Locking device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsLeonard W. Thorpe, Wayne H. Kind
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rough terrain articulated vehicle wherein one vehicle section is intercected with a second vehicle section for unrestrained relative rotation around the vehicle roll axis. Roll movement enables the respective vehicle sections to shift in accordance with terrain irregularities, thereby minimizing the need for high wheel travel. A locking or latching mechanism is provided to prevent roll rotation when the vehicle is moving over relatively smooth terrain.
Claims2
In a rough terrain articulated wheeled vehicle wherein a first vehicle section is interconnected with a second vehicle section for unrestrained relative rotation around the vehicle roll axis:
- the improvement comprising cooperating latch elements carried by respective ones of the vehicle sections for locking engagement, to thereby prevent rotation of the sections in the roll direction when it is intended to move the vehicle over relatively smooth terrain;
- said cooperating latch elements comprising a keeper (32) carried by one of the vehicle sections and a plunger mechanism carried by the other vehicle section;
- said plunger mechanism comprising a slidable plunger (36) having a manual engagement portion (44) for retracting said plunger away from the keeper and spring means (42) for advancing said plunger toward the keeper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.