Suspension system for automotive vehicles

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising a frame having a front end and rear end, a load area on said frame, an engine mounted intermediate the front and rear ends of said frame, closely spaced rear wheels resiliently mounted at the rear of said frame at a spacing less than the width of the frame, a front axle, steerable front wheels on said axle, means for universally mounting said front axle on said frame for movement vertically and horizontally, resilient means between said frame and said front axle, a steering column rotatably mounted on said frame, the position of the load, frame and engine being such that the majority of the weight of the load, frame and engine lies below an axis extending from the resilient means and intersecting the axis of rotation of the rear wheels when the vehicle is at rest, and means interconnecting said steering column and said front axle such that when said column is rotated, the frame is caused to tilt in the direction of the turn.

Claim 3

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said front axle on said frame comprises ball and socket joint means rearwardly of said front axle connected to said frame and said front axle.

Claim 4

The vehicle set forth in claim 2 wherein said means interconnecting said steering column and said front axle for causing said frame to tilt into a turn comprises a cross bar, spring means between said axle and cross bar, a suspension support overlying said cross bar, means resiliently connecting said suspension support to said frame, spaced shackle arms pivoted to said suspension support at one end and to said cross bar at the other end, each said shackle arm having a free end portion extending downwardly, and flexible means connected to said free end portions and operable by operation of the steering column to swing said shackle arms to cause tilting of said frame in the direction of a turn.

Claim 5

The vehicle set forth in claim 3 wherein said means mounting said front axle includes radius rods having one end extending to said ball and socket means, and the other ends fastened to said front axle and extending upwardly to support said spring means.

Claim 6

The vehicle set forth in claim 4 including a tie rod extending transversely between the other end of one tie rod and the end of said cross bar overlying the other end of said other tie rod.

Claim 7

The vehicle set forth in claim 3 wherein said means resiliently connecting said suspension support to said frame comprises a portion of the frame overlying said suspension support and resilient block means interconnecting said frame portion and said suspension support.

Claim 8

The vehicle set forth in claim 1 including an A-frame having spaced arms pivoted at their free ends to said frame and extending rearwardly, said A-frame supporting said rear wheels, and spring and shock absorbing means extending between said A-frame and said frame to resiliently support said rear wheels on said first-mentioned frame.

Claim 9

A vehicle comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a load area on said frame, an engine mounted intermediate the front and rear ends of said frame, closely spaced rear wheels resiliently mounted at the rear of said frame at a spacing less than the width of the frame, a front axle, steerable front wheels on said axle, means for universally mounting said front axle on said frame for movement vertically and horizontally, resilient means between said frame and front axle, a steering column rotatably mounted on said frame, means interconnecting said steering column and said front axle for causing said frame to tilt into a turn comprising a cross bar, spring means between said axle and cross bar, a suspension support overlying said cross bar, means resiliently connecting said suspension support to said frame, spaced shackle arms pivoted to said suspension support at one end and to said cross bar at the other end, each said shackle arm having a free end portion extending downwardly and flexible means connected to said free end portions and operable by operation of the steering column to swing said shackle arms to cause tilting of said frame in the direction of a turn.

Claim 10

A vehicle comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a load area on said frame, an engine mounted intermediate the front and rear ends of said frame, closely spaced rear wheels resiliently mounted at the rear of said frame at a spacing less than the width of the frame, a front axle, steerable front wheels on said axle, means for universally mounting said front axle on said frame for movement vertically and horizontally, resilient means between said frame and front axle, a steering column rotatably mounted on said frame, means interconnecting said steering column and said front axle for causing said frame to tilt into a turn comprising a cross bar, spring means between said axle and cross bar, a suspension support overlying said cross bar, means resiliently connecting said suspension support to said frame, spaced shackle arms pivoted to said suspension support at one end and to said cross bar at the other end, each said shackle arm having a free end portion extending downwardly and flexible means connected to said free end portions and operable by operation of the steering column to swing said shackle arms to cause tilting of said frame in the direction of a turn.

Claim 11

The vehicle set forth in claim 8 wherein said means mounting said front axle includes radius rods having one end extending to ball and socket means, and the other end fastened to said front axle and extending upwardly to support said spring means.

Claim 12

The vehicle set forth in claim 9 including a tie rod extending transversely between the other end of one tie rod and the end of said cross bar overlying the other end of said other tie rod.

Claim 13

The vehicle set forth in claim 8 wherein said means resiliently connecting said suspension support to said frame comprises a portion of the frame overlying said suspension support and resilient block means interconnecting said frame portion and said suspension support.

Claim 14

A vehicle comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a load area on said frame, an engine mounted intermediate the front and rear ends of said frame and having a transmission, a front axle, steerable front wheels on said axle, means for universally mounting said front axle on said frame for movement vertically and horizontally, resilient means between said frame and axle, an A-frame having spaced arms with the free ends of said arms pivoted to said frame and extending rearwardly, rear wheels, said A-frame supporting said rear wheels, and spring and shock absorbing means extending between said A-frame and said frame to resiliently support said A-frame on said first-mentioned frame, a universal joint extending from said transmission and drive means from said transmission to said rear wheels, the pivots of said arms to said A-frame and said universal joint being in alignment.

Claim 15

A vehicle comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, a load area on said frame, an engine mounted intermediate the front and rear ends of said frame and having a transmission, a front axle, steerable front wheels on said axle, means for universally mounting said front axle on said frame for movement vertically and horizontally, resilient means between said frame and axle, an A-frame having spaced arms with the free ends of said arms pivoted to said frame and extending rearwardly, rear wheels, said A-frame supporting said rear wheels, and spring and shock absorbing means extending between said A-frame and said frame to resiliently support said A-frame on said first-mentioned frame, a universal joint extending from said transmission and drive means from said transmission to said rear wheels, the pivots of said arms to said A-frame and said universal joint being in alignment.