EP0348214A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Front wheel drive suspension unit
Assignee: Group Lotus PLC
•
Filing: 1989-06-23
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle wheel suspension unit suited for a front wheel of a front-wheel drive motor car comprises a double wishbone structure (2,4,5,6,9) of which the inboard ends of the forward legs (2,4) are stiffly pivoted to the vehicle frame (15,17) and of which the inboard ends of the rear legs (5,7) are pivoted to a torsion tube (21) pivotably connected in turn to the frame (19) so as to have its torsion axis (25) inclined forwardly and outwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/18; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/26; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/14; B60G2200/144; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/462; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/14; B60G2204/143; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/421; B60G2204/422
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
A suspension unit for suspension of a vehicle wheel on a vehicle frame, the unit comprising a double wishbone structure (2,4,5,7,9), torsion means (21) operative between the double wishbone structure and the vehicle frame (15,17,19).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A suspension unit for suspension of a vehicle wheel on a vehicle frame, the unit comprising a double wishbone structure (2,4,5,7,9), torsion means (21) operative between the double wishbone structure and the vehicle frame (15,17,19).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A suspension unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the torsion means comprises an elongate torsion member (21) pivotably connected at its end regions to the vehicle frame by first pivots (22,24) with the torsion axis (25) of the member generally upright, the inboard ends of the forward or rear legs of the double wishbone structure being pivotably connected to the torsion member by second pivots (27,29).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A suspension unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the torsion member (21) is pivotably connected to the inboard ends of the rear legs (5,7) and the torsion axis (25) is inclined forwardly and outwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A suspension unit as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the inboard ends of forward legs (2,4) of the wishbone structure are connected to the vehicle frame (15,17) by stiff bushes (16,20).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A suspension unit as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 comprising means (26) limiting rotation of the torsion member about the torsion axis (25) thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A suspension unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the rotation limiting means comprises a stop member (26) carried by the torsion member and engageable with the vehicle frame (19) on predetermined rotation of the torsion member (21).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A suspension unit as claimed in any one of claims 2-6 wherein the torsion member (21) comprises a torsion tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A suspension unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the double wishbone structure comprises a generally upright member (9) carrying a wheel axle (12) ball joints connecting the forward legs (2,4) of the wishbones to the member (9) at vertically spaced positions and pivots connecting the rear legs (5,7) of the wishbones to the forward legs for pivotation with a single degree of freedom about substantially vertical axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.