Patent Application
20100044988
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to motor vehicle suspensions, and more particularly to an integrated sway bar and torque rod.
2. Description of the Problem
Sway bars and torque rods are well known suspension system elements. Torque rods (or torque arms) have been used to absorb torque generated by an axle, and have been common on rear drive axles to absorb some of the torque generated by a rear drive axle during acceleration. Torque rods have also been used to absorb braking torque from front steering axles in heavy duty truck applications. Sway bars (also known as stabilizer bars) are shafts which connect lower suspension arms from side to side on vehicles in order to reduce vehicle body roll during cornering. This allows the use of less stiff springs than might otherwise be used to produce a “softer” ride for passengers. Employment of these elements in motor vehicle suspensions has entailed the use of multiple components which have added to the weight of the vehicles and to the expense of manufacturing the vehicles.
Previous examples of combining motor vehicle suspension sway bars and torque rods exist. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,320 teaches a suspension assembly for a rear axle including a combined sway bar and torque rods. The sway bar is implemented as a cross member connecting two parallel arms. The arms are pivotally connected at an end to each end of the cross member. The free ends of the arm are attached to the axle positioning the cross member parallel to and spaced from the axle. Simplification in assembly was achieved by reducing the number of required attachment points to the vehicle frame. The '320 patent further claimed less restriction on axle cross articulation, improving vehicle traction and minimizing stress on linkages and the bracket used to attach the linkages to the vehicle frame.
The integration of the sway bar and a set of torque rods and fitting of the combined suspension element into a suspension system can be further optimized in terms of suspension system geometry for weight savings, assembly cost and packaging. This requires consideration of linkages that can be displaced by the assembly.
An integrated sway bar and torque rod suspension link, particularly suited for a truck front steering axle is provided. The suspension link includes first and second parallel torque arms. A cross member element is rigidly mounted between the first and second torque arms by welding, holding the torque arms in parallel relationship. Bushings are provided at each end of the torque arms providing for coupling the suspension link between a motor vehicle frame (or more precisely hangers depending from frame rails) and the axle at four points, two on the frame and two on the axle. The bushings provide two parallel axes of rotation transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Additional effects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description that follows.
The contribution to the art believed novel is set forth in the appended claims. The preferred mode of use will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
The suspension link 11 of
Hanger brackets 42 and 44 depend from frame rails 50, 52 forward from steering axle 24 to provide connection points for linkage element 11 and torque rods 32 and 33. A transverse torque rod 40 is located rearward from steering axle 24 and is connected between the steering axle and a frame cross member 34, which is located behind the axle and under the frame rails 50, 52.
While only a preferred embodiment is described here in detail, the claims are not limited thereto, but are intended to extend to various changes and modifications thereof.
