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US 12,715,502 B2Granted
Rear end steering and mounting system
AssigneeSuper ATV, LLC
InventorJustin L. Eaton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering and suspension assembly for the rear wheels of an off-road vehicle that is effective to turn the rear wheels of the vehicle at least 2° in either direction.
Claims22
A steering and suspension assembly for the right and left rear wheels of an off-road vehicle that includes a steering wheel that controls steerable front wheels, the steering and suspension assembly comprising:
- a first right rear suspension component;
- a first left rear suspension component;
- a right rear CV axle assembly comprising a right rear outer CV joint, a right rear axle and a right rear inner CV joint;
- a left rear CV axle assembly comprising a left rear outer CV joint, a left rear axle and a left rear inner CV joint;
- a right rear wheel hub assembly for mounting a wheel, directly or indirectly, to the right rear inner CV joint, wherein the right rear wheel hub assembly is pivotally coupled to the first right rear suspension component;
- a left rear wheel hub assembly for mounting a wheel, directly or indirectly, to the left rear inner CV joint, wherein the left rear wheel hub assembly is pivotally coupled to the first left rear suspension component;
- a first right rear steering component functionally coupled to the right rear wheel hub assembly;
- a first left rear steering component functionally coupled to the left rear wheel hub assembly;
- a double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder having a right end and a left end, wherein the right end is functionally coupled to the first right rear steering component and the left end is functionally coupled to the first left rear steering component, wherein actuating the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder in either direction moves the right and left rear wheel hub assemblies in unison to turn the vehicle at least 2° in either direction;
- a direction sensor adapted to detect the relative position of the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder and its variance from straight/center that steers the rear wheels, wherein the direction sensor is mounted to the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder;
- and
- a driver feedback module that outputs an auto/manual indicator and visual indicia of the variance from straight/center of the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder, wherein the visual indicia changes in real-time as the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder moves to indicate current rear wheel steering position relative to a centered position.
9 more elements
A steering assembly for the right and left rear wheels of an off-road vehicle that includes a steering wheel that controls steerable front wheels, the steering and suspension assembly comprising:
- a right rear wheel hub;
- a left rear wheel hub;
- a double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder having a right end and a left end, wherein the right end is functionally coupled to the right rear wheel hub and the left end is functionally coupled to the left rear wheel hub, wherein actuating the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder in either direction moves the right and left rear wheel hubs in unison to turn the vehicle at least 2° in either direction;
- a direction sensor adapted to detect the relative position of the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder and its variance from straight/center that steers the rear wheels, wherein the direction sensor is mounted to the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder, wherein the direction sensor is a linear variable inductance transducer mounted axially parallel to the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder with one end operatively coupled to a cylinder base and another end operatively coupled to a cylinder rod, such that the linear variable inductance transducer changes length as the cylinder moves;
- and
- a driver feedback module positioned within a driver's field of view that outputs indicia of the variance from straight/center of the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder that steers the rear wheels, wherein the visual indicia changes in real-time as the double-acting, double-ended hydraulic cylinder moves to indicate current rear wheel steering position relative to a centered position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.