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 suspension device includes a leaf spring and a buffer. The leaf spring applies an elastic force for relatively moving an unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to a body (sprung member) of a vehicle. The buffer includes a first expansion/contraction member, a second expansion/contraction member, an intermediate member, and a damping passage. The first and second expansion/contraction members form first and second gas chambers filled with gas therein and are expandable and contractible. An upper end and a lower end of the first and second expansion/contraction members are connected to the body. The intermediate member couples the first and second expansion/contraction members and is connected to the leaf spring. The damping passage allows the first and second gas chambers to communicate with each other, and applies resistance to flow of flowing gas. When one of the first and second expansion/contraction members expands, the other contracts.

The suspension device according to the present invention is provided with a leaf spring extending in a belt shape, a first arm, a second arm, and a coupling member for rotatably coupling the first arm and the second arm, wherein: a first holding part for holding one end of the leaf spring and a second holding part for holding the other end of the leaf spring are provided; and the first and second arms each support the leaf spring by at least one portion that is different from the one end or the other end of the leaf spring.

A center pivot suspension system according to various aspects of the present technology may include a multi-piece axle having controls arms that are pivotally connected to a center beam section of the axle. Each control arm may be able to pivot about the center section independently from the opposing control arm. A leaf spring may be coupled to each control arm to help absorb loads applied to a given control arm.

A vehicle suspension for supporting the body or chassis of a vehicle includes suspension arms positioned at opposite sides and at one end of a vehicle and two suspension arms positioned respectively at opposite sides and at one end of a vehicle, each arm mounted for pivotal movement about a respective hinge axis. A balancing hub is attached to the vehicle body or chassis with at least one part of the hub free to rotate relative to the vehicle body or chassis about at least one pivotal position. Each suspension arm is connected to the hub at a position of the suspension arm spaced from a respective hinge axis whereby pivotal movement of the suspension arm applies a force to the hub. In use, the force opposes the force from another suspension arm at at least one of the same side and the same end of the vehicle suspension.

The present invention provides a smart mobile vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a chassis, driving wheels, a battery module, a plurality of motors and a vehicle control unit. The chassis has a suspension system, a brake system and a steering system. The two driving wheels are composed of a plurality of circular units, and the driving wheels are embedded in two-wheel frames on two sides of the vehicle body. The battery module provides the smart mobile vehicle with driving power. The plurality of motors disposed between the two circular units or on a surface of any one of the circular units; wherein the motors are electrically connected to the battery module, and the torque and directional outputs of the motors is used to drive the rotation of the two driving wheels. The vehicle control unit is electrically connected to the motors and the battery module to transmit a monitoring signal.

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.

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 suspension device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure which is equipped with an upper arm, a lower arm, and a leaf spring positioned so as to extend in the vehicle widthwise direction in a manner such that an end section thereof is provided in the lower arm, wherein: the lower arm has an opening which opens to the inside in the vehicle widthwise direction; the leaf spring extends into the lower arm through the opening; the end section of the leaf spring is supported by a support part of the lower arm; and a cover section of the lower arm covers the end section of the leaf spring at a distance therefrom, and has a prescribed reinforcing shape.

A suspension device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is equipped with: an upper arm; a lower arm; a leaf spring positioned so as to extend in the vehicle widthwise direction in a manner such that an end section thereof is provided on the lower arm; a first bracket configured in a manner such that a shock absorber connected to the lower arm is connected to the outside of a side member in the vehicle widthwise direction; an upper bushing capable of transmitting force between the leaf spring and a suspension cross member; and a second bracket which is independent from the first bracket and is positioned below the side member between the side member and the leaf spring so as to be capable of transmitting the elastic force of the leaf spring to the side member via the upper bushing.