Suspension structure with improved shock absorber arrangement, and vehicle incorporating same

Abstract

A suspension structure is configured to ensure a large stroke of a shock absorber in a suspension device without moving an upper end supporting position of a damper upward relative to a conventional mounting position. The suspension structure includes a rear suspension for suspending left and right rear wheels. The rear suspension includes left and right lower arms for supporting the left and right rear wheels by way of knuckles, and left and right rear shock absorbers interposed between the respective lower arms and a sub-frame of a vehicle body frame. A lower end connecting portion of the rear shock absorber is cantilevered to a front side of the lower arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a saddle-type four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, with selected body components shown in phantom in order to show frame components more clearly, the vehicle incorporating a suspension structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a the saddle type four-wheel vehicle of FIG. 1, with selected body components shown in phantom in order to show frame components more clearly.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a frame body portion of a vehicle body frame of the saddle-type four-wheel all-terrain vehicle of FIGS. 1-2.

FIG. 4 is a detail side perspective view of a rear suspension portion of the saddle-type four-wheel all-terrain vehicle of FIGS. 1-2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the rear suspension portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the rear suspension portion of FIGS. 4-5.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the rear suspension portion of FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a lower arm which is one component of the rear suspension portion of FIGS. 4-7, where the lower arm is configured according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear plan view of a rear portion of a sub-frame portion of the vehicle body frame of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view, corresponding to FIG. 8, of a lower arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wheel suspension structure for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame,left and right wheels, anda power transmission shaft for transmitting power to the wheels,the suspension structure provided for suspending one of the wheels and comprising: a suspension arm for supporting said one of the wheels, said suspension arm comprising a main arm body,a damper interposed between a portion of the suspension arm and the vehicle body frame, anda knuckle interposed between the suspension arm and the one of said wheels,wherein said damper comprises a connecting portion which operatively connects the damper to the suspension arm,and wherein said connecting portion is cantilevered from the main arm body of the suspension arm.

2. A suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the damper is operatively connected to the outside of the main arm body of the suspension arm.

3. A suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the damper is operatively connected to a forward facing outer side surface of the suspension arm.

4. A suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the damper is arranged proximate the knuckle.

5. A suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein the suspension arm further comprises front and rear arm bodies integrally assembled together, anda damper-supporting portion,wherein the connecting portion of the damper is supported by the damper-supporting portion of the suspension arm, and wherein the damper-supporting portion is integrally connected to the two arm bodies.

6. A suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the damper overlaps the suspension arm in the vertical direction.

7. A suspension structure according to claim 5, further comprising a stud shaft which supports the connecting portion of the damper, and wherein the stud shaft is fixedly mounted on the damper-supporting portion.

8. A suspension structure according to claim 5, wherein the connecting portion of the damper is supported on the damper-supporting portion by way of a connecting shaft which penetrates the supporting portion in the axial direction.

9. A wheel suspension structure for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame,left and right wheels, anda power transmission shaft for transmitting power to the wheels,the suspension structure provided for suspending one of the wheels and comprising: a first suspension arm for supporting one of said wheels, the first suspension arm comprising a front arm body and a rear arm body,a damper interposed between the first suspension arm and the vehicle body frame, anda knuckle disposed between the first suspension arm and the one of said wheels,wherein said damper comprises a damper connecting portion which operatively connects the damper to the first suspension arm, and wherein said damper connecting portion is cantilevered from a forward facing surface of the front arm body.

10. The suspension structure of claim 9, wherein the front member and the rear member are arranged in a substantially V-shaped configuration, and the damper connecting portion is disposed on the first suspension arm adjacent an apex of the V-shaped configuration.

11. The suspension structure of claim 10, wherein the knuckle is pivotally connected to the first suspension arm adjacent the apex of the V-shaped configuration.

12. The suspension structure of claim 9, wherein the front member and the rear member are arranged in V-shaped configuration, and wherein the suspension structure further comprises a damper-supporting pipe, the damper-supporting pipe extending through an apex of the V-shaped configuration so as to project outwardly therefrom, andthe connecting portion of the damper pivots about the projecting portion of the damper-supporting pipe.

13. The suspension structure of claim 12, further comprising an elongated bolt fixing the connecting portion of the damper to the first suspension arm, the elongated bolt extending through both the supporting pipe and an interior passage of the connecting portion.

14. The suspension structure of claim 12, wherein the supporting pipe comprises an interior threaded surface, andthe suspension structure further comprises a stud shaft adapted to fix the damper connecting portion to the first suspension arm, the stud shaft comprising an exterior surface including a threaded portion, the stud shaft extending through an interior passage of the damper connecting portion such that the threaded portion of the stud shaft engages the interior threaded surface of the supporting pipe.

15. A wheel suspension structure for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body frame,left and right wheels, anda power transmission shaft for transmitting power to the wheels, the suspension structure provided for suspending one of said wheels and comprising:a lower suspension arm for supporting one of said wheels, the lower suspension arm comprising a front member and a rear member arranged in a substantially V-shaped configuration,an upper suspension arm disposed above the lower suspension arm and formed in a substantially U shaped configuration including two leg members joined by a base,a damper extending between a portion of the lower suspension arm and the vehicle body frame, anda knuckle disposed between the one of said wheels and the first and second suspension arms, the knuckle comprising an upper connecting portion and a lower connecting portion,

16. A suspension structure according to claim 15, wherein the distal end of the damper is connected to a forward facing side surface of the front member of the first suspension arm.

17. A suspension structure according to claim 15, wherein the distal end of the damper is cantilevered from a forward facing side surface of the front member of the first suspension arm.

18. A suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body frame comprises a sub-frame cage, and wherein the suspension arm is pivotally attached to the sub-frame cage.

19. A suspension structure according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle body frame comprises a sub-frame cage, and wherein the suspension arm is pivotally attached to the sub-frame cage.

20. A suspension structure according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle body frame comprises a sub-frame cage, and wherein the suspension arm is pivotally attached to the sub-frame cage.