Claims
- 1. A four-link suspension system capable of forming hundreds of different four-link suspension configurations thereby offering hundreds of different corresponding instant center locations, comprising:
at least one main support bracket containing a plurality of holes formed therethrough; at least one link containing a plurality of holes formed therethrough; at least two of said plurality of holes formed within said at least one link assembly are alignable with at least two of said plurality of holes formed within said at least one main support bracket; and wherein said link assembly is engageable with said at least one main support bracket in a normal or inverted state.
- 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of holes formed in said at least one link is an aircraft rod end threaded fastener hole for receipt of a tie rod end threaded fastener therein.
- 3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of holes formed in said at least one link is a main attachment hole for receipt of a threaded main attachment fastener therein to fasten said at least one link to said at least one main support bracket.
- 4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of holes formed in said at least one link is an adjustment hole for receipt of an adjustment fastener therethrough for adjusting the position of said at least one link relative to the position of said at least one main support bracket.
- 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one main support bracket further comprises at least one vehicle component contour matching support attachment area.
- 6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a contour of said at least one main support bracket matches the contour of said at least one vehicle component contour matching support attachment area.
- 7. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one main support bracket further comprises:
a slot for receipt of said at least one threaded main attachment fastener through to provide agility of position for fastening said at least one to said at least one main support bracket.
- 8. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one main support bracket further comprises:
a plurality of holes for said threaded adjustment fastener to extend through for adjusting the position of said at least one link relative to the position of said at least one main support bracket.
- 9. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one main support bracket further comprises:
a plurality of holes for said threaded adjustment fastener to extent through for adjusting the position of said link assembly relative to the position of said at least one main support bracket.
- 10. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one main support brackets are heat treated to 37RC before skin out.
- 11. A method for determining a four point suspension system configuration, comprising:
monitoring vehicle performance effecting parameters; manually looking up a four point suspension configuration for said parameters in a vehicle specific historical data table; and configuring said four-point suspension system to correspond to said historical data.
- 12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
monitoring one or more of the following parameters: outside temperature, tire tread temperature, tire pressure, weather condition, track condition, weight of vehicle, weight of driver, vehicle type, and a suspension type.
- 13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:
determining said four point suspension configuration via computer containing said vehicle specific historical data.
- 14. A four-link suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
a main support bracket having a first side and a second side opposing said first side; a first series of holes formed through said main support bracket and extending from said first side to said second side; a first link having a first side and a second side, and one or more holes formed through said first link and extending through both said first side and said second side; said one or more holes in said first link being alignable with one or more holes of said first series of holes when either said first side of said first link engages said main support bracket or said second side of said first link engages said main support bracket.
- 15. The system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:
a second link having a first side and a second side, and one or more holes formed through said second link and extending through both said first side and said second side; said one or more holes in said second link being alignable with one or more holes of said first series of holes when either said first side of said second link engages said main support bracket or said second side of said second link engages said main support bracket.
- 16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said main support bracket further comprises a second series of holes that allow for adjustment of said first link.
- 17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein said at least one main support bracket further comprises at least one vehicle component contour matching support attachment area.
- 18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein said at least one vehicle component contour matching support attachment area matches a contour of a portion of a vehicle frame assembly.
- 19. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
a main threaded fastener passed through one of said holes formed in said first link, a corresponding one of said holes formed in said second link, and one of said first series of holes formed in said main support bracket to secure said first link and said second link to said main support bracket.
- 20. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising:
an adjustment fastener passed through one of said holes formed in said first link, a corresponding one of said holes formed in said second link, and one of said second series of holes formed in said main support bracket.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Applicant's co-pending U.S. provisional application, Serial No. 60/232,264, filed Sep. 14, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60232264 |
Sep 2000 |
US |