Mazda Motor Corporation

Toshihide Koyama

Takao Kijima

Takeshi Edahiro

Katsuyuki Komiya

Fumitaka Andou

Haruyuki Taniguchi

Kenji Hamada

Masashi Oda

Masaya Hiramatsu

Hiroaki Takeshita

Fumitaka Ando

Hiroyoshi Kumada

Kenji Tomosada

Kazunori Kawamura

Masahito Watanabe

A powertrain system for a motor vehicle comprises a power unit (), a differential module () and a propeller shaft () provided to extend in a frontward-rearward direction of a vehicle body to transmit drive power of the power unit () to the differential module (). The propeller shaft () is divided into a front shaft segment () a rear shaft segment () through the intermediary of a third universal joint (), and adapted to be contracted in such a manner that the front shaft segment () is fitted into an end of the rear shaft segment () over a contractable range D1, together with a part of the third universal joint (). The differential module () has a module body (), and a rear support section () which supports the module body () to allow a front portion of the module body () to be swingably moved downwardly.

Powertrain system for motor vehicle and motor vehicle lower structure having the same

In a multi-link rear suspension (A) in which a wheel support () is connected to a vehicle body through five links () and vehicle body side ends of the links are provided with rubber bushes (), respectively, the lower end of a damping device () formed by coaxially arranging a coil spring () and a damper () is pivoted to a portion of the wheel support () located toward the inside of the vehicle body so that the vertical reaction force of the damping device () produces a moment Mn toward negative camber on a rear wheel (). The moment Mn is set to be always larger than a moment Mp toward positive camber produced by a side force on the outside rear wheel () during vehicle cornering until limit maneuvering conditions of the outside rear wheel due to the side force are reached. The damping device () is disposed with respect to a suppositive king pin axle K so that the vertical reaction force thereof produces a moment toward toe-in on the rear wheel (). In this manner, the multi-link suspension provides a sharp driving feeling applicable even for a sports car while maintaining a good ride through the involvement of the rubber bushes ().

Automotive rear suspension system

A suspension system is provided with a suspension cross member for rear wheels, a suspension member supported on the suspension cross member , elastic mounts to for mounting the suspension cross member on the vehicle body, the elastic mounting means to being provided at three positions along forward and backward directions in such a manner as to form a triangle when the vehicle body is viewed sideways. Thus, a change in wheel alignment can be effectively suppressed without reducing a vehicle's comfort to ride.

Vehicle suspension device

A rear suspension apparatus for a motor vehicle having a differential gear case ( ) disposed between rear right- and left-wheels ( R, L), which is of a torsion beam type. In the rear suspension apparatus, a central portion ( ) of a torsion beam ( ) for rotatably supporting the rear right- and left-hand wheels ( R, L) is curved to run along the configuration of the differential gear case ( ), and is disposed at the rear of the differential gear case ( ). A suspension damper ( ) stretched between the torsion beam ( ) and the vehicle body is disposed to be inclined upwardly and forwardly.

Rear suspension apparatus for motor vehicle

In a torsion beam type rear suspension, a joint seat (,) with a torsion beam (,) is formed on each lower spring seat (,) to define an upward slope from the outer side to the inner side in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body to suppress separation of the spring seats and cracking of the beam.

Suspension apparatus for a vehicle

A suspension system for a vehicle includes a suspension arm. The outer end portion of the suspension arm is connected to a wheel support for rotatably supporting a wheel. The inner end portion of the suspension arm is bifurcated and has first and second branch arms spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Each of the inner end portions of the first and second branch arms is supported by a slide member so that the inner end portion is slidable relative to the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction of the same. A coil spring is provided for at least one of the first and second branch arms and urges forward the suspension arm. A stopper defines the foremost position of the suspension arm which is urged forward by said coil spring.

Vehicle suspension system

A suspension including a swing arm extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and swingably connected with a vehicle body at a joint portion through a connecting member. The suspension comprising a joint structure between the joint portion of the swing arm and the connecting member for allowing a swingable movement of the swing arm in both vertical and horizontal directions relative to the vehicle body and a damping member provided in the connecting member for absorbing a vibration of the swing arm in the longitudinal direction.

Vehicle suspension mechanism

An automotive vehicle is provided with two rear suspension units for pivotably supporting respective rear wheels. Each rear suspension unit includes a wheel support for pivotably supporting one the rear wheels, an H-shaped lower control arm pivotably connected to the wheel support, an A-shaped upper control arm pivotably connected to the wheel support, and a damper unit pivotably connected at its lower end portion with either the wheel support or the lower control arm. The damper unit is disposed behind the upper control arm in a extending longitudinally of the vehicle body. The connecting portion at which the upper control arm and the wheel support are connected is located in front of the center of the rear wheel. Accordingly, an imaginary king pin axis is relatively largely inclined, which axis connects an outer rear end portion of the lower control arm and the connecting portion at which the upper control arm and the wheel support are connected. Such being the structure making up the rear suspension unit, the rear wheels are readily movable in a direction of toe-in, when a lateral force acts upon the rear wheels.

Automobile rear suspension structure

An automobile sub-frame structure for supporting two double wishbone type rear suspensions on its respective sides includes a pair of juxtaposed first members extending in a direction widthwise of a vehicle body, a pair of opposed second members extending substantially vertically and each rigidly secured at an upper portion thereof to one end of each first member, and a pair of third members rigidly secured to lower portions of the second members and to a lower surface of a central portion of each first member. In the sub-frame structure, a plurality of truss structures are formed by the first, second and third members so that the sub-frame structure will be sufficiently rigid. Each double wishbone type rear suspension includes upper and lower control arms for pivotably supporting a rear wheel, which control arms are pivotably connected at their inner ends to the second members in the vicinity of portions connecting the first and second members and in the vicinity of portions connecting the second and third members, respectively.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Toshihide Koyama