Vehicle and chassis
A vehicle with a load space to provide a chassis comprising a framework ( 10 ) comprising a pair of spaced-apart elongate longitudinal members ( 12, 14 ) connected by a pair of spaced-apart elongate lateral members ( 20, 22 ) and bracing for the thus-defined framework, a rear suspension attached to the rearmost lateral member ( 20 ) and comprising a trailing-arm arrangement ( 52 ), and a front suspension attached to the front most lateral member ( 22 ) and comprising a leading-arm arrangement ( 58 ). This creates a rigid core for the chassis, which also provides all four suspension mounting points.
1. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis, comprising
a flat framework comprising a pair of spaced-apart elongate longitudinal members connected by a pair of spaced-apart elongate lateral members, and bracing for the thus-defined framework comprising cross-members extending diagonally within the framework from the one lateral member to the other lateral member, joining at the centre of the framework;
a rear suspension directly attached to the rearmost of the pair of lateral members and comprising a trailing-arm arrangement;
a front suspension directly attached to the frontmost of the pair of lateral members and comprising a leading-arm arrangement.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the elongate members are substantially straight.
3. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the elongate members are an open channel section.
4. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the elongate members are a tubular section.
5. The vehicle according to claim 4 in which the elongate members are a box section.
6. The vehicle according to claim 4 in which the elongate members are a circular section.
7. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the cross-members extend from one lateral member to the other.
8. The vehicle according to claim 7 in which the bracing comprises a panel attached to the framework.
9. The vehicle according to claim 8 in which the panel is bonded to the framework.
10. The vehicle according to claim 8 in which the panel is flat in the region attached to the thus-defined framework.
11. The vehicle according to claim 8 in which the panel is of a composite material.
12. The vehicle according to claim 11 in which the panel includes a glass fibre reinforcement.
13. The vehicle according to claim 11 in which the panel includes a carbon fibre reinforcement.
14. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the rear suspension comprises a pair of trailing-arm suspension arms, each supporting a wheel.
15. The vehicle according to claim 1 in which the front suspension comprises a pair of leading-arm suspension arms, each supporting a wheel.