Modular metamorphic vehicle
AssigneeOshkosh Corporation
InventorRoy Venton-Walters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle (10) comprising a vehicle body, a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body, and a plurality of wheels (16) coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle. The suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels and the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting (12) and a wide wheel track width setting (14) by pivoting a suspension link (18) about a vertical axis.
Claims27
A suspension system for a vehicle having a body, comprising:
- a plurality of wheels coupled to the vehicle and comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels positionable on opposite sides of the vehicle wherein at least one wheel is driven by a motor;
- a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels;
- wherein the changeable wheel track width comprises at least a narrow wheel track width setting and a wide wheel track width setting;
- and
- wherein the wheel track width is changeable between the narrow wheel track width setting and the wide wheel track width setting by pivoting a suspension link about a vertical axis;
- a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;
- a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;
- at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;
- wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel;
- and
- a strut having first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle wherein at least one wheel is driven by a motor;
- wherein the suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels;
- and
- wherein the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting and a wide wheel track width setting by pivoting a suspension link about a vertical axis;
- a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;
- a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;
- at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;
- wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel;
- and
- a strut having a first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.
A system for correcting vertical forces in vehicle suspensions, comprising:
- a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;
- a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;
- at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;
- wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of a vehicle;
- and
- wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel;
- and
- a strut having first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.