1. A 5-link independent suspension system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a steering knuckle;
a trailing link extending along a single axis, wherein the trailing link is connected to the steering knuckle and is configured to attach to a frame rail of the vehicle; and
an integral link connected to the steering knuckle and configured to attach to the trailing link.
2. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the steering knuckle is configured to be disposed within an internal space of a rear wheel of the vehicle.
3. The suspension system of claim 1, further comprising:
a camber link connected to the steering knuckle;
a toe link connected to the steering knuckle; and
a spring link connected to the steering knuckle.
4. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein each of the camber, toe, spring, trailing, and integral links has a spherical joint or a rubber bushing at each of its respective ends.
5. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein each of the camber, toe, spring, trailing, and integral links comprises a tensioncompression link.
6. The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the spring link supports a vertical load.
7. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein the camber link, the toe link, and the spring link are configured to be substantially laterally disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle when the suspension system is in use.
8. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the trailing link and the integral link are configured to be substantially longitudinally disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle when the suspension system is in use.
9. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the integral link is configured to decouple caster stiffness from wheel recession rate when the suspension system is in use.
10. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the integral link is configured to counteract a rotation of the steering knuckle when the suspension system is in use.
11. The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the trailing link is connected to a lower end of the steering knuckle and the integral link is connected to the steering knuckle above the trailing link.
12. A 5-link independent suspension system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a steering knuckle disposed within an internal space of a rear wheel of the vehicle;
a trailing link connected to a lower end of the steering knuckle and extending along a single axis between the steering knuckle and a frame rail of the vehicle; and
an integral link connected to the steering knuckle above the trailing link and extending between the steering knuckle and the trailing link.
13. The suspension system of claim 12, further comprising:
a camber link connected to the steering knuckle;
a toe link connected to the steering knuckle; and
a spring link connected to the steering knuckle;
14. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein each of the camber, toe, spring, trailing, and integral links has a spherical joint or a rubber bushing at each of its respective ends.
15. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein each of the camber, toe, spring, trailing, and integral links comprises a tensioncompression link.
16. The suspension system of claim 15, wherein the spring link supports a vertical load.
17. The suspension system of claim 13, wherein the camber link, the toe link, and the spring link are substantially laterally disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
18. The suspension system of claim 12, wherein the trailing link and the integral link are substantially longitudinally disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.
19. The suspension system of claim 12, wherein the integral link is configured to decouple caster stiffness from wheel recession rate.
20. The suspension system of claim 12, wherein the integral link is configured to counteract a rotation of the steering knuckle.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A thermal management system, comprising:
an anisotropic graphite planar element having a relatively high thermal conductivity in the plane of the planar element and having a relatively low thermal conductivity across a thickness of the planar element in a direction normal to the plane of the planar element, the planar element having a cavity defined therein; and
a core closely received in the cavity, the core being constructed of an isotropic core material so that heat from a heat source can be conducted via the core into the thickness of the planar element and then out across the plane of the planar element.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the planar element is shrink fit with the core by thermal expansion and contraction of at least one of the planar element and the core.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a lubricant layer between the core and the cavity of the planar element, so that the lubricant layer provides a thermal interface between the core and the planar element.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the planar element comprises a plurality of anisotropic graphite sheets laminated together, the sheets being oriented parallel to the plane of the planar element.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the graphite sheets are resin impregnated.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the core extends completely through the laminated graphite sheets.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the core material is a metal.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the core material comprises copper.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the core is a cylindrical shaped core having a cylindrical axis oriented normal to the plane of the planar element.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a heat source having a heat conducting area defined thereon in contact with the core.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein:
the heat conducting area of the heat source is a top surface of the heat source; and
the entire top surface of the heat source is covered by and in contact with the core.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a heat spreader.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a heat sink.
14. A thermal management system, comprising:
a heat source having a heat transmitting surface;
an anisotropic graphite planar element, said element having x and y dimensions defining a generally planar extent of the planar element and having a z dimension defining a thickness of the planar element, the planar element having a relatively high thermal conductivity in the x and y directions and a relatively low thermal conductivity in the z direction, the planar element having a cavity defined therein extending at least partially through the thickness of the planar element; and
an insert received in the cavity in heat conducting engagement with the planar element, the insert having a heat receiving surface operatively engaging the heat transmitting surface of the heat source, so that heat from the heat source flows across the heat transmitting surface and the heat receiving surface, into the insert in the z direction and then out through the planar element in the x and y directions.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the heat transmitting surface of the heat source is entirely covered by the heat receiving surface of the insert.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the insert is constructed from an isotropic material.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the isotropic material of the insert is copper.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the insert is constructed from an anisotropic material.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein:
the anisotropic material is graphite.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the cavity and the insert both extend completely through the thickness of the planar element.
21. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the cavity and the insert both extend partially through the thickness of the planar element.
22. The system of claim 14, wherein:
the planar element comprises a plurality of graphite sheets laminated together.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein:
the graphite sheets are resin impregnated.
24. A method of dissipating heat from a heat source, comprising:
(a) providing an anisotropic heat dissipating element having relatively high thermal conductivity in x and y directions, and having relatively low thermal conductivity in a z direction perpendicular to the x and y directions, the heat dissipating element having a cavity defined therethrough in the z direction, and having an isotropic heat conducting insert disposed in the cavity;
(b) placing the insert in heat conducting relationship with a heat source;
(c) conducting heat from the heat source through the insert and into the anisotropic heat dissipating element; and
(d) conducting heat through the heat dissipating element in the x and y directions.