US4883287A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double link type suspension system with stabilizer bar
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-10-18
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Granted: 1989-11-28
•
Expires: 2008-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A double link type suspension system for an automotive vehicle is comprised of an extension member movably connecting the upper section of a knuckle and an upper control arm. The knuckle upper section and the lower end section of the extension member are connected through a rotatable joint mechanism including a cylindrical member fixed to the extension member whose axis is aligned with the axis line passing through a joint between the lower section of the knuckle and a lower control arm. A pivot shaft fixed to the knuckle upper section is disposed inside a pair of deep groove ball bearings supported inside the cylindrical member. Additionally, a stabilizer bar is provided in such a manner that its end section is attached to the extension member lower end section at a position closer to the center axis of the vehicle body, thereby preventing steering effort change caused by change of steering turn angle of the wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 Takuya Murakami
- 👤 Yoichiro Kato
- 👤 Kenji Terauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/06; B60G15/062; B60G21/00; B60G21/02; B60G21/04; B60G21/05; B60G21/055; B60G21/0551; B60G3/00; B60G3/18; B60G3/20; B60G3/26; B60G3/265; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/44; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/14; B60G2204/148; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/416; B60G2204/418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle; a lower control arm for swingably connecting a lower section of said knuckle and side of a vehicle body, said lower control arm being movably connected through a first joint to the knuckle lower section; an upper control arm movably connected to the side of the vehicle body; an extension member for movably connecting an upper section of said knuckle and said upper control arm, said extension member being jointed to the knuckle upper section to be rotatable around an axis line passing through said first joint; and a stabilizer bar having an end section which is connected to said extension member at a position inside said axis line relative to the vehicle body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A double link type suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel of the vehicle; a lower control arm for swingably connecting a lower section of said knuckle and side of a vehicle body, said lower control arm being movably connected through a first joint to the knuckle lower section; an upper control arm movably connected to the side of the vehicle body; an extension member for movably connecting an upper section of said knuckle and said upper control arm, said extension member being jointed to the knuckle upper section to be rotatable around an axis line passing through said first joint; and a stabilizer bar having an end section which is connected to said extension member at a position inside said axis line relative to the vehicle body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a joint mechanism through which the knuckle upper section is movably connected to said extension member, said joint mechanism including a cylindrical member whose axis is aligned with said axis line, at least two rolling bearings supported inside said cylindrical member, and a pivot shaft disposed inside said rolling bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end section of said stabilizer bar is connected to said extension member at a position closer to a center axis of the vehicle body than said joint mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stabilizer bar is connected to said extension member at a position which is rearward of a center axis of the wheel with respect to the vehicle body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stabilizer bar end section is connected through a joint structure to the first end section of said extension member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said joint structure includes a bracket fixedly secured to aid extension member first end section, first and second elastomeric members disposed on opposite sides of said bracket, third and fourth elastomeric members disposed on opposite sides of said stabilizer bar end section, a connecting rod piercing said first elastomeric members, said bracket, said second elastomeric member, said third elastomeric member, said stabilizer bar end section and said fourth elastomeric member, and means for fastening said first and second elastomeric bushings together with said bracket to said connecting rod for fastening said third and fourth elastomeric members together with said stabilizing bar end section to said connecting rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two rolling bearings include first and second rolling bearings which are located at axially opposite end sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot shaft is formed with a threaded portion, wherein said joint mechanism includes a tightening nut engaged with said pivot shaft threaded portion and in contact with inner race of one of said rolling bearings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member of said joint mechanism is fixedly connected to said extension member, wherein said pivot shaft of said joint mechanism is fixedly connected to the upper section of said knuckle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A double link suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot shaft is coaxial with said cylindrical member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first rolling bearing is larger in inner diameter than said second rolling bearing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A double link suspension system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pivot shaft is fixedly supported in said knuckle upper section and includes a first section at which said pivot shaft is fixedly supported in said knuckle upper section, a second section integral with said first section, and a third section integral with said second section and smaller in diameter than said second section, said first and second rolling bearings being mounted respectively on said first and second sections.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of annular elastic members interposed between and in contact with said pivot shaft and said cylindrical member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each annular elastic member includes an elastomeric ring in slidable contact with the peripheral surface of said pivot shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each annular elastic member includes an elastomeric ring in slidable contact with inner peripheral surface of said cylindrical member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shock absorber having a first end section connected to the vehicle body side, and a second end section movably connected to said extension member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension member is rotatable around said axis line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said lower control arm has a first end section movably connected to said knuckle lower section, and a second section movably connected to the vehicle body side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said extension member has a first end section provided with said joint mechanism, and a second end section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said upper control arm has a first end section movably connected to the second end section of said extension member, and a second end section movably connected to the vehicle body side.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is of a front engine front wheel drive type.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a four wheel drive type.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheel has an axle shaft connected through a constant velocity joint to a drive shaft which is driven by an engine, said axle shaft being rotatably journalled by said knuckle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first joint is a ball joint whose axis is aligned with said axis line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said ball joint includes a ball stud secured to said knuckle lower section, said ball stud having an axis aligned with said axis line, and a retainer for movably supporting said ball stud, secured to said lower control arm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
92 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said extension member second end section and said upper control arm first end section are connected by a second joint, said second joint being separate from a vertical plane containing a point in a horizontal plane passing through said second joint, said axis line passing through said point, said second joint being located between said vertical plane containing said point and a wheel vertical plane containing center line of said wheel and perpendicular to axis of rotation of said wheel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said axis line serves as a steering axis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said point resides in said upper control arm and separate from said second joint.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said axis line intersects said wheel vertical plane at a point above a horizontal plane at which said wheel is in contact with road surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A double link type suspension system a claimed in claim 29, wherein said axis line intersects said horizontal plane at a point outside of said wheel vertical plane in a lateral direction of the vehicle body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said knuckle upper section is rotatably connected to said extension member first end section to which said shock absorber second end section is connected.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said shock absorber second end section is connected through an elastomeric bushing to said extension member first end section.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
66 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second joint includes a rod member fixedly secured to said extension member second end section, and first and second elastomeric bushings securely mounted on said rod member and located on the opposite sides of said extension member second end section, said upper control arm first end section being mounted on said elastomeric bushings.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said upper control arm first end section has a cylindrical portion which is mounted on said first and second elastomeric bushings.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said extension member is generally channel-shaped and disposed to surround at least a part of periphery of said shock absorber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
84 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 35, wherein said extension member is formed of a press-formed sheet metal and includes a generally vertically extending base plate portion located between said shock absorber and said wheel, and first and second side plate portions integral with said base portion and extending along said base portion, said base plate portion and first and second side plate portions defining an elongate space in which at least a part of said shock absorber is positioned.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first end section of said extension member is fixedly secured to an outer tube of said shock absorber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said second joint is situated above the outer peripheral surface of said wheel.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
A double link type suspension system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rolling bearings are deep groove ball bearings.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-27 | 1993-05-29 | 1993-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-27 | 1997-05-29 | 1997-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-27 | 2001-05-29 | 2001-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |