US3881741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Independent suspension of front wheels of motor vehicles
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1973-08-15
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-08-15
Abstract
Abstract An independent suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles by means of two guide members disposed one above the other whose pivot axes intersect in the center position of the wheel, on the one hand, as viewed in side view, at a relatively large distance to the rear of the front wheel and below the wheel center and, on the other, as viewed in plan view, at a relatively large angle; the pivot axis of the upper guide member, as viewed in plan view, thereby extends rearwardly outwardly approximately diagonally while the pivot axis of the lower guide member extends either parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis or at a small angle thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Alf Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:38
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An independent wheel suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising: wheel carrier means; two guide means arranged one above the other and with pivot axes intersecting in the center position of the wheel, on the one hand, as viewed in side view, at a relatively large distance to the rear of the front wheel below the wheel center and, on the other hand, as viewed in plan view, at a relatively large angle; joint means connecting the guide means with the wheel carrier means; a steering axis being determined by the straight line passing through the joint means; the pivot axis of the upper guide means, as viewed in plan view, extending rearwardly outwardly; the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in plan view, extending at least nearly parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis and the pivot axis of the upper guide means extending rearwardly outwardly approximately diagonally; the steering axis, as viewed in side view, intersecting the road surface in front of the point of contact of the wheel, thereby defining a positive caster; wherein said caster has a minimum within the main spring deflection range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An independent wheel suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising: wheel carrier means; two guide means arranged one above the other and with pivot axes intersecting in the center position of the wheel, on the one hand, as viewed in side view, at a relatively large distance to the rear of the front wheel below the wheel center and, on the other hand, as viewed in plan view, at a relatively large angle; joint means connecting the guide means with the wheel carrier means; a steering axis being determined by the straight line passing through the joint means; the pivot axis of the upper guide means, as viewed in plan view, extending rearwardly outwardly; the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in plan view, extending at least nearly parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis and the pivot axis of the upper guide means extending rearwardly outwardly approximately diagonally; the steering axis, as viewed in side view, intersecting the road surface in front of the point of contact of the wheel, thereby defining a positive caster; wherein said caster has a minimum within the main spring deflection range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that, as viewed in side view, the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the two guide means lies at least within the area of the rear axle of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A suspension according to claim 2, characterized in that, as viewed in side view, the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the two guide means lies within the area to the rear of the rear axle of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 2, characterized by such an arrangement of the two guide means that a positive inclined-springing of the front wheels of about 3* is achieved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized by such an arrangement of the guide means that the instantaneous center of the wheel carrier means, in the center position of the wheel, is disposed in a point relatively far toward the rear, and in that the instantaneous center approaches the wheel during inward spring deflection of the wheel while exceeding a 100% brake pitching compensation and during outward spring deflection of the wheel travels toward the rear into infinity and returns from infinity on the side from in front of the wheel toward the latter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A suspension according to claim 5, characterized in that, as viewed in plan view, the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the two guide means lies near the wheel center axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends at least near the wheel center.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A suspension according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends through the wheel center.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends past the wheel center in proximity thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends below the wheel center with a slight inclination toward the rear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 7, characterized in that, as viewed in plan view, the pivot axis of the upper guide means intersects the longitudinal wheel center plane to the rear of the wheel and near the latter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A suspension according to claim 11, characterized in that, as viewed in end elevational view, the steering axis of the wheel, with an inclination to the vertical, intersects the road surface with a steering roll radius which is at most zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 12, characterized in that the steering roll radius is negative.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A suspension according to claim 12, characterized in that both the lower as also the upper guide means is constructed fork-like with one guide arm each supported at the vehicle superstructure to the rear of the wheel center axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 14, characterized in that said guide arms are supported at the superstructure in a vertical vehicle cross plane disposed substantially tangentially to the wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A suspension for a motor vehicle with an end wall for the passenger space according to claim 14, characterized in that said guide arms are supported at the vehicle superstructure substantially in the plane of the vehicle end wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized by such an arrangement of the two guide means that a positive inclined-springing of the front wheels of about 3* is achieved.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that, as viewed in plan view, the point of intersection of the pivot axes of the two guide means lies near the wheel center axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends at least near the wheel center.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A suspension according 1, claim 1 characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends through the wheel center.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends past the wheel center in proximity thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis of the lower guide means, as viewed in side view, extends below the wheel center with a slight inclination toward the rear.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that, as viewed in plan view, the pivot axis of the upper guide means intersects the longitudinal wheel center plane to the rear of the wheel and near the latter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that, as viewed in end elevational view, the steering axis of the wheel, with an inclination to the vertical, intersects the road surface with a steering roll radius which is at most zero.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 24, characterized in that the steering roll radius is negative.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that both the lower as also the upper guide means is constructed fork-like with one guide arm supported at the vehicle superstructure to the rear of the wheel center axis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A suspension according to claim 26, characterized in that said guide arms are supported at the superstructure in a vertical vehicle cross plane disposed substantially tangentially to the wheel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A suspension for a motor vehicle with an end wall for the passenger space according to claim 26, characterized in that said guide arms are supported at the vehicle superstructure substantially in the plane of the vehicle end wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
104 words
An independent wheel suspension of the steerable front wheels of motor vehicles by means of two superimPosed guide means whose pivot axes intersect, on the one hand, as viewed in side view in the center position of the wheel at a relatively large distance to the rear of the front wheel below the wheel center and, on the other, as viewed in plan view, at a relatively large angle, with such an arrangement of the guide means that, as viewed in side view, the steering axis defines a caster, characterized in that the caster has a minimum within the main range of spring deflections.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
104 words
An independent wheel suspension of the steerable front wheels of motor vehicles by means of two superimPosed guide means whose pivot axes intersect, on the one hand, as viewed in side view in the center position of the wheel at a relatively large distance to the rear of the front wheel below the wheel center and, on the other, as viewed in plan view, at a relatively large angle, with such an arrangement of the guide means that, as viewed in side view, the steering axis defines a caster, characterized in that the caster has a minimum within the main range of spring deflections.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
A suspension according to claim 29, characterized in that, as viewed in end elevational view, the steering axis of the wheel, with an inclination to the vertical, intersects the road surface with a steering roll radius which is at most zero.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A wheel suspension according to claim 30, characterized in that the steering roll radius is negative.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
72 words
An independent wheel suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising wheel carrier means, guide means arranged one above the other and connected with the wheel carrier means, a steering axis defined by the connection of the wheel carrier means with the guide means and intersecting the road surface so as to define a positive caster, and means for maintaining said caster at a minimum within the main spring deflection range.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
72 words
An independent wheel suspension for the front wheels of motor vehicles, comprising wheel carrier means, guide means arranged one above the other and connected with the wheel carrier means, a steering axis defined by the connection of the wheel carrier means with the guide means and intersecting the road surface so as to define a positive caster, and means for maintaining said caster at a minimum within the main spring deflection range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2775467A
Cited
US3278196A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |