Disclosed is a vehicle strut insulator that includes first and second bushes (100 and 200) having different hardness characteristics. The first bush (100) having a relatively high hardness is disposed in a left-right direction of a vehicle that affects the handling performance, and the second bush (200) having a relatively low hardness is disposed in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle that affects the ride comfort. Accordingly, the vehicle strut insulator can satisfy both requirements for handling performance, ride comfort and road noise performance.

A vehicle (1) having: a chassis portion (2) and a tilting suspension arrangement (10) such that the chassis portion can tilt relative to ground; a tilt control arrangement (50) including at least a tilt controller and a tilt motor (48) to selectively apply a torque between the chassis portion (2) and at least one member (12) of the tilting suspension arrangement (10). The tilt controller has an active, tilt-controlled first mode (200) which adjusts a tilt angle (a) of the chassis towards an unstable equilibrium position using the tilt motor (48). The tilt controller has a primarily passive, free-tilt second mode (220) in which the tilt angle of the chassis is not adjusted for at least fifty percent of time. The tilt controller selectively permits a transition between the first mode and the second mode in dependence on at least one operating parameter of the vehicle.

A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.

A suspension system including a Chebyshev-Lambda (CL) mechanism, at least one linear motion mechanism and a spring-damper assembly, the CL mechanism including a suspension-arm, a support-arm and a first rotating-arm, an end of the rotating-arm being configured to be coupled with a reference frame at an anchoring-node, an operational-end of the suspension-arm being configured to be coupled with a suspended-mount at a first node, an end of the support-arm being configured to be coupled with the reference frame at a support-anchoring-node, the linear motion mechanism configured to be coupled with the reference frame via at least one anchoring node, an end of the linear motion mechanism being configured to be coupled with the suspended-mount at a second node, and the spring-damper assembly including at least one spring and at least one damper, wherein respective first and second ends of the spring and the damper are coupled between two points.

An electric vehicle includes a lateral self-stabilization system and may further include a fore-aft self-stabilization system. The lateral self-stabilization system may include a controller configured to cause an actuator to laterally tilt a frame of the vehicle based on sensed information relating to an orientation of the vehicle, or portion thereof, about a roll axis. The frame of the vehicle may include any suitable structure configured to be laterally tilted by the actuator relative to an axle of the vehicle. The fore-aft stabilization system may include a motor controller configured to drive a motor of the vehicle based on sensed information relating to a pitch angle of the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle is a robotic vehicle.

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.

A vehicle includes a wheel to contact a surface having a reference surface plane in operation of the vehicle; a chassis; an axle housing having an axis which is normal to the reference surface plane; and an axle. The axle extends from the axle housing, to couple the wheel to the axle housing and to support rotation of the wheel relative to the axle housing to support motion of the vehicle across the surface in operation of the vehicle. A suspension system couples the wheel to the chassis and includes a linkage assembly having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the axle housing. The first end of the linkage assembly is spaced apart laterally from the second end of the linkage assembly along a longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly. The suspension system is configured to maintain the axis of the axle housing at an angle normal to the reference surface plane in response to an angular displacement between the chassis and the reference surface plane.

A vehicle includes a wheel to contact a surface having a reference surface plane in operation of the vehicle; a chassis; an axle housing having an axis which is normal to the reference surface plane; and an axle. The axle extends from the axle housing, to couple the wheel to the axle housing and to support rotation of the wheel relative to the axle housing to support motion of the vehicle across the surface in operation of the vehicle. A suspension system couples the wheel to the chassis and includes a linkage assembly having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end pivotably coupled to the axle housing. The first end of the linkage assembly is spaced apart laterally from the second end of the linkage assembly along a longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly. The suspension system is configured to maintain the axis of the axle housing at an angle normal to the reference surface plane in response to an angular displacement between the chassis and the reference surface plane.

The disclosure provides a steering knuckle, which has good rigidity and reliability. The steering knuckle includes: a wheel support portion for supporting a wheel; a damper support portion for supporting a damper; and an arm portion for connecting the wheel support portion and the damper support portion. The damper support portion is cylindrical and has a mounting hole through which the damper is inserted, and the arm portion includes a pair of side walls connecting the damper support portion and the wheel support portion and a bottom wall connected between the side walls, and the bottom wall is connected with the side walls at the middle portion in the vertical direction of the side walls.

An apparatus for applying torque to a body includes a base defining an inner chamber. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins supported by base and disposed in the inner chamber, the plurality of pins moveable relative to the base between engaged positions and disengaged positions. The apparatus includes a trigger actuatable to move at least one of the plurality of pins to the disengaged position.