Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a deadbeam based suspension that could be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on June 16th, 2022, published on December 21st, 2023, and assigned serial number 0406055.
The Ford Authority Take
In recent months, Ford has explored some new ideas in terms of how its future vehicles might be underpinned, filing patents for configurable vehicle frames and even a 6×6 bolt-on suspension kit. Now, this new patent has been filed, outlining an idea for what The Blue Oval refers to as “a deadbeam based suspension,” which may also wind up being used on future Ford EVs, specifically.
In this case, “deadbeam” refers to an apparatus that spans two wheels – much like a traditional solid axle – but in the patent, Ford notes that such a setup would also employ an electric motor mounted in front of it. The deadbeam would be coupled to the chassis using a lateral link, with half shafts mated to both the wheels and electric motor, along with the typical suspension components.
As Ford notes in the patent, many trucks utilize traditional leaf springs and live rear axles, rather than an independent suspension, though the F-150 Lighting is equipped with an independent setup in the front and rear. It believes that there may be a need or desire to explore different types of setups in future EVs, however, which is precisely the point of this patent – it could combine the benefits of an old style suspension with a modern electric motor, perhaps in some sort of off-road focused model, which is yet another area The Blue Oval continues to focus on as well.
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Comment
looks much like a De Dion from 60 and 70s