A motor vehicle suspension having a leaf spring, a control, and a connector formed of a monolithic piece of elastomer. The connector has a blind-hole cavity receiving an end of the leaf spring and a through-hole cavity through which the control arm extends. The connector is bonded to the leaf spring and to the control arm by vulcanization. The control arm has at least one hole formed through a flat connection portion thereof, and the connector extends through the at least one hole. At least one stiffener plate is embedded in the connector and is arranged substantially parallel to the flat connection portion of the control arm received by the through-hole cavity.

An independent wheel suspension of a rear wheel of a motor vehicle, includes a control arm and a controllable actuator. The control arm is able to be articulated to a chassis of the motor vehicle and is able to be connected to a wheel carrier. The actuator is able to be fastened to the chassis and is able to be operatively connected to a front outer end of the control arm. According to the disclosure, when the actuator is controlled, said actuator is provided to carry out a length alteration which is substantially aligned in a direction parallel to a straight-ahead direction of travel.

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 RevoKnuckle-type suspension for a wheeled vehicle has a hub mounted to a bearing carrier for rotation relative thereto about a steering axis, and a shock absorber connected non-rotatably to the bearing carrier. The shock absorber has an outer cylinder having an axially-extending guide hole defined therein, and a piston and attached piston rod retained for axial reciprocation in the guide hole. The guide hole and at least one of the piston and the piston rod retained therein have respective complementary-shaped, non-circular cross-sectional shapes which engage one another to resist axial rotation of the piston and/or the piston rod within the guide hole. The carrier is therefore restrained against rotation relative to the vehicle sprung structure without the need for any additional component(s) such as a control arm or stabilizer, as required in a traditional RevoKnuckle-type suspension.

An in-wheel motor unit coupling structure includes an in-wheel motor unit and a shock absorber. The in-wheel motor unit is disposed inside a wheel of a vehicle. The in-wheel motor unit is configured to support the wheel such that the wheel is rotatable. The in-wheel motor unit includes an electric motor that serves as a rotational driving source of the wheel. The shock absorber is coupled to the in-wheel motor unit. The shock absorber is a component of a vehicle suspension. A lower end portion of the shock absorber is fastened to a vehicle center side, in a vehicle width direction, of a motor part so as to be pressed against the motor part outward from the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The motor part is a part in which the electric motor of the in-wheel motor unit is built.

A universal assembly platform for lightweight vehicles, wherein the platform comprises a main vehicle chassis structure, a front suspension system connected to the main vehicle chassis structure and to which one or more front wheel assembly is mountable, and a rear suspension system connected to the main vehicle chassis structure and to which one or more rear wheel assembly is mountable. The rear suspension system is connected to the main vehicle chassis structure such that when the one or more rear wheel assembly is mounted to the rear suspension system a rear wheel of the one or more rear wheel assembly defines the distal end of an overall length of the vehicle.

The invention relates to a connection system for connecting a damper unit of a vehicle inside a wheel suspension of the vehicle, the connection system having: an upper attachment region for attaching the damping unit, at least part of said region surrounding a receiving area for the damping unit and the receiving area extending around a first axis acting as the damping axis of the damping unit; a lower attachment region for coupling to the wheel-side portion of the wheel suspension, said lower attachment region having, in particular, two mutually spaced lower sections with an attachment area therebetween and an intermediate region which connects the upper attachment region to the lower attachment region. The main extension of the intermediate region corresponds to the direction of the first axis and the intermediate region allows the passage of a drive shaft of the vehicle. The connection system is made of an extruded part, the extrusion direction of which is the direction in which the extruded material extends, said material thus forming the intermediate region of the connection system. The invention also relates to a connection system comprising a clamping mechanism.

A pivot bearing for independent wheel suspension of a steerable front wheel of a vehicle having at least one upper bearing with a connection to a spring strut for attachment to the body. To improve the safety of the passenger cell in the event of a frontal collision, the connection has a separating device that brings about separation of the attachment of the pivot bearing to the spring strut and to the body of the vehicle at the upper bearing in the event of a frontal impact.

A vehicle is provided including a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a front frame module, a middle frame module, and a rear frame module. The front frame module is fastened to a front portion of the middle frame module. The rear frame module is fastened to a rear portion of the middle frame module. The middle frame module is interchangeable with at least one other middle frame module to change a length of the vehicle.

In a riding mower having a frame, a mower deck supported beneath the frame, a chair on said frame and a source of motive power also supported on said frame and including two hydraulic transaxles depending beneath the frame to each selectively rotate a drive wheel. The frame is supported on forward and rear wheel assemblies with a supporting wheel. The transaxles are supported beneath the frame and pivotally secured thereto by a flange captivating vibration pillows and proximate the driven wheel and an inner pivot rod secured to the frame by apertures in downwardly depending tabs.