Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
Rear axle assembly for a motor vehicle with a rigid axle beam running crosswise to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle, said axle beam being mounted pivotably to the vehicle body via one support bearing located on the central lengthwise axis of the vehicle for vertically supporting the axle beam relative to the vehicle body and by two trailing arms, connected to the axle beam, via guide bearings, characterized by the fact that said axle beam is rigidly connected with the two trailing arms so as to transmit forces occurring transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle to the guide bearings and to form a one-piece wheel guiding element for rear wheels of the vehicle, carried by said axle beam, said guiding element having an instantaneous rotational pole that is located rearward of the rotational axis of said wheels carried by said axle beam, with respect to a forward direction of travel, and in that said guide bearings are constructed so as to be more rigid in a radial load direction of the bearing than in an axial load direction of the bearing, permit a roll steering effect of the rear wheels, and form a horizontal pivot axis relative to said forward direction of travel, during straight line travel of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
Rear axle assembly for a motor vehicle with a rigid axle beam running crosswise to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle, said axle beam being mounted pivotably to the vehicle body via one support bearing located on the central lengthwise axis of the vehicle for vertically supporting the axle beam relative to the vehicle body and by two trailing arms, connected to the axle beam, via guide bearings, characterized by the fact that said axle beam is rigidly connected with the two trailing arms so as to transmit forces occurring transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle to the guide bearings and to form a one-piece wheel guiding element for rear wheels of the vehicle, carried by said axle beam, said guiding element having an instantaneous rotational pole that is located rearward of the rotational axis of said wheels carried by said axle beam, with respect to a forward direction of travel, and in that said guide bearings are constructed so as to be more rigid in a radial load direction of the bearing than in an axial load direction of the bearing, permit a roll steering effect of the rear wheels, and form a horizontal pivot axis relative to said forward direction of travel, during straight line travel of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that trailing arms comprise spring leaves which are constructed in a manner enabling them to twist and flex readily.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said axle beam is curved and the curve extends in front of said wheel rotation axis relative to said forward direction of travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said support bearing is constructed to be flexible in a horizontal load direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 4, wherein said support bearing is arranged so as to be rigid in a vertical load direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support bearing is arranged to be rigid in a vertical load direction, and wherein the bearing at an end of each of the trailing arms is disposed in a horizontal plane and is constructed, for enabling shifting of said axle assembly about said instantaneous rotational pole due to transverse loads imposed as the vehicle travels through a curve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Rear axle assembly accordng to claim 6, wherein said trailing arms are arranged with their central longitudinal axes intersecting at said instantaneous rotational pole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said guide bearings are constructed for causing said horizontal pivot to shift to a line extending approximately between said support bearing and one of the rear wheels of the vehicle as said vehicle travels through a curve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Rear axle assembly according to claim 1 or 6 or 8, wherein said guide bearings are axial slide bearings.