US 4,896,899 A · Go-cart vehicle

Abstract

A go-cart vehicle, made from high strength, molded engineering plastics, has a steering shaft tilt assembly which includes a steering shaft (66) slidable in a pivot bushing (70) carried by a bracket (73). The shaft pivots at a U-joint (78) and the bracket (73) pivots at its base. The bracket carries a detent--a cylinder (94) attached to the base (74) of the bracket (73). The cylinder (94) has a number of holes (93) to engage a latch pin (92) which is controlled by a release lever (95) operated by a release button (102). The shaft (66) may be adjusted to varying angles of tilt by moving the latch pin from hole to hole which motion causes the bushing, shaft and bracket to pivot in unison as the shaft slides in the bushing. The vehicle combines a change in caster angle (12) to about 12 degrees with a short, rigid chassis (2) and a live axle (45) to make it possible to turn a sharp corner at speeds of 20 mph or less. The engine (4) is positioned at the lateral midpoint of the vehicle and a crankshaft extension (21) is employed. The power train includes a drive ring (34) that directly engages the wheel spokes (38) by means of an integrally molded, toroidal boss (36) provided with grooves (37) mating with the spokes (38) to drive the same. A one-piece unitary wheel (111) wherein the tire (112) is fitted on a flat rim (115) of the wheel (111) molded of plastic, which rim (115) is then completed with an ultrasonically welded flange (116) to make the wheel (111), including the tire, a unit that cannot be separated.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A driver operated motor vehicle of the go-cart type comprising:

a. a chassis having a top surface and front, rear and mid portions;
b. a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair of back wheels comprising at least one drive wheel and supporting said chassis;
c. a tilt wheel steering assembly comprising:
(1) a tie rod operatively connected to said front wheels;
(2) a steering wheel;
(3) a steering shaft connecting said steering wheel and said tie rod;
(4) Universal joint means articulating said steering shaft in two segments near the bottom thereof;
(5) a bracket pivotally mounted on the surface of said chassis and comprising:
(a) a bushing pivotally disposed in the upper end of said bracket for partial rotation about a horizontal axis transverse said chassis and having an aperture sized to slidably receive said steering shaft;
and
(b) catch means having a plurality of catch positions and attached to said chassis;
(c) detent means carried by said bracket;
whereby said bracket may be rotated to a selected position of said catch means to adjust the degree of tilt of said steering shaft to suit the convenience of the driver;
d. said wheels comprising a tire and a hub assembly comprising a substantially flat rim surface and at least one flange ultrasonically welded to said rim surface for engaging a bead of said tire;
e. an engine mounted on a rear portion of said chassis;
f. transmission means adapted to transfer the output of said engine to said said drive wheels;
g. driver operable means for regulating the speed of said engine;
and
h. seat means for supporting a driver of said vehicle.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Go-cart vehicle

Life of this patent

Go-cart vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17