[thebear]

"Ackerman Links" for the steering systems of vehicles were patented in 1819 by Rudolph Ackerman (1764-1834). Although there were no motor wagons to employ the idea, it was seen a a `safety enhancement' to the horse drawn wagons of the day as the center post pivot wagons of the day could an did turn over with regularity. He had inventions in many fields including the waterproofing of fabrics.
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The swing axle rear suspension used in the original VW `bug' was patented in 1903 by Edward Rumpler, an engineer working at the Adler Automobile Company.