Back to results
US 2006/0049599 A1Published application
Inclinable vehicle
OwnerSean Lehaneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inclinable all wheel drive vehicle with self-leveling chassis and self-locking capabilities, whether it is in motion or at rest, on level or laterally pitched ground. The vehicle has front and rear axle frames independently pivoted about a horizontal central chassis. An automatic tilt sensor controls hydraulics or motor to maintain vehicle's cabin level.
Claims9
A suspension for a vehicle comprising,
- at least two pairs of wheels,
- an axle assembly for each pair of wheels, the axle assembly comprising upper and lower cam rods for each wheel joined by upper and lower pivot joints at their opposite ends to opposed intermediate members,
- an axle member joined at its opposite ends to the opposed intermediate members by intermediate pivot joints located intermediate the upper and lower pivot joints,
- a chassis assembly extending lengthwise between an adjacent pair of axle assemblies,
- sensing means for sensing the inclination of the chassis assembly with respect to the horizontal across its width,
- alignment means for moving the chassis assembly to lie generally horizontal across its width in response to signals from the sensing means, and
- a tilt cam for each pair of wheels connected to each of the upper and lower cam rods by upper and lower pivotable tilt cam joints,
- wherein the wheels are operatively connected to the intermediate members and the tilt cams are operatively connected to the chassis assembly such that alignment of the chassis assembly to the generally horizontal across its width results in the upper and lower cam rods, axle member and intermediate members aligning the wheels to assume a generally vertically directed configuration.
5 more elements
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.