Vehicle with a stabilized tilting section
First Claim
1. A self propelled vehicle comprising a chassis structure, at least three ground engaging wheels mounted on said chassis structure, at least one of said wheels is directionally controllable, powertrain means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, braking means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, and a control element rotatably mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to said at least one directionally controllable wheel, wherein said chassis structure comprises at least one suspension structure, each suspension structure has at least two of said wheels mounted thereunder and at least one pair of the mounted wheels are positioned side by side to provide lateral stability, a pivoting structure with room for at least one passenger, and at least one pivotal means for mounting said pivoting structure to at least one of said suspension structures such that the effective pivot axis of said pivoting structure relative to the ground is along its longitudinal axis and projects above its laden center of gravity thereby hanging at least a section of said pivoting structure from the ground whereby gravity will urge said center of gravity downwards and will maintain said pivoting structure in a substantially upright position whenever the vehicle is stationary or traveling in a straight path and centrifugal force will urge said center of gravity outward of the turn and tilt said pivoting structure inside the turn whenever the vehicle is turning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention a vehicle comprises a tilting section and a hanging section both connected to each other. When the vehicle is stationary or traveling straight, gravity will pull the hanging section downwards which will stabilize and keep the tilting section upright. When the vehicle is turning, centrifugal force will swing the hanging section outward and tilt the tilting section inside the turn.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A self propelled vehicle comprising a chassis structure, at least three ground engaging wheels mounted on said chassis structure, at least one of said wheels is directionally controllable, powertrain means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, braking means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, and a control element rotatably mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to said at least one directionally controllable wheel, wherein said chassis structure comprises at least one suspension structure, each suspension structure has at least two of said wheels mounted thereunder and at least one pair of the mounted wheels are positioned side by side to provide lateral stability, a pivoting structure with room for at least one passenger, and at least one pivotal means for mounting said pivoting structure to at least one of said suspension structures such that the effective pivot axis of said pivoting structure relative to the ground is along its longitudinal axis and projects above its laden center of gravity thereby hanging at least a section of said pivoting structure from the ground whereby gravity will urge said center of gravity downwards and will maintain said pivoting structure in a substantially upright position whenever the vehicle is stationary or traveling in a straight path and centrifugal force will urge said center of gravity outward of the turn and tilt said pivoting structure inside the turn whenever the vehicle is turning.
- 10. A self propelled vehicle comprising a chassis structure, at least three ground engaging wheels mounted on said chassis structure, at least one of said wheels is directionally controllable, powertrain means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, braking means mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to at least one of said wheels, and a control element rotatably mounted on said chassis structure and coupled to said at least one directionally controllable wheel, wherein said chassis structure comprises at least one suspension structure, at least two of said wheels are mounted on each suspension structure and at least one pair of the mounted wheels on each suspension structure is mounted side by side to provide lateral stability, a tilting structure having room for at least one passenger, at least one tilting means for mounting said tilting structure to at least one of said suspension structures giving said tilting structure an effective tilt axis that is along its longitudinal axis, a hanging structure having a laden moment of inertia that is greater than the laden moment of inertia of said tilting structure with each structure'"'"'s laden moment of inertia being relative to each structure'"'"'s effective pivot axis, at least one hanging means for mounting said hanging structure to at least one of said suspension structures such that said hanging structure is suspended from the ground and can laterally swing relative to the ground, and means for connecting said tilting structure to said hanging structure whereby gravity will urge said hanging structure downwards which will keep said tilting structure in a substantially upright orientation whenever the vehicle is stationary or traveling in a straight path and centrifugal force will urge said hanging structure outward of the turn which will tilt said tilting structure inside the turn whenever the vehicle is turning.
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23. A self propelled vehicle having room for at least one passenger, powertrain means, braking means, steering means, and at least three ground engaging wheels, wherein the improvement being at least one section of the vehicle can laterally tilt relative to the ground and at least one other section of the vehicle is hanging from the ground and can laterally swing relative to the ground, at least one of the hanging sections of the vehicle is connected to at least one of the tilting sections of the vehicle, and the total moment of inertia of the connected hanging sections is greater than the total moment of inertia of the connected tilting sections with each sections'"'"' moment of inertia being relative to each section'"'"'s effective axis of rotation whereby swinging of the connected hanging sections on one side causes tilting of the connected tilting sections on the other side whenever the vehicle is turning and downward orientation of the connected hanging sections keep the connected tilting sections substantially upright whenever the vehicle is stationary or traveling in a straight path.
Specification