Universal wishbone trailing arm
View Patent ↗A universal wishbone trailing arm and methods are provided for coupling a wheel to a vehicle chassis. The universal wishbone trailing arm comprises a wheel hub that fastenably receives the wheel. A cylindrical axle support supports one or more roller bearings whereby the wheel hub is rotatable. A first swing arm and a second swing arm extend forwardly from a joined swing arm. The cylindrical axle support is coupled to a rear of the joined swing arm. A first chassis mount hingedly couples the first swing arm to the vehicle chassis. A second chassis mount hingedly couples the second swing arm to an articulated mount which is configured to couple the second swing arm to the vehicle chassis. The articulated mount cooperates with the first second swing arms to change camber of the wheel, such that a tracking of the wheels remains substantially unchanged during traveling over rough terrain.
1. A trailing arm for coupling a wheel to a vehicle chassis, the trailing arm comprising:
a cylindrical axle support configured to rotatably support a wheel hub;
a joined swing arm coupled with the cylindrical axle support;
a first swing arm configured to hingedly couple the joined swing arm with the vehicle chassis; and
a second swing arm coupled with an articulated mount configured to maintain tracking of the wheel during vertical displacement with respect to the vehicle chassis.
2. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the joined swing arm comprises a structural portion disposed between the first swing arm and the second swing arm.
3. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical axle support includes an opening configured to receive a constant velocity joint that is fastened to the wheel hub.
4. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the wheel hub is rotatably supported within the cylindrical axle support by way of one or more bearings.
5. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical axle support is configured to shield a constant velocity joint that is coupled with the wheel hub.
6. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the first swing arm includes a curved portion configured to provide clearance between the first swing aim and the wheel.
7. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the trailing arm is configured to be implemented interchangeably between a driver side and a passenger side of the vehicle chassis.
8. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the first swing arm and the second swing arm are configured such that a first centerline of the first swing arm and a second centerline of the second swing arm define a flat plane of symmetry of the trailing arm.
9. The trailing arm of claim 8 , wherein a third centerline of the joined swing arm shares the flat plane with the first centerline and the second centerline.
10. The trailing arm of claim 9 , wherein the trailing arm is substantially symmetric above and below the flat plane.
11. The trailing arm of claim 9 , wherein the joined swing arm includes a recess disposed along the third centerline, wherein the recess is configured to provide spacing for coupling of the trailing arm with one or more struts.
12. The trailing arm of claim 1 , wherein the first swing arm includes a first chassis mount configured to couple the first swing arm to the vehicle chassis.
13. The trailing arm of claim 12 , wherein the first chassis mount is configured to operate as a pivot that places the trailing arm into a hinged relationship with the vehicle chassis.
14. The trailing arm of claim 13 , wherein the second swing arm includes a second chassis mount configured to couple the second swing arm to an articulated mount.
15. The trailing arm of claim 14 , wherein the second chassis mount is configured to operate as a pivot that allows the trailing arm to hingedly rotate with respect to the vehicle chassis.
16. The trailing arm of claim 15 , wherein the first chassis mount and the second chassis mount are configured to cooperatively allow the wheel to undergo vertical motion according to terrain over which the wheel is rolling.
17. The trailing arm of claim 15 , wherein the first chassis mount and the second chassis mount are disposed at an offset angle relative to a perpendicular of the centerline of the vehicle chassis.
18. The trailing arm of claim 17 , wherein the offset angle ranges between substantially 0 degrees and substantially 20 degrees.
19. The trailing arm of claim 17 , wherein the offset angle is configured to induce a change in camber angle of the wheel during vertical motion such that tracking of the wheel is substantially unchanged throughout a range of vertical motion of the trailing aim.
20. A method for coupling a wheel to a vehicle chassis, the method comprising:
coupling a first swing arm with the vehicle chassis, wherein the coupling hingedly attaches a trailing arm to the vehicle chassis;
coupling a second swing aim with an articulated mount, wherein the articulated mount is configured to maintain tracking of the wheel during vertical displacement with respect to the vehicle chassis;
fastening one or more struts between the vehicle chassis and a centerline of the trailing arm;
supporting a wheel hub within a cylindrical axle support comprising the trailing aim;
fastening a constant velocity joint to the wheel hub within the cylindrical axle support; and
mounting the wheel onto the wheel hub.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein supporting includes using one or more bearings to rotatably support the wheel hub within the cylindrical axle support.