Systems and methods for vehicle suspension assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12122212-B2
Application number	US-202217939297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2022
Priority date	Sep 9, 2021
Publication date	Oct 22, 2024
Grant date	Oct 22, 2024

Abstract

An electrified vehicle, comprising a chassis having a frame, a first tractive element, and a first suspension system coupled with the first tractive element and the chassis. The first suspension system may comprise a first knuckle coupled with the first tractive element, and a first strut-damper coupled with the first knuckle and the chassis, the first strut-damper extending between the chassis and the first knuckle. The first suspension system may also include a first control arm coupled with the first knuckle and the frame member, and a torsion bar coupled with the chassis at a first end of the torsion bar. The torsion bar may extend in a direction substantially parallel with the frame member, where the torsion bar may be configured to support a portion of a mass of the electrified vehicle in response to displacement of the first tractive element relative to the chassis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a frame member extending longitudinally along a length of the chassis;
a first tractive element; and
a first suspension system coupled with the first tractive element and the chassis, the first suspension system comprising:
a first knuckle coupled with the first tractive element;
a first strut-damper coupled with the first knuckle and the chassis, the first strut-damper extending between the chassis and the first knuckle, wherein the first strut-damper is a spring-less strut-damper and extends in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the frame member;
a first control arm coupled with the first knuckle and the frame member;
a torsion bar coupled with the chassis at a first end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends below the frame member and in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member; and
a first drop link coupled with the first knuckle and a second end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends along an axis that is coaxial with a pivot point of the first control arm, and wherein the torsion bar is configured to support a portion of a mass of the electrified vehicle in response to displacement of the first tractive element relative to the chassis.

2. The electrified vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second tractive element; and
a second suspension system coupled with the chassis and the second tractive element, the second suspension system comprising:
a second knuckle coupled with the second tractive element;
a second strut-damper coupled with the second knuckle and the chassis, the second strut-damper extending between the chassis and the second knuckle; and
a second control arm coupled with the second knuckle and the frame member, wherein the first suspension system and the second suspension system are coupled to the chassis and positioned adjacent to one another at the frame member.

3. The electrified vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second strut-damper is a spring-less strut-damper.

4. The electrified vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the second strut-damper extends vertically from the second knuckle along a plane that is misaligned with a horizontal plane of the frame member, and wherein the first tractive element and the second tractive element are separated by a first longitudinal distance along the longitudinal axis of the frame member.

5. The electrified vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first strut damper extends from the first knuckle in a first direction toward a forward portion of the frame member and the second strut-damper extends from the second knuckle in a second direction toward a rearward portion of the frame member, wherein the first direction and the second direction are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member.

6. The electrified vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the first strut-damper extends from the first knuckle along a first axis and the second strut-damper extends from the second knuckle along a second axis, wherein the first axis is angled relative to the second axis.

7. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a frame member extending longitudinally along a length of the chassis, the frame member configured to support a portion of a load of the electrified vehicle; and
a first suspension assembly coupled with the chassis and a first tractive element, the first suspension assembly comprising:
a first knuckle coupled with the first tractive element;
a first strut-damper coupled with the first knuckle and the chassis, the first strut-damper extending between the chassis and the first knuckle, wherein the first strut-damper is a spring-less strut-damper and extends in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the frame member;
a first control arm coupled with the first knuckle and the frame member;
a torsion bar coupled with the chassis at a first end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends below the frame member and in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member; and
a drop link coupled with the first knuckle and a second end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends along an axis that is coaxial with a pivot point of the first control arm, and wherein the torsion bar is configured to supplement the frame member to support a portion of the load of the electrified vehicle.

8. The electrified vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second suspension assembly coupled with the chassis and a second tractive element, the second suspension assembly comprising:
a second knuckle coupled with the second tractive element;
a second strut-damper coupled with the second knuckle and the chassis, the second strut-damper extending between the chassis and the second knuckle; and
a second control arm coupled with the second knuckle and the frame member, wherein the first suspension assembly and the second suspension assembly are coupled to the chassis and positioned adjacent to one another at the frame member.

9. The electrified vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second strut-damper extends vertically from the second knuckle along a plane that is misaligned with a horizontal plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame member.

10. The electrified vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first strut-damper extends from the first knuckle along a first axis in a first direction toward a forward portion of the frame member and the second strut-damper extends from the second knuckle along a second axis in a second direction toward a rearward portion of the frame member, wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame member.

11. The electrified vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first strut-damper extends from the first knuckle along a first axis and the second strut-damper extends from the second knuckle along a second axis, wherein the first axis is angled relative to the second axis.

12. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a chassis having a frame member extending longitudinally along a length of the chassis;
a battery supported by the chassis; and
a suspension system coupled with the chassis and a tractive element, the suspension system comprising:
a knuckle coupled with the tractive element;
a strut-damper coupled with the knuckle and the chassis, the strut-damper extending between the chassis and the knuckle, wherein the strut-damper is a spring-less strut-damper and extends in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the frame member;
a control arm coupled with the knuckle and the frame member;
a torsion bar coupled with the chassis at a first end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends below the frame member and in a direction parallel with a longitudinal axis of the frame member; and
a drop link coupled with the knuckle and a second end of the torsion bar, wherein the torsion bar extends along an axis that is coaxial with a pivot point of the control arm, and wherein the torsion bar is configured to support a portion of a mass of the battery.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Ellifson Erik S
• Yakes Christopher
• Wheeler Colin
• Andringa Jeremy
• Wolf Ryan
• Schimke Martin J
• Smith Chad
• Kramer Peter
• Nasr Nader

Classifications

• B60G13/005

  characterised by the mounting on the axle or suspension arm of the damper unit · CPC title

• B60G21/005

  transversally · CPC title

• B60L50/60 Primary

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60G2300/06

  Cranes · CPC title

• B60G2300/02

  Trucks; Load vehicles · CPC title