FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION MECHANISM FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE BATTERY CAR

Japanese Patent JPS54129618

A

The invention relates to front suspension systems for electric vehicles having front wheel drive. Vehicles of the kind for which the system is particularly applicable are those which are not designed for high speeds. In rear wheel drive electric vehicles, the motor has been mounted directly on a rigid axle which is connected to the vehicle frame by springs, but as a consequence the unsprung weight is large. This arrangement per se is unsatisfactory for a front wheel drive vehicle where the spring characteristics are more critical. According to the present invention a front suspension system is characterised by at least two arms (11, 12, 30, 31, 30 min , 31 min , 32, 32 min ) provided between a rigid front axle (3) and frame members (21, 22) of the vehicle, at least one of said arms (12, 30, 31, 30 min , 31 min , 32, 32 min ) being articulated to the axle (3) and all arms extending mainly horizontally from the axle and being connected to the frame members (21, 22) by means of ball joints (13, 14, 33, 34). A differential unit (4) is arranged at a central point on the axle (3) and an electric motor (5) is mounted directly on the differential unit (4) which extends substantially horizontally and in the same direction as the arms (11, 12, 30, 31, 30 min , 31 min , 32, 32 min ) so that the centre of gravity of the motor (5) is all the time lying substantially stationary on a line (L) through said ball joints (13, 14, 33, 34). The system supports the vehicle body on springs (17, 18) extending between the axle (3) and the frame members (21, 22). The system of the invention may be constructed as a separate module for fitting to one of a variety of vehicles.

YAN UIRUHERUMU KIYAPUYON

JP3098379A

October 08, 1979

March 16, 1979

Click for automatic bibliography generation  

STROMMENS VAERKSTED AS

B60G9/00; B60K1/00; (IPC1-7): B60G7/02

Previous Patent: JPS54129617

Next Patent: JPS54129619