US 3,935,606 AGranted

Retractable suspension system

OwnerOlaf Sootinventor

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Abstract

A retractable suspension system adaptable for land, water, or amphibious vehicles substantially comprises: a bottom suspension arm having a wheel-axle assembly associated with its first end; a top suspension arm; spring means for interconnecting the arms; a horizontal suspension beam axle fixedly attached to the vehicle frame; and means attached to the vehicle frame and to the first end portion of the top suspension arm for adjusting the rotational orientation of the two arms about the suspension beam axle whose center is coincident with the second ends of the two arms. The suspension system can be partially retracted to accommodate for uneven load distributions on the vehicle and for levelling the vehicle on nonuniform terrain while it can be fully retracted for water use. Straight carry-through members which are extensions of the vehicle frame can be utilized to form the suspension beam axle. In such case, a low pivot point is provided for rotation of the top and bottom suspension arms thereby eliminating the need for complicated secondary framing which would otherwise be required.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A retractable suspension system comprising:

a first nonrotatable horizontal suspension beam axle member,
a movable horizontal axle member which is parallel to said first suspension beam axle member,
a first suspension arm member, the first end thereof being fixedly attached to one end of said horizontal axle member and the second end thereof being rotatably attached to said first suspension beam axle member, said horizontal axle member being attached only at said one end and being perpendicular to said first suspension arm member,
a second suspension arm member, the first end thereof also being rotatably attached to said first suspension beam axle member, said first and second suspension arm members defining and being located within a vertical plane,
spring means interconnecting said first and second suspension arm members, said spring means being located directly above said first suspension arm member and directly below said second suspension arm member, and
means attached to said second suspension arm member for adjusting the rotational orientation thereof relative to said first suspension beam axle member,
whereby actuation of said adjusting means causes said horizontal axle member to be selectively raised or lowered relative to said first suspension beam axle member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/458,209Filed 5 Apr 1974 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Jul 1973
Granted: 3 Feb 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B62D 61/12
Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern:…
B60F 3/0092
Amphibious vehicles specially adapted for particular purposes or of a particular type: amphibious trailers
B60G 11/00
Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
B63C 13/00
Equipment forming part of or attachable to vessels facilitating transport over land