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US 6,182,984 B2Granted
Reversible caster steerable suspension system
AssigneeWatson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorThomas N. Chalin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steerable suspension system is provided in which a caster thereof is reversible. In a described embodiment, a suspension system includes a tripover mechanism which displaces a link pivot relative to a frame of a vehicle. Such displacement of the link pivot causes an axle to rotate, thereby changing a caster of the suspension system.
Claims24
A steerable suspension system for a vehicle having a frame, the suspension system comprising:
- a king pin having a longitudinal axis, the king pin axis being selectively displaceable between first and second positions, and the caster of the suspension system being reversed when the king pin axis is displaced between the first and second positions;
- a link pivotably interconnecting the king pin to the frame;
- and
- a tripover mechanism displacing the link relative to the frame when the king pin axis is displaced between the first and second positions.
1 more element
A steerable suspension system for a vehicle having a frame, the suspension system comprising:
- a generally laterally extending axle having opposite ends;
- at least one king pin axis disposed proximate one opposite end of the axle;
- a first link pivotably attached at a first pivot to the axle, and the first link pivotably attached to a second pivot of a tripover mechanism interconnecting the second pivot to the frame;
- and
- a second link pivotably attached at a third pivot to the frame and at a fourth pivot to the axle,
- the tripover mechanism displacing the second pivot relative to the frame to reverse a caster of the king pin axis.
3 more elements
A steerable suspension system for a vehicle having a frame, the suspension system comprising:
- a tripover mechanism configured to reverse a caster of the suspension system, the tripover mechanism including first, second and third pivots, the second pivot traversing a line extending between the first and third pivots when the suspension system caster is reversed, and the tripover mechanism further including a guide structure restricting displacement of the first pivot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.