US-12623503-B2 - Suspension apparatus

US12623503B2US 12623503 B2US12623503 B2US 12623503B2US-12623503-B2

Abstract

A suspension apparatus includes a main body; a first arm configured to support a wheel with respect to the main body; a second arm spaced apart from the first arm and including a guide rail; a shock absorber disposed between the second arm and the main body; a first support member disposed on one side of the shock absorber and rotatably connected to the main body; a second support member disposed on another side of the shock absorber and seated on the guide rail; and a height of the main body is adjusted by movement of the second support member along the guide rail.

Inventors

Hyun Sik Han

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250401
Priority Date: 20230112

Claims (15)

1 . A suspension apparatus comprising: a main body; a first arm configured to support a wheel with respect to the main body; a second arm spaced apart from the first arm and including a guide rail; a shock absorber disposed between the second arm and the main body; a first support member disposed on one side of the shock absorber and rotatably connected to the main body; a second support member disposed on another side of the shock absorber and seated on the guide rail; and a height of the main body is adjusted by movement of the second support member along the guide rail.
2 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guide rail comprises: a first guide groove formed concavely inward from the second arm; a second guide groove formed concavely inward from the second arm and spaced apart from the first guide groove; and a connection rail disposed between the first guide groove and the second guide groove.
3 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a distance between the first guide groove and the first support member is greater than a distance between the second guide groove and the first support member.
4 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the connection rail protrudes from the second arm toward the shock absorber.
5 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first guide groove comprises a curved inner surface.
6 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the second guide groove comprises a curved inner surface.
7 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the connection rail comprises a curved outer surface.
8 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the guide rail further comprises: a first stopper disposed to surround the first guide groove and configured to prevent the second support member from being separated from the first guide groove; and a second stopper disposed to surround the second guide groove and configured to prevent the second support member from being separated from the second guide groove.
9 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are rotatably connected to the main body.
10 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first arm is disposed above the second arm.
11 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a pair of shock absorbers, and the pair of shock absorbers are disposed on both sides of the main body.
12 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber comprises: a cylinder filled with a fluid; a piston rod installed to reciprocate in the cylinder; and an elastic member connected at both sides thereof to the cylinder and the piston rod, the elastic member comprising a length that varies with a reciprocating motion of the piston rod.
13 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the elastic member comprises a coil spring.
14 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the elastic member comprises an air spring.
15 . The suspension apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the first support member is connected to the piston rod, the second support member is connected to the cylinder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/501,281 filed Nov. 3, 2023, which claims the benefit under 35 USC §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0004694 filed on Jan. 12, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND 1. Field Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a suspension apparatus, and more particularly, to a suspension apparatus capable of actively adjusting a height of a vehicle body. 2. Description of Related Art In general, vehicles are equipped with suspensions to absorb vibration and shock transmitted from a road surface to wheels. When a vehicle travels at high speed, it is advantageous to lower the body thereof to reduce air resistance. On the other hand, when a vehicle travels on a rough road surface, it is advantageous to raise the body thereof to prevent damage to the body. However, as a conventional suspension supports a vehicle body at a certain height, it cannot actively adjust the height of the vehicle body to respond to various driving environments. The related art of the present disclosure is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2020-0025243 (published on Mar. 10, 2020, entitled “VEHICLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS FOR SUSPENSION”). SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to a suspension apparatus capable of actively adjusting a height of a vehicle body. In one general aspect of the disclosure, a suspension apparatus includes: a main body; a first arm configured to support a wheel with respect to the main body; a second arm spaced apart from the first arm and including a guide rail; a shock absorber disposed between the second arm and the main body; a first support member disposed on one side of the shock absorber and rotatably connected to the main body; a second support member disposed on another side of the shock absorber and seated on the guide rail; and a height of the main body is adjusted by movement of the second support member along the guide rail. The guide rail may include a first guide groove formed concavely inward from the second arm; a second guide groove formed concavely inward from the second arm and spaced apart from the first guide groove; and a connection rail disposed between the first guide groove and the second guide groove. A distance between the first guide groove and the first support member may be greater than a distance between the second guide groove and the first support member. The connection rail may protrude from the second arm toward the shock absorber. The first guide groove may include a curved inner surface. The second guide groove may include a curved inner surface. The connection rail may include a curved outer surface. The guide rail may further include a first stopper disposed to surround the first guide groove and configured to prevent the second support member from being separated from the first guide groove; and a second stopper disposed to surround the second guide groove and configured to prevent the second support member from being separated from the second guide groove. The first arm and the second arm may be rotatably connected to the main body. The first arm may be disposed above the second arm. The shock absorber may include a pair of shock absorbers, and the pair of shock absorbers may be disposed on both sides of the main body. The shock absorber may include a cylinder filled with a fluid; a piston rod installed to reciprocate in the cylinder; and an elastic member connected at both sides thereof to the cylinder and the piston rod, the elastic member comprising a length that varies with a reciprocating motion of the piston rod. The elastic member may include a coil spring. The elastic member may include an air spring. The first support member may be connected to the piston rod, the second support member is connected to the cylinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a suspension apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating the configuration of the suspension apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the suspension apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of guide rails according to the embodiment of the pre