Independent wheel suspension system using thrust bearing constant velocity universal drive joints as suspension members in combination with a single prop shaft joint and a transversely pivotable differential

Claim 1

An independent wheel suspension system for a wheel assembly of a vehicle having an engine adapted to provide a driving torque, a prop shaft having a porp shaft axis and a first prop shaft end coupled to said engine by a universal joint adapted to permit said first prop shaft end to undergo an engine-to-prop shaft articulation relative to said engine while coupling said driving torque to a second prop shaft end, a chassis, and vehicle support means adapted to resiliently support said chassis while also having a variable displacement relative to a driving surface, said independent wheel suspension system comprising: transverse support means supported by said vehicle support means so as to be pivotable about a first transverse axis, said transverse support means defining a second transverse axis parallel to said first transverse axis and spaced therefrom by a differential mounting space, said transverse support means having differential support means extending between said first and said second transverse axes; differential means supported by said differential support means in said differential mounting space so as to be pivotable about said second transverse axis, said differential means having a differential input defing a differential input axis and adapted to be coupled to said second prop shaft end with said differential input axis substantially coaxial with said prop shaft axis so as to avoid a prop shaft-to-differential articulation therebetween, said differential means also having a differential output with a differential output axis substantially coaxial with said second transverse axis, said differential output adapted to redirect said driving torque coupled to said differential input by said second prop shaft end along said differential output axis; a constant velocity universal joint coupled to said differential output and to said wheel assembly and adapted to couple therebetween both said driving torque and lateral thrust loads, said constant velocity universal joint serving as one bearing point of a first and a second bearing point defining a swing axis therebetween substantially perpendicular to one axis of said first transverse axis, said second transverse axis, and said differential output axis; pivot means carried by said transverse support means at the other bearing point defining said swing axis so as to be pivotable about said swing axis through said constant velocity universal joint; and arm means coupling said wheel assembly and said pivot means for allowing said differential means to pivot relative to said one axis; whereby, as said vehicle support means undergoes said variable displacement, said differential means pivot about said second transverse axis while said first prop shaft end undergoes said engine-to-prop shaft articulation to thereby avoid said prop shaft-to-differential articulation.