Suspension for vehicles
AssigneeCrowley All Terrain Corporation
InventorsCharles R. Vincent, William H. Albee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension for off-road vehicles having a vehicle frame supported on flexible wall, fluid distensible rollers through a plurality of support rolls rotatably mounted to the frame. Each support roll contacts at least one roller, the axes of the rolls being parallel to the axes of the rollers and positioned vertically offset by an angle between 5.degree. and 19.degree. measured from the vertical. Means is also provided for positioning the rollers relative to the support rolls and maintaining a preselected contact pressure therebetween, these pressures being adjustable to accommodate various road and operating conditions.
Claims12
A vehicle for travel over off-road terrain, said vehicle having a frame;
- a fluid distensible roller engageable with the ground;
- means for rotatably mounting said roller to said frame while allowing relative vertical movement therebetween;
- a support roll rotatably mounted to said frame and positioned generally above said roller to contact said roller and be supported thereon, the axis of said roll being parallel to the axis of said roller and positioned vertically offset by an angle between 5.degree. and 19.degree. measured from the vertical;
- means including a fluid cylinder for resiliently biasing said roller relative to said frame to maintain a preselected contact pressure between said roll and roller;
- and means for selectively adjusting the contact pressures between said roller and roll to accommodate the various road and operating conditions.
A vehicle for travel over off-road terrain, said vehicle having a frame;
- fluid distensible rollers engageable with the ground;
- means rotatably mounting said rollers to said frame while allowing relative vertical movement therebetween;
- support rolls rotatably mounted to said frame and positioned generally above said rollers to contact said rollers, respectively, and be supported thereon;
- and means for resiliently biasing said rollers relative to said frame and support rolls to maintain preselected contact pressures between said rolls and rollers, said means comprising fluid cylinders for resiliently biasing each roller to maintain a preselected contact pressure between each roller and its supported support roll, and means for selectively adjusting the fluid pressure applied to said cylinders to accommodate various road and operating conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.