EP-4741181-A1 - VEHICLE SUSPENSION DAMPER PLACEMENT

EP4741181A1EP 4741181 A1EP4741181 A1EP 4741181A1EP-4741181-A1

Abstract

A vehicle comprising: an occupant cabin; a dashboard extending across the occupant cabin, the dashboard comprising a first aperture; and a first suspension damper located in the first aperture so as to be visible from within the occupant cabin.

Inventors

LO RE, ANTONINO
BATES, Christopher Lee
Naunton-Evans, Robert John

Assignees

McLaren Automotive Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251107

Claims (15)

A vehicle comprising: an occupant cabin; a dashboard extending across the occupant cabin, the dashboard comprising a first aperture; and a first suspension damper located in the first aperture so as to be visible from within the occupant cabin.
A vehicle according to claim 1, the vehicle comprising a first cover; the first cover being connected around the first aperture to seal the occupant cabin from the first suspension damper.
A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dashboard comprises a second aperture; and the vehicle comprises a second suspension damper located in the second aperture so as to be visible from the occupant cabin.
A vehicle according to claim 3, the vehicle comprising a second cover; the second cover being connected around the second aperture to seal the occupant cabin from the second suspension damper.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim, the vehicle comprising a windscreen, the windscreen providing a delimitation to the occupant cabin and being positioned so that the first aperture is located within the occupant cabin.
A vehicle according to claim 5 as dependent on claim 3, the windscreen being positioned so that the second aperture is located within the occupant cabin.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim as dependent on claim 3, wherein the first and second suspension dampers are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centreline of the vehicle.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a first wheel assembly having a rotation axis; a first suspension linkage coupling the first wheel assembly to the vehicle body to permit motion of the rotation axis of the first wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body; wherein the first damper is coupled to the first suspension linkage to constrain the motion of the first wheel assembly by applying a damper force to the first suspension linkage.
A vehicle according to claim 8, the vehicle comprising: a first rocker pivotally coupled to the vehicle body to rotate about a first axis, the first rocker is coupled to the first suspension linkage so that motion of the first suspension linkage causes rotation of the first rocker about the first axis, and the first rocker is pivotally coupled to the first damper so that the damper force is applied to the first suspension linkage via the first rocker; and a first push rod, wherein the first rocker is coupled to the first suspension linkage by the first push rod; wherein the first damper is attached between the vehicle body and the first rocker.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim as dependent on claim 3, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle body; a second wheel assembly having a rotation axis; a second suspension linkage coupling the second wheel assembly to the vehicle body to permit motion of the rotation axis of the second wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body; wherein the second damper is coupled to the second suspension linkage to constrain the motion of the second wheel assembly by applying a damper force to the second suspension linkage.
A vehicle according to claim 10, the vehicle comprising: a second rocker pivotally coupled to the vehicle body to rotate about a second axis, the second rocker is coupled to the second suspension linkage so that motion of the second suspension linkage causes rotation of the second rocker about the second axis, and the second rocker is pivotally coupled to the second damper so that the damper force is applied to the second suspension linkage via the second rocker; and a second push rod, wherein the second rocker is coupled to the second suspension linkage by the second push rod; wherein the second damper is attached between the vehicle body and the second rocker.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim as dependent on claims 8 and 10, wherein the first and second wheel assemblies are front wheel assemblies and are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centreline of the vehicle.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim as dependent on claim 3, wherein the first damper runs transversely across the vehicle and the second damper runs transversely across the vehicle.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of the first suspension damper protrudes through the first aperture; and optionally a central portion of the first suspension damper protrudes through the first aperture.
A vehicle according to any preceding claim as dependent on claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the second suspension damper protrudes through the second aperture; and optionally a central portion of the second suspension damper protrudes through the second aperture.

Description

This invention relates to a vehicle comprising a suspension damper located in an aperture in a dashboard. It is generally the case in a typical road vehicle that the occupants of the vehicle are generally isolated from the operation of the vehicle. This is because the body panels and other components obscure a view of the components that operate to cause the vehicle to function. For example, from a standard vehicle's occupant compartment the driver cannot see the motion of the wheels. This means that the driver, and/or occupants of the vehicle, are limited in the direct feedback they can obtain from the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The driver, and/or occupants of the vehicle, therefore generally rely on secondary feedback about how the vehicle is operating. For instance, this may be through feeling the resistance when turning the steering wheel or looking out of the windscreen to see whether the vehicle is slipping when turning around a corner. This is particularly important when the vehicle is being driven enthusiastically, for instance when being driven on a track. It would therefore be desirable for there to be a way of configuring a vehicle to provide increased levels of direct feedback to the occupants when the vehicle is in operation. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising: an occupant cabin; a dashboard extending across the occupant cabin, the dashboard comprising a first aperture; and a first suspension damper located in the first aperture so as to be visible from within the occupant cabin. The vehicle may comprise a first cover; the first cover may be connected around the first aperture to seal the occupant cabin from the first suspension damper. The dashboard may comprise a second aperture; and the vehicle may comprise a second suspension damper located in the second aperture so as to be visible from the occupant cabin. The vehicle may comprise a second cover; the second cover may be connected around the second aperture to seal the occupant cabin from the second suspension damper. The vehicle may comprise a windscreen, the windscreen may provide a delimitation to the occupant cabin and being positioned so that the first aperture is located within the occupant cabin. The windscreen may be positioned so that the second aperture is located within the occupant cabin. The first and second suspension dampers may be are located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centreline of the vehicle. The vehicle may comprise: a vehicle body; a first wheel assembly having a rotation axis; a first suspension linkage coupling the first wheel assembly to the vehicle body to permit motion of the rotation axis of the first wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body; wherein the first damper is coupled to the first suspension linkage to constrain the motion of the first wheel assembly by applying a damper force to the first suspension linkage. The vehicle may comprise: a first rocker pivotally coupled to the vehicle body to rotate about a first axis, the first rocker may be coupled to the first suspension linkage so that motion of the first suspension linkage causes rotation of the first rocker about the first axis, and the first rocker may be pivotally coupled to the first damper so that the damper force is applied to the first suspension linkage via the first rocker; and a first push rod, wherein the first rocker may be coupled to the first suspension linkage by the first push rod; wherein the first damper may be attached between the vehicle body and the first rocker. The vehicle may comprise: a vehicle body; a second wheel assembly having a rotation axis; a second suspension linkage coupling the second wheel assembly to the vehicle body to permit motion of the rotation axis of the second wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body; wherein the second damper may be coupled to the second suspension linkage to constrain the motion of the second wheel assembly by applying a damper force to the second suspension linkage. The vehicle may comprise: a second rocker pivotally coupled to the vehicle body to rotate about a second axis, the second rocker may be coupled to the second suspension linkage so that motion of the second suspension linkage causes rotation of the second rocker about the second axis, and the second rocker may be pivotally coupled to the second damper so that the damper force is applied to the second suspension linkage via the second rocker; and a second push rod, wherein the second rocker may be coupled to the second suspension linkage by the second push rod; wherein the second damper may be attached between the vehicle body and the second rocker. The first and second wheel assemblies may be front wheel assemblies and may be located on opposite sides of a longitudinal centreline of the vehicle. The first damper may run transversely across the vehicle. The second damper may run transversely across the vehicle. At least a portion of the first s