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US 5,957,494 AGranted
Apparatus and method for improving the lateral stability of vehicles
AssigneeJLG Industries, Inc.
InventorMohamed Yahiaoui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a vehicle having at least one tire mounted on a support member. The tire has a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle. A device, which has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the tire, is attached to the support member. The device includes a contact surface having a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle. When the tire is loaded and deflects such that the device interacts with a support surface, the tipline of the vehicle is moved from the first tipline to the second tipline to improve the stability of the vehicle.
Claims34
A method of altering the stability of a vehicle, comprising the following steps:
- providing a vehicle comprising at least one tire operatively associated with a support member, the at least one tire comprising a first diameter and a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle;
- providing at least one device having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the at least one device comprising a contact surface having a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle;
- attaching the at least one device to the support member in a manner to improve vehicle stability in response to a load that causes the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline;
- loading the at least one tire so as to cause the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline and such that, responsive to such loading, the tire deflects to an extent that the contact surface of the at least one device interacts with a support surface to move a tipline of the vehicle from the first tipline to the second tipline.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle comprising at least one tire operatively associated with a support member, the at least one tire having a first diameter and a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle;
- and
- a device attached to the support member of the at least one tire in such a manner as to improve vehicle stability in response to a load that causes the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline, the device having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and comprising a contact surface having a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle;
- whereby a tipline of the vehicle is moved from the first tipline to the second tipline to improve the stability of the vehicle responsive to the at least one tire being loaded so as to cause the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline and whereby the at least one tire deflects to such an extent that the device interacts with a support surface.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle comprising at least one tire mounted on a support member, the at least one tire having a first diameter and a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle;
- and
- a ring operatively associated with the support member and disposed within the at least one tire in such a manner as to improve vehicle stability in response to a load that causes the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline, the ring having a width and an outside diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the ring comprising a contact surface that is larger than the width thereof and having a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle;
- whereby a tipline of the vehicle is moved from the first tipline to the second tipline to improve the stability of the vehicle responsive to the at least one tire being loaded so as to cause the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline and whereby said at least one tire deflects to such an extent that the ring interacts with a support surface.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle comprising at least one tire mounted on a support member, the at least one tire having a first diameter and a centerline that substantially defines a first tipline of the vehicle;
- and
- a disk operatively associated with the support member and disposed without the at least one tire in such a manner as to improve vehicle stability in response to a load that causes the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline, the disk having a width and an outside diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the disk comprising a contact surface and a centerline that substantially defines a second tipline of the vehicle;
- whereby a tipline of the vehicle is moved from the first tipline to the second tipline to improve the stability of the vehicle responsive to the at least one tire being loaded so as to cause the vehicle's center of mass to approach the first tipline and whereby said at least one tire deflects to such an extent that the disk interacts with a support surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.