An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is configured to operate with a navigation and guidance system includes a base frame structure that supports a material handling apparatus. Casters may be attached at peripheral portions of the base frame structure to movably support the base frame structure away from a ground surface. Drive wheel assemblies may be disposed between two of the casters and configured to propel and steer the AGV. A suspension system may have intersecting swing arms that are pivotally mounted at the base frame structure and independently attach at each of the drive wheel assemblies. The suspension system biases the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface to maintain friction of the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface, such as for traversing sloped or uneven surfaces.

An electric vehicle includes a frame module carrying an electric motor unit and a suspension including, for each wheel, upper and lower oscillating arms connected to a wheel support by swivel joints which define a steering axis of the wheel. The suspension includes two shock absorber devices arranged in horizontal positions and along directions transversal with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, which is carried by the frame module centrally on the vehicle. Each shock absorber cylinder is operatively connected to a respective oscillating arm by an oscillating linkage member. Brake discs are arranged at remote positions with respect to the wheels, on two output shafts at two opposite sides of the motor unit, which, in one example, includes two electric motors and two respective gear reducer units from which project the output shafts carrying the brake discs; the latter connected to wheel hubs by respective drive shafts.

An electric vehicle includes a suspension and powertrain unit having a vehicle frame module, an electric motor unit carried by the frame module centrally between two wheels and a suspension including, for each wheel, an upper oscillating arm and a lower oscillating arm carrying a respective wheel support. Each wheel support rotatably supports a respective wheel hub connected to the electric motor unit by a respective drive shaft. Brake discs are mounted on two output shafts of the electric motor unit, at a distance from the respective wheels, and are connected by drive shafts to the hubs of the two wheels. Thanks to the absence of brake discs adjacent to the wheel hubs, swivel joints connecting each wheel support to the respective upper and lower arms can be arranged so as to define a steering axis passing through a respective wheel center and thereby having a substantially zero kingpin offset.

A vehicle suspension unit includes a frame module and two wheel supports each connected to the frame module by upper and lower oscillating arms, each arm having a first end portion swivelly connected to the respective wheel support by a first swivel joint and a second end portion swivelly connected to the frame module by a second swivel joint. A suspension spring arrangement includes a single leaf spring, constituting a separate element with respect to the upper and lower arms and arranged transversely relative to a vehicle longitudinal direction, in a symmetrical position relative to a vehicle vertical median plane. The leaf spring has a central portion connected to the frame module and end portions connected to the upper arms. In one version, the central portion is connected to the frame module by a device for adjustment of a position in height of said central portion relative to the frame module.

An electric vehicle includes a modular support structure having a central frame module and front and rear frame modules in the form of a lattice framework, having two upper longitudinal beams and two lower longitudinal beams connected to each other by uprights and cross-members. The front frame module carries a front suspension with wheel supports carried by upper and lower oscillating arms, and a front electric motor unit including two electric motors, having respective motor axes coincident with each other and arranged along a transverse direction with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. The motors are positioned spaced apart from each other, and are symmetrical with respect to a vehicle median line. Two gear reducing units are arranged centrally between the two electric motors, with housings having lateral walls from which output shafts project, which are connected by drive shafts to wheel hubs rotatably mounted on the wheel supports.

A rear suspension structure includes a hub carrier having a wheel support portion by which a rear wheel is rotatably supported, the hub carrier includes a front arm portion that extends in a vehicle inner direction and toward the vehicle front side beyond an axle of the rear wheel and a rear arm portion that extends toward the vehicle rear side, the rear arm portion is coupled to a lateral beam extending in a vehicle width direction, on the vehicle rear side of the axle, a vehicle rear side end portion of a trailing arm extending in a vehicle front-rear direction is coupled to the lateral beam, and the front arm portion is coupled to a front arm attachment portion provided in the trailing arm.

A wheel suspension (1) for a motor vehicle, having a wheel carrier (3) which is mounted so that the wheel carrier (3) can pivot relative to a wheel-guiding control arm (4). The wheel-guiding control arm (4) includes a longitudinal control arm section (4a) with a forward body-side bearing (11) and a transverse control arm section (4b) with a rear body-side bearing (12). The rear body-side bearing (12) is designed as a ball joint.

A wheel suspension (1) for a motor vehicle, having a wheel carrier (3) which is mounted so that the wheel carrier (3) can pivot relative to a wheel-guiding control arm (4) that includes a longitudinal control arm section (4a), with a forward body-side bearing (11), and a transverse control arm section (4b), with a rear body-side bearing (12). The rear body-side bearing (12) is axially orientated parallel to a rotational axis (20) of the wheel-guiding control arm (4) that extends through the body-side bearings (11, 12).

There is provided a ball joint comprising a ball stud including a ball; a bearing configured to enclose and support the ball of the ball stud; a ball joint case configured to accommodate a portion of the ball stud and the bearing, the ball joint case being made of a plastic material; and a ball joint mounting case configured to accommodate the ball joint case and fastened to a suspension arm, wherein the ball joint mounting case is made of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

An arrangement for attaching a control arm in a vehicle comprising a first attachment bracket, a first fastening means, a first bushing, and a control arm. The first bushing is arranged in an opening of the control arm and the first fastening means is passing through both the first attachment portion and the first bushing. The first attachment bracket comprises a slit arranged transversal to the travel direction of the vehicle and the slit is arranged in a front surface of the first attachment bracket, wherein the first attachment bracket is adapted to release the first fastening means of said control arm when a certain force is exceeded during an offset or small offset impact.