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US 8,746,388 B2Granted
Vehicle having variable track
AssigneeJaxa Networks
InventorRafal Budweil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle comprising a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track, a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121), steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track and track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112).
Claims27
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the track width control means comprise pairs of wishbones (113, 114) connected to each of the front wheels (111, 112), each pair of wishbones (113, 114) connected pivotally at one point to a central frame (117) and at another point to one end of a push-pull rod (115, 116), the other end of which is pivotally connected with a piston (118) of a central linear actuator (119), such that the movement of the piston (118) causes change of the wheel base and the track width of the front wheels (111, 112).
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- the track width control means are further configured to turn the front wheels (111, 112) towards the central axis of the vehicle when changing the track width of the vehicle from the wide track to the narrow track and to turn the front wheels (111, 112) away from the central axis of the vehicle when changing the track width of the vehicle from the narrow track to the wide track;
- and
- the track width control means comprise variable-length steering rods (141, 142) connected to the front wheels (111, 112).
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the track width control means comprise pairs of wishbones (113, 114) connected to each of the front wheels (111, 112), each pair of wishbones (113, 114) connected to a retracting arm (143, 144) mounted pivotally at one point to a central frame (117) and at another point to one end of a push-pull rod (115, 116), the other end of which is pivotally connected with a piston (118) of a central linear actuator (119), such that the movement of the piston (118) causes change of the wheel base and the track width of the front wheels (111, 112).
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the track width control means comprise steering rods (145, 146) connected at one end to steering actuators (147, 148) and at another end to steering knuckle bearings (131, 132) of the front wheels (111, 112) to steer the turn of the front wheels (111, 112) around their individual vertical axes, wherein the steering actuators (147, 148) are connected to a central frame (117) and have a changeable length.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the track width control means comprise pairs of upper and lower front suspension arms (171, 173) connected pivotally at one end to a driving arm (175) and at another end pivotally to a pair of upper and lower rear suspension arms (172, 174) connected pivotally at one end to a central frame (117) and at another end to a steering knuckle bearing of the front wheel (111, 112), the driving arm (175) being pivotally mounted to the central frame (117) and turnable around a substantially vertical axis at the point of connection to the central frame (117) in order to control the track width of the front wheels and the wheel base of the vehicle.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- the front wheels (111, 112) are turnable around a common axis (151);
- and
- the front axle is turnable by a linear actuator (152).
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the rear wheel (121) is turnable around an axis (123) offset from the center of the rear wheel (121) by a distance larger than the radius of the rear wheel (121).
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- the rear axle is turnable by a linear actuator (124).
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- a selector configured to control the operation of both the track width control means and the steering means.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- a frame comprising:
- a tiltable portion (163) tiltable about a tilt axis (164) and coupled with a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- a non-tiltable portion (162) coupled with a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112);
- a main body portion (165) coupled with the tiltable frame portion (163);
- and
- tilting means (166) for tilting the tiltable frame portion (163) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the wide track.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle with a pair of front wheels (111, 112) having a track width adjustable between a wide track and a narrow track,
- a drive rear axle with a rear wheel (121),
- track width control means configured to change the track width of the front wheels (111, 112) and to change the wheel base between the front axle and the rear axle such that for the wide track of the front wheels (111, 112) the wheel base is longer than for the narrow track of the front wheels (111, 112),
- characterized in that it further comprises:
- steering means configured to control the turn of the rear wheel (121) when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track, wherein the front wheels (111, 112) are non-turnable when the front wheels (111, 112) are set to the narrow track;
- and
- an elastic outer shell (302) forming a cabin of the vehicle and having a width controlled by a linear actuator (304) coupled with linkages (303) such that the width of the cabin is higher for the wide track of the front wheels than for the narrow track of the front wheels.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.