Powered three wheeled golf cart
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMasao Nakai, Yoshihiko Imazu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact three wheeled golf cart that is powered by an internal combustion engine that is disposed within a triangle defined by the contact patch of the wheels with the ground to provide stability. The cart is steered by an operator who walks along adjacent the cart and does not ride upon it. An improved variable speed belt transmission and combined reduction set and differential drive the wheels of the cart from the engine.
Claims14
A powered cart comprising a frame assembly, a steerable front wheel assembly journaled at a forward portion of said frame assembly for steering of said cart, a pair of rear wheels journaled at opposite sides of the rear of said frame assembly, the contact of said front wheel assembly and said rear wheels with the ground defining generally a triangle, an internal combustion engine supported by said frame, means are provided for driving the rear wheels from said engine, and means are carried by said frame means for control of said cart by an operator standing adjacent to said cart including an upwardly and rearwardly extending member that lies at an angle to the horizontal and for steering of said cart, said engine lying within an area bounded by said triangle and having at least one cylinder extending at an angle to the horizontal generally parallel to the angle of said upstanding frame member.
A powered cart comprising a frame assembly, a steerable front wheel assembly journaled at a forward portion of said frame assembly for steering of said cart, a pair of rear wheels journaled at opposite sides of the rear of said frame assembly, the contact of said front wheel assembly and said rear wheels with the ground defining generally a triangle, an engine supported by said frame, means are provided for driving the rear wheels from said engine, said means for driving said rear wheels comprising a variable belt transmission including a centrifugal portion responsive to the speed of the engine for controlling the speed ratio between the engine and the rear wheels and a load responsive portion for lowering the transmission ratio when the load for driving the rear wheels exceeds a predetermined amount and means are carried by said frame means for control of said cart by an operator standing adjacent to said cart, said engine lying within an area bounded by said triangle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.