US4802688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double link type suspension system
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-08-26
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Granted: 1989-02-07
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Expires: 2007-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A double link type suspension system for use, for example, in an automotive vehicle of the front engine front drive type or the four wheel drive type is comprised of a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle. Upper and lower control arms are swingably connected at their inboard end section with a vehicle body. The outboard end section of the lower control arm is connected through a first joint to a lower section of the knuckle. Additionally, an extension member is provided to connect both the outboard end sections of the upper and lower control arms. The extension member is also movably connected through a second joint to the upper part of the knuckle, in which an imaginary axis connecting the first and second joints serves as a steering axis around which the wheel is turnable to steer the vehicle, thereby increasing freedom of selection of location of the outboard end section of the upper control arm.
Inventors
- 👤 Takuya Murakami
- 👤 Toshihiko Kamimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/26; B60G3/265; B60G7/00; B60G7/008; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/14; B60G2200/144; B60G2200/17; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/44; B60G2200/46; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/128; B60G2204/14; B60G2204/148; B60G2204/1484; B60G2206/00; B60G2206/01; B60G2206/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle, said knuckle having an upper and a lower end; a first joint which is connected to the lower end of said knuckle; a second joint which is connected to the upper end of said knuckle; an upper control arm having an inboard end which is rotatably connected to a vehicle body and an outboard end; a lower control arm having an inboard end which is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and an outboard end which is rotatably connected through said first joint to the lower end of said knuckle; an extension member having an upper end which is rotatably connected to the outboard end of said upper control arm, and a lower end which is rotatably connected to the outboard end of said lower control arm, said extension member being rotatably connected through said second joint to the upper end of said knuckle between the upper and lower ends of said extension member, an axis connecting said first and second joints serving as a steering axis around which the wheel is turnable to steer the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle, said knuckle having an upper and a lower end; a first joint which is connected to the lower end of said knuckle; a second joint which is connected to the upper end of said knuckle; an upper control arm having an inboard end which is rotatably connected to a vehicle body and an outboard end; a lower control arm having an inboard end which is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and an outboard end which is rotatably connected through said first joint to the lower end of said knuckle; an extension member having an upper end which is rotatably connected to the outboard end of said upper control arm, and a lower end which is rotatably connected to the outboard end of said lower control arm, said extension member being rotatably connected through said second joint to the upper end of said knuckle between the upper and lower ends of said extension member, an axis connecting said first and second joints serving as a steering axis around which the wheel is turnable to steer the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second joints have first and second axes, respectively, around which the wheel is turnable, said first and second axes being aligned with each other to form said steering axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outboard end of said lower control arm is indirectly connected to the lower end of said knuckle, said extension member has a projection which is integrally formed thereon and which is rotatably connected through said first joint to the lower end of said knuckle, and the outboard end of said lower control arm is rotatably connected to said extension member at a position at which said projection is formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third joint which rotatably connects the upper end of said extension member and the outboard end of said upper control arm, wherein said extension member is curved such that said third joint is located closer to the wheel than the central section of said extension member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third joint includes an elastomeric insulation bushing disposed between the upper end of said extension member and the outboard end of said upper control arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first joint is a first ball joint whose axis forms part of said steering axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first ball joint includes a ball stud secured to the lower end of said knuckle, and a retainer for rotatably supporting said ball stud, said retainer being secured to said projection of said extension member, said ball stud having an axis forming part of said steering axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric insulation bushing which connects the inboard end of said upper control arm to the vehicle body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric insulation bushing which connects the inboard end of said lower control arm to the vehicle body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second joint is a second ball joint having an axis forming part of said steering axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second ball joint includes a ball stud secured to the upper end of said knuckle, and a retainer for rotatably supporting said ball stud, said retainer being fixedly connected to said extension member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second joint includes a support bracket for rigidly connecting said extension member and said second ball joint retainer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second ball joint includes a ball stud directly secured to said extension member, a bracket secured to the upper end of said knuckle, and a retainer which is secured to said bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shock absorber disposed generally vertically near said extension member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said shock absorber has an upper end which is elastically connected to the vehicle body and a lower end which is elastically connected to said extension member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper control arm is disposed such that an extension of said steering axis intersects said upper control arm at a position spaced from said third joint.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is of a front engine front wheel drive type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is of a four wheel drive type.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper end of said extension member extends above the uppermost portion of said wheel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle; an upper control arm having an inboard end section movably connected to a vehicle body and an outboard end section; a lower control arm having an inboard end section movably connected to the vehicle body, and an outboard end section movably connected through a first joint to a lower section of said knuckle; an extension member having an upper end section movably connected through a third joint to said upper control arm outboard end section, and a lower end section movably connected to said lower control arm outboard end section, said extension member being movably connected through a second joint to an upper section of said knuckle, an axis connecting said first and second joints serving as a steering axis around which the wheel is turnable to steer the vehicle; and means by which said second joint is spaced from said upper control arm and said third joint.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
168 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle; an upper control arm having an inboard end section movably connected to a vehicle body and an outboard end section; a lower control arm having an inboard end section movably connected to the vehicle body, and an outboard end section movably connected through a first joint to a lower section of said knuckle; an extension member having an upper end section movably connected through a third joint to said upper control arm outboard end section, and a lower end section movably connected to said lower control arm outboard end section, said extension member being movably connected through a second joint to an upper section of said knuckle, an axis connecting said first and second joints serving as a steering axis around which the wheel is turnable to steer the vehicle; and means by which said second joint is spaced from said upper control arm and said third joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-07 | 1992-08-08 | 1993-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-07 | 1996-08-08 | 1997-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-07 | 2000-08-08 | 2001-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |