Independent suspension undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle
View Patent ↗An independent suspension undercarriage module includes a first subframe segment and a second subframe segment. The subframe is manufactured of a composite material to provide a truss-like structural unibody which is mounted as a unit to the underside of a low floor vehicle through a plurality of resilient dampers. Passengers are thereby provided with a secondary vibration isolation structure separate from the suspension systems which filter out high frequency content generated by the suspension systems.
1. An independent undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle comprising:
a subframe having a first subframe segment mountable adjacent a first vehicle underside profile segment and a second subframe segment mountable adjacent a second vehicle underside profile segment, the first vehicle underside profile segment defining a floor for a vehicle aisle and the second vehicle underside profile segment defining the floor beneath a passenger seat; and
a suspension system mounted to said subframe.
2. A module as recited in claim 1 wherein said suspension system is mounted substantially below said second subframe segment with reference to the vehicle.
3. A module as recited in claim 2 wherein said suspension system includes a non-driven vehicle wheel.
4. A module as recited in claim 1 wherein said subframe is manufactured of a composite material.
5. A module as recited in claim 4 wherein said subframe includes a laminale material which resists torsional loads.
6. A module as recited in claim 4 wherein said subframe is a single continuous member.
7. A module as recited in claim 4 wherein said subframe includes a multiple of substantially planar members.
8. A module as recited in claim 1 further including a plurality of resilient dampers mounted to said subframe.
9. A module as recited in claim 8 wherein said resilient dampers are mounted between said subframe and the vehicle underside.
10. A module as recited in claim 9 wherein said resilient dampers filter high frequency vibrations generated by said suspension system.
11. A module as recited in claim 1 wherein said first subframe segment is substantially parallel to and offset from said second subframe segment.
12. A module as recited in claim 1 wherein said subframe forms a portion of a vehicle underside.
13. An independent undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle comprising:
a composite subframe having a first subframe segment mountable adjacent a first vehicle underside profile segment and a second subframe segment mountable adjacent a second vehicle underside profile segment, the first vehicle underside profile segment defining a floor for a vehicle aisle and the second vehicle underside profile segment defining the floor beneath a passenger seat;
a suspension system mounted to said second subframe segment; and
a plurality of resilient dampers are mounted between said subframe and the vehicle underside.
14. A module as recited in claim 13 wherein said subframe includes a laminate material which resists torsional loads.
15. A module as recited in claim 14 wherein said subframe is a single continuous member.
16. A module as recited in claim 14 wherein said first and second subframe segments are planar members.
17. A module as recited in claim 13 wherein said resilient dampers filter high frequency vibrations generated by said suspension system.
18. A module as recited in claim 13 wherein said first subframe segment is substantially parallel to and offset from said second subframe segment.
19. A module as recited in claim 13 wherein said subframe forms a portion of a vehicle underside.
20. An independent undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle comprising:
a composite material subframe, said subframe comprising a single continuous member having a first subframe segment mountable adjacent a first vehicle underside profile segment and a second subframe segment mountable adjacent a second vehicle underside profile segment, the first underside profile segment defines a floor for a vehicle aisle and the second vehicle underside profile segment defining the floor beneath a passenger seat; and
a suspension system mounted to said composite material subframe.
21. An independent undercarriage module for a low floor vehicle comprising:
a composite subframe having a first subframe segment mountable adjacent a first vehicle underside profile segment and a second subframe segment mountable adjacent a second vehicle underside profile segment, the first vehicle underside profile segment defining a floor for a vehicle aisle and the second vehicle underside profile segment defining the floor beneath a passenger seat, said subframe comprises a single continuous member of a laminate material which resists torsional loads;
a suspension system mounted to said second subframe segment; and
a plurality of resilient dampers are mounted between said subframe and the vehicle underside.