A lightweight suspension assembly for a vehicle includes a suspension upright or knuckle provided with a bearing connection interface for receiving at least part of a wheel bearing, and with a first molded portion made of a first polymeric material; the assembly further includes at least one arm having a second molded portion made of a second polymeric material, and at least one joint member coupling the arm to the suspension upright/knuckle in such a manner to allow a relative rotation between the arm and the suspension upright/knuckle about at least one rotation axis (B); the first and second molded portions are arranged onto a first surface and, respectively, a second surface of the joint member, in such a manner that the first and second molded portions are coupled in a non-releasable manner to the joint member.

Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body. Specific functional components of such vehicle platforms, and the relative placement of the various functional components, to allow for implementation of a self-contained vehicle platform are also provided.

A utility vehicle includes a frame, a first ground-engaging element coupled to a first portion of the frame, a second ground-engaging element coupled to a second portion of the frame, an operator platform supported by the frame, and a suspension system coupled between the operator platform and the frame to accommodate motion of the frame relative to the operator platform. The suspension system includes a first linkage assembly coupled to the operator platform and operable to accommodate motion of the second portion of the frame relative to the operator platform and a second linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the frame to secure the suspension system to the frame and a second end coupled to the first linkage assembly. The second linkage assembly being operable independent of the first linkage assembly to accommodate motion of the first portion of the frame relative to the operator platform.

A utility vehicle includes a frame, a first ground-engaging element coupled to a first portion of the frame, a second ground-engaging element coupled to a second portion of the frame, an operator platform supported by the frame, and a suspension system coupled between the operator platform and the frame to accommodate motion of the frame relative to the operator platform. The suspension system includes a first linkage assembly coupled to the operator platform and operable to accommodate motion of the second portion of the frame relative to the operator platform and a second linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the frame to secure the suspension system to the frame and a second end coupled to the first linkage assembly. The second linkage assembly being operable independent of the first linkage assembly to accommodate motion of the first portion of the frame relative to the operator platform.

A five-link automobile suspension device is configured to support a lower end of a damper with a lower arm, and is capable of reducing sliding friction while ensuring a road clearance. Embodiments include a lower arm connecting a wheel support and a vehicle body, and a damper that has a lower end connected to the lower arm and is disposed to incline upward toward a vehicle-width-direction inner side in a rear view. A wall surface of the lower arm has a damper mounting portion, which supports a pivot of the damper, at a position lower than a straight line connecting a pivot on a wheel side and a pivot on a vehicle-body side of the lower arm. A bottom surface of the lower arm has a bulge formed at a position under the damper mounting portion.

A five-link automobile suspension device is configured to support a lower end of a damper with a lower arm, and is capable of reducing sliding friction while ensuring a road clearance. Embodiments include a lower arm connecting a wheel support and a vehicle body, and a damper that has a lower end connected to the lower arm and is disposed to incline upward toward a vehicle-width-direction inner side in a rear view. A wall surface of the lower arm has a damper mounting portion, which supports a pivot of the damper, at a position lower than a straight line connecting a pivot on a wheel side and a pivot on a vehicle-body side of the lower arm. A bottom surface of the lower arm has a bulge formed at a position under the damper mounting portion.

Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body. Specific functional components of such vehicle platforms, and the relative placement of the various functional components, to allow for implementation of a self-contained vehicle platform are also provided.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.

A suspension system for a vehicle may include a steering knuckle operably coupled to a wheel hub, and a plurality of links operably coupling the steering knuckle to a chassis of the vehicle. One of the links may be a trailing blade having a body portion that lies in a plane. The trailing blade may include a first end operably coupled to the steering knuckle and a second end operably coupled to the chassis. The trailing blade may extend from the first end to the second end such that the plane of the body portion forms an angle of greater than 5 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.