a front and/or outer section having thickness greater than rear and/or inner section to have greater deformation ability for defining said deformation axis inclined rearwardly and/or inwardly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The strut assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein said bushing is separated into a plurality of sections by means of at least one annular partitioning ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
129 words
17 . A method for adjusting the geometry of a strut suspension so as to optimize suspension characteristics in accordance with vehicle driving condition, comprising the steps of: suspending a vehicular wheel from a vehicle body via a strut assembly in a predetermined initial geometry for initial alignment of said vehicular wheel, in which the lower end of said strut assembly is connected to said vehicular wheel and the upper end thereof is connected to the vehicle body via a suspension support; and shifting said upper end of said strut assembly at least in response to vertical movement of said vehicular wheel relative to said vehicle body so as to change the suspension geometry from said initial geometry for re-alignment of said vehicle wheel according to vehicle driving conditions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
17 . A method for adjusting the geometry of a strut suspension so as to optimize suspension characteristics in accordance with vehicle driving condition, comprising the steps of: suspending a vehicular wheel from a vehicle body via a strut assembly in a predetermined initial geometry for initial alignment of said vehicular wheel, in which the lower end of said strut assembly is connected to said vehicular wheel and the upper end thereof is connected to the vehicle body via a suspension support; and shifting said upper end of said strut assembly at least in response to vertical movement of said vehicular wheel relative to said vehicle body so as to change the suspension geometry from said initial geometry for re-alignment of said vehicle wheel according to vehicle driving conditions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said upper end of said strut assembly is shifted in the direction of positive camber change.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said upper end of said strut assembly is shifted in the direction of increased caster trail.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein said upper end of said strut assembly is shifted in the direction of decreased forward-rearward lever arm of the suspension system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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