A leaning vehicle including a vehicle body, two front wheels, and a support mechanism by which the two front wheels are supported by the vehicle body. The support mechanism includes a joint mechanism that is a ball joint and that includes a ball stud including a ball part connected to a shaft, and a holder having an open end part through which the ball stud is insertable, such that the ball part is freely rotatable in the holder. The open end part includes first to fourth inner edge parts. When the ball stud is in a steering neutral and leaning neutral position, in a direction along a central axis of the ball stud, the first and second inner edge parts do not overlap, and the third and fourth inner edge parts overlap, the ball part. The ball stud is tiltable between the first and second inner edge parts.

A leaning vehicle including a vehicle body, two front wheels, and a support mechanism by which the two front wheels are supported by the vehicle body. The support mechanism includes a joint mechanism that is a ball joint and that includes a ball stud including a ball part connected to a shaft, and a holder having an open end part through which the ball stud is insertable, such that the ball part is freely rotatable in the holder. The open end part includes first to fourth inner edge parts. When the ball stud is in a steering neutral and leaning neutral position, in a direction along a central axis of the ball stud, the first and second inner edge parts do not overlap, and the third and fourth inner edge parts overlap, the ball part. The ball stud is tiltable between the first and second inner edge parts.

A suspension and steering mechanism for a vehicle including at least one suspension arm, a steering arm, and a steering actuator. The suspension arm includes a wheel mounting end and a base end rotatably coupled with a reference frame via a base axis. The steering arm is coupled with the suspension arm at a rotation point of the steering arm. An actuated end of the steering arm extends toward a first direction from the rotation point. The steering actuator includes an actuating end and a fixed end, and is rotatably coupled at the fixed end with the suspension arm and rotatably coupled at the actuating end with the actuated end of the steering arm. A horizontal location of the fixed end is within at least one of a horizontal cross-section of the suspension arm and a triangle defined by the rotation point and the largest width of the base axis.

A suspension and steering mechanism for a vehicle including at least one suspension arm, a steering arm, and a steering actuator. The suspension arm includes a wheel mounting end and a base end rotatably coupled with a reference frame via a base axis. The steering arm is coupled with the suspension arm at a rotation point of the steering arm. An actuated end of the steering arm extends toward a first direction from the rotation point. The steering actuator includes an actuating end and a fixed end, and is rotatably coupled at the fixed end with the suspension arm and rotatably coupled at the actuating end with the actuated end of the steering arm. A horizontal location of the fixed end is within at least one of a horizontal cross-section of the suspension arm and a triangle defined by the rotation point and the largest width of the base axis.

An identical steer control mechanism of a radial bar-link trapezoidal swing arm, a method and a multi-wheel vehicle thereof are disclosed. The radial bar-link trapezoidal swing arm is in a right triangle shape, and in combination with a two-dimensional composite control transmission arm of a cross-shaped groove formed by a transverse groove and a vertical groove, an elliptical gauge is shaped; the longitudinal cosine displacement is controlled by the sliders in the transverse groove, and the transverse sine displacement can be controlled by connecting the sliders in the vertical groove after the right-angle end bearing is hinged to connecting rods, the end bearing on the two-dimensional composite control transmission arm, namely the key control point bearing, draws a deflection elliptical trajectory, and the hinged slider to the key control point bearing is connected with a vector control swing arm sliding slot to generate a steering angle βi.

An identical steer control mechanism of a radial bar-link trapezoidal swing arm, a method and a multi-wheel vehicle thereof are disclosed. The radial bar-link trapezoidal swing arm is in a right triangle shape, and in combination with a two-dimensional composite control transmission arm of a cross-shaped groove formed by a transverse groove and a vertical groove, an elliptical gauge is shaped; the longitudinal cosine displacement is controlled by the sliders in the transverse groove, and the transverse sine displacement can be controlled by connecting the sliders in the vertical groove after the right-angle end bearing is hinged to connecting rods, the end bearing on the two-dimensional composite control transmission arm, namely the key control point bearing, draws a deflection elliptical trajectory, and the hinged slider to the key control point bearing is connected with a vector control swing arm sliding slot to generate a steering angle βi.

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.

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.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.

A modular chassis is provided for an off-road vehicle to improve assembly, servicing, and repairing of a drivetrain of the off-road vehicle. The modular chassis includes a chassis to support components of the off-road vehicle. A front frame module couples with a front of the chassis, and a rear frame module couples with a rear of the chassis. The front frame module supports lower suspension arms of the off-road vehicle by way of inboard bushing joints. The front frame module supports at least a steering gear and a front differential of the off-road vehicle. The rear frame module is a tube-frame structure that supports components of the off-road vehicle. A lower portion of the rear frame module extends rearward and acutely upward to a top frame member that couples with upper side portions of the chassis. Several cross-members impart structural integrity to the rear frame module.