Independent front wheel suspension, vehicle equipped with such a front wheel suspension, and method of producing a sprung suspension

1. A wheel suspension for a wheel on a motor vehicle, said wheel suspension comprising:

a first stub axle ( 36 , 37 ) connected to a stub axle carrier ( 34 , 35 );

a suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) that connects the stub axle carrier to the vehicle; and

a stabilizer bar ( 9 ) fixed transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) comprising a tubular section of varying cross-section over its own longitudinal axis;

said stabilizer bar having an outer end non-rotationally fixed to one portion of said suspension arm and rotationally fixed to said vehicle, and having a central section rotationally coupled to another portion of said suspension arm.

2. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) has a substantially Y-shaped section.

3. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 2 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is fixed to a sprung suspension device ( 24 , 25 ; 26 , 27 ) along the column of the Y-shaped section.

4. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 2 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is fitted to the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) at an end ( 22 , 23 ) of a branch of the Y-shaped section.

5. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) is rotatably attached to the underside of the vehicle.

6. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein said central section of the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) is further rotatably attached to the underside of the vehicle.

7. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 6 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is rotatably attached to the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) in proximity to a point of attachment of said stabilizer bar to said vehicle.

8. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is fixed to the outer end ( 14 , 15 )of the stabilizer bar( 9 )through a splined connection ( 16 , 17 ).

9. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second stub axle which is mechanically linked by way of a system of control links to said first stub axle.

10. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 9 , wherein the system of control links comprises a transverse suspension link ( 74 ) which runs centrally through the stabilizer bar ( 9 ).

11. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first stub axle is provided with at least one of independent electrical and hydraulic actuators ( 78 , 79 ), which are actuated by electrical control signals.

12. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is provided with at least one sprung suspension device ( 24 , 25 ; 26 , 27 ) at a point separated from the axis of the stabilizer bar ( 9 ).

13. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 12 , wherein said at least one sprung suspension device ( 24 , 25 ) is vertically adjustable.

14. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 12 , wherein the sprung suspension device comprises an air suspension bellows ( 24 , 25 ) located between the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) and the underside of the vehicle.

15. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 12 , wherein the sprung suspension device comprises a telescopic damper ( 26 , 27 ) located between the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) and an attachment point on the vehicle.

16. The wheel suspension as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wheel suspension is configured to be installed on a vehicle built on a frame comprising longitudinal members ( 2 , 3 ).

17. A vehicle provided with a wheel suspension comprising a stub axle ( 36 , 37 ) connected to a stub axle carrier ( 34 , 35 ), a suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) which connects the stub axle carrier to the vehicle, and a stabilizer bar ( 9 ) fixed transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and comprising a tubular section of varying cross-section over its own longitudinal axis, said stabilizer bar having an outer end non-rotationally fixed to one portion of said suspension arm and rotationally fixed to said vehicle and having a central section rotationally coupled to another portion of said suspension arm.

18. The vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) has an essentially Y-shaped section.

19. The vehicle as recited in claim 18 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is fixed to a sprung suspension device ( 24 , 25 ; 26 , 27 ) along the column of the Y-shaped section.

20. The vehicle as recited in claim 18 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is fitted to the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) at an end ( 22 , 23 ) of a branch of the Y-shaped section.

21. The vehicle as recited in claim 17 , wherein the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) is rotatably attached to the underside of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a central section of the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) being rotatably attached to the underside of the vehicle at at least one attachment point ( 12 , 13 ).

23. The vehicle as recited in claim 22 , wherein the suspension arm ( 18 , 19 ) is rotatably attached to the stabilizer bar ( 9 ) in proximity to the attachment point ( 12 , 13 ).

24. A suspension for steerable wheels of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a pair of stub axles respectively connected to a pair of stub axle carriers, and being connected to a wheel steering mechanism;

a pair of suspension arms coupling said stub axle carriers to said vehicle; and

a stabilizer bar having outer ends each non-rotationally fixed to one portion of a respective suspension arm and rotationally fixed to said vehicle, and having a central section rotationally coupled to another portion of each of said suspension arms.

25. The suspension of claim 24 , further comprising at least one steering gear mounted to said vehicle proximate an outer end of said stabilizer bar, and a steering control linkage coupling said steering gear to at least one of said stub axles.