Vehicle suspension
A vehicle suspension comprises an assembly of a hub carrier and a support arm, the support arm being attached to the hub carrier at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel and extending inwardly therefrom to a support arm attachment point for fixing to a chassis, and a trailing link extending from the assembly in a direction transverse to that of the support arm, toward a trailing link attachment point for fixing to the chassis. The trailing link preferably extends from the assembly in a forward direction, and is preferably connected directly to the hub carrier. A strut can extend upwardly toward an attachment point for fixing to a chassis, to provide a spring and damper. The support arm can comprise a pair of arms extending divergently from the attachment point to each of the two points. The hub carrier can include a pivot pin extending in a fore/aft alignment, passing through two pivot points on the support arm thereby to define the two points. The appropriate end of the pivot pin provides a convenient location for attaching the trailing link to the hub carrier. The invention further relates to a vehicle, comprising a chassis and at least two wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, each wheel being attached to the chassis via such a suspension.
1. A vehicle suspension, comprising an assembly of:
a hub carrier
a support arm attached to the hub carrier at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel and extending inwardly therefrom to a single support arm attachment point for fixing to a chassis, the support arm attachment point comprising a cylindrical section mounted on a vertically-oriented stud via a rubber bushing to allow limited movement of the support arm relative to the chassis in all directions;
a trailing link extending from the hub carrier in a forward direction transverse to that of the support arm, toward a trailing link attachment point for fixing to the chassis, the trailing link attachment point comprising a cylindrical link mounted on a horizontally-oriented stud via a rubber bushing; and
a strut extending upwardly from the hub carrier toward a top mount for fixing to a chassis, the strut providing a spring and a shock absorber.
2. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1 in which the support arm comprises a pair of arms extending divergently from the attachment point to each of the two points.
3. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1 in which the hub carrier includes a pivot pin extending in a fore/aft alignment, and which passes through two pivot points on the support arm thereby to define the two points.
4. A vehicle suspension according to claim 3 in which the trailing link is connected to an end of the pivot pin.
5. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1 in which the trailing link is connected to hub carrier.
6. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1 further comprising an axle carried by the hub carrier.
7. A vehicle suspension according to claim 6 in which the axle is a driven axle.
8. A vehicle suspension according claim 7 further comprising a wheel fitted to the axle.
9. A vehicle comprising a chassis and at least two wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, each wheel being attached to the chassis via a suspension according to claim 6 .