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US 2011/0215544 A1Published application
Vehicles, Systems For Vehicles, And Methods For Vehicles All To Improve Cornering Capability
OwnerMichael Rhodiginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary.
Claims6
A vehicle for following a curve in a path on a way, the vehicle comprising:
- a. a frame for supporting a driver;
- b. a base that supports the frame and permits movement of the frame with respect to the base;
- c. a plurality of vehicle supports that each contribute to supporting the base, each vehicle support biased from the base against the way and not from the frame against the way;
- and
- d. a camber controller that adjusts a camber of at least one vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports in accordance with a position of the frame with respect to the base, movement toward the position being promoted by a shifting of the driver's mass by the driver toward a center of curvature of the curve in the path.
2 more elements
A method performed by a vehicle following a curve in a path on a way, the method comprising:
- supporting a driver with a frame of the vehicle;
- supporting the frame with a base of the vehicle;
- supporting the base with a plurality of vehicle supports that each contribute to supporting the base, each vehicle support biased from the base against the way and not from the frame against the way;
- responding to the driver's mass being shifted by the driver toward a center of curvature of the curve in the path by moving the frame with respect to the base toward a position;
- and
- adjusting a camber of at least one vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports in accordance with the position of the frame with respect to the base.
3 more elements
A method performed by a land vehicle for improving traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising
- a. a base having a central longitudinal axis that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;
- b. a frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle;
- c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel;
- and
- d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;
- the method comprising:
- allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base;
- and
- adjusting a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel in response to the motion of the frame;
- wherein
- motion of the frame reduces a first distance from the center of mass of the vehicle to the road and reduces a second distance from the center of mass of the vehicle to the center of curvature of the curve in the road;
- and
- motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.
10 more elements
A method performed by a land vehicle for improving traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising
- a. a base comprising a pivot, the base having a central longitudinal axis through the pivot that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;
- b. a frame supported by the base via the pivot, the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle;
- c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel;
- and
- d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;
- the method comprising:
- allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base via the pivot;
- and
- adjusting a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel in response to the motion of the frame;
- wherein
- motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the frame and a point of the longitudinal axis, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the frame, of a transverse force and a gravitational force;
- and
- motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.
10 more elements
A land vehicle capable of improved traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising:
- a. a base having a central longitudinal axis that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;
- b. a frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the frame supported by the base;
- c. a coupling that allows the frame to move with respect to the base;
- d. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel;
- and
- e. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;
- wherein
- f. motion of the frame adjusts a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel;
- g. motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the driver and a center of mass of the frame, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the driver, of a transverse force and a gravitational force;
- and
- h. motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.
8 more elements
A land vehicle capable of improved traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising:
- a. a base comprising a pivot, the base having a central longitudinal axis through the pivot that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;
- b. a frame supported by the base via the pivot, the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the pivot allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base;
- c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel;
- and
- d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;
- wherein
- e. motion of the frame adjusts a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel;
- f. motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the frame and a point of the longitudinal axis, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the frame, of a transverse force and a gravitational force;
- and
- g. motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.