Automobile racing suspension system

Abstract

An automotive racing vehicle suspension system coupled between a vehicle body and a rotatable wheel, the suspension system comprising: an upper wheel assembly control arm coupled at a proximal end to the vehicle body; a lower A-frame portion rigidly suspended at a proximal end below the upper wheel assembly control arm; a vertical link coupled between a distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and a distal end of the lower A-frame portion, the vertical link rotatably coupled to a hub assembly; a leaf spring attached to the upper wheel assembly control arm for providing resilient resistance to vertical motion above or below the upper wheel assembly control arm; at least one shock absorber coupled between the chassis and the lower A-frame portion for providing resilient resistance to motion between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion which causes a compressive force in the at least one shock absorber; and at least one pull-spring coupled between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion for providing resilient resistance to motion between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion which causes a tensile force in the at least one pull-spring.

1 . An automotive racing vehicle suspension system coupled between a vehicle body and a rotatable wheel, the suspension system comprising: 
 an upper wheel assembly control arm coupled at a proximal end to the vehicle body;    a lower A-frame portion rigidly suspended at a proximal end below the upper wheel assembly control arm;    a vertical link coupled between a distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and a distal end of the lower A-frame portion, the vertical link rotatably coupled to a hub assembly;    a leaf spring attached to the upper wheel assembly control arm for providing resilient resistance to vertical motion above or below the upper wheel assembly control arm;    at least one shock absorber coupled between the chassis and the lower A-frame portion for providing resilient resistance to motion between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion which causes a compressive force in the at least one shock absorber; and    at least one pull-spring coupled between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion for providing resilient resistance to motion between the upper wheel assembly control arm and the lower A-frame portion which causes a tensile force in the at least one pull-spring.    
   
   
       2 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pull-spring is a helical coil spring.  
   
   
       3 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pull-spring is an elastic member.  
   
   
       4 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one shock absorber is coupled between the proximal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the distal end of the lower A-frame portion.  
   
   
       5 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pull-spring is coupled between the distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the proximal end of the lower A-frame portion.  
   
   
       6 . The suspension system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one shock absorber is coupled between the distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the proximal end of the lower A-frame portion.  
   
   
       7 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the leaf spring is partial elliptic.  
   
   
       8 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the leaf spring is quarter elliptic.  
   
   
       9 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the leaf spring is slightly arched downward.  
   
   
       10 . The suspension system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of leaf springs attached to the upper wheel assembly control arm for providing resilient resistance to vertical motion above or below the upper wheel assembly control arm.  
   
   
       11 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pull-spring comprises 2 pull-springs each coupled independently between the distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the chassis.  
   
   
       12 . The suspension system of  claim 11  wherein the 2 pull-springs are opposingly wound helical coil springs which operate sequentially or in unison.  
   
   
       13 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one shock absorber is a hydraulic shock absorber.  
   
   
       14 . The suspension system of  claim 13  wherein the hydraulic shock absorber is active on the upstroke and passive on the return stroke.  
   
   
       15 . The suspension system of  claim 1  further comprising a multi-strand cable attached to the distal end of the lower A-frame for control of the vehicle during braking.  
   
   
       16 . The suspension system of  claim 1  in which the vertical link separates the distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the distal end of the lower A-frame portion by a distance as close as possible to the outer diameter of the wheels of the vehicle.  
   
   
       17 . The suspension system of  claim 1  in which the vertical link separates the distal end of the upper wheel assembly control arm and the distal end of the lower A-frame portion by a distance slightly less than the outer diameter of the wheels of the vehicle.