Four wheel drive stationary body vehicle having controlled wheel and passenger compartment lateral lean with independent steering

• US 20050206101A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Todd Richard Bouton
• Original Assignee: Todd Richard Bouton
• Inventors: Bouton, Todd Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,494,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/6.154
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/082 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/45 Rolling frame vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0194 transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends

Abstract

In this vehicular chassis system, the vehicle'"'"'s passenger compartment and wheels incline toward the turning center side in such a manner, that the wheels can be tilted independently from steering. This vehicle has a steering apparatus controlling the steering, and a separate apparatus controlling the lateral leaning. The lean is controlled mechanically using a pendulum, and forced lateral leaned using a control unit, or manually with the transfer of body weight using several pinions with a set ratio to control the passenger compartment lateral lean in conjunction with the wheel lateral lean. An electric DC servo gear motor can be used to control the lateral lean, that intern moves a pinion, which moves a rack and lateral movable cross member, while controlling the lateral leaning wheels and pulling the tilt support bar pivotally attached to a passenger compartment in the same leaning direction.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A four wheel drive vehicle with mechanical controlled wheel and passenger compartment lateral lean having an elongated passenger compartment on a tilt shaft from front to back, and independent steering, comprising:

a tilt shaft with a fixed mount to said passenger compartment, each end of said tilt shaft having a pivot mount to said front and back tilt shaft pinion;

a tilt shaft pinion rotatively mounted on said suspension frame for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a motor pinion rotatively mounted on a suspension frame in a gear mesh relationship with said tilt shaft pinion for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a front and back motor pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a generally ten o'"'"'clock position transversely from each end of said tilt shaft in a gear mesh relationship with said front and back tilt shaft pinion controlling said front lateral movable cross member, please note;

in conjunction with said back lateral movable cross member, using a forced mechanism for lateral lean control;

a front and back electric DC servo gear motor having a fixed mount to said front and back suspension frame and controlled in conjunction with each other using a passenger forced mechanical control unit;

a front and back motor pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a generally ten o'"'"'clock position transversely from each end of said tilt shaft in a gear mesh relationship with said front and back tilt shaft pinion controlling said front lateral movable cross member, please note;

independently from said back lateral movable cross member, using individual mechanisms for mechanical lateral lean control;

a front and back electric DC servo gear motor having a fixed mount to said front and back suspension frame, controlled with said front and back pendulum;

a front and back pendulum hanging from said front and back mechanical control box mounted directly to the back of said front and back electric DC servo gear motor controlling said front lateral movable cross member independently from said back lateral movable cross member;

a front and back pendulum having said front and back mechanical control box, each having a rubber mount around said front and back pendulum shaft giving enough tension to maintain a comfortable independent lateral lean for said front and back suspension frame, while transversing a hill side;

a lateral movable cross member and rack combined in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said tilt shaft pinion;

a roller bearing guide having a fixed mount to the top of said suspension frame with a roller bearing relationship to the top of said lateral movable cross member for locating and aligning on the top of said tilt shaft pinion;

an upper control arm having said upper attachment point in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said right and left lateral movable cross member, maintaining a fixed distance between said right and left upper control arm;

an upper tubular joint having said upper attachment point in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said upper control arm maintaining a generally fixed distance between said right and left upper tubular joint;

a king pin having a fixed mount on said upper tubular joint transversely from a lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said king pin pointing to the back of the vehicle;

a steering support bar having a pivot hole at each end to be pivotally mounted to said king pin, maintaining a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

an upper tubular joint having said king pin for said steering support bar pivotally mounted to maintain said steering rod alignment, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

a tilt support bar having a pivot hole at each end to be pivotally mounted to said king pin maintaining a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a tilt support bar pivotally mounted on said king pin, having the inner end of said tilt support bar pivotally mounted to said passenger compartment king pin for lateral lean control of said passenger compartment;

a passenger compartment king pin, slot mounted on the front of said passenger compartment having the outer end of said passenger compartment king pin pointing to the front of the vehicle with the same axis as said passenger compartment, to accept a pivot hole on the inner end of said tilt support bar;

a lower control arm having said lower attachment point in a articulated fashion to the outer end of a right and left said lower suspension frame, maintaining a fixed distance between said right and left lower control;

a lower tubular joint having said lower attachment point in a in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said lower control arm, maintaining a generally fixed distance between said right and left lower tubular joint;

an upper and lower tubular joint, each having a vertical pivot mount for said spindle, allowing independent steering from the lateral lean with said steering knuckle fixed mounted to the top of said spindle;

a steering knuckle having a fixed mount on the top of said spindle in a generally transverse axis from said lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said steering knuckle pointing to the back of the vehicle allowing independent steering from a lateral lean;

a steering knuckle having a pivotal ball joint mount to said steering rod and pivotally mounted at the opposite inner end of said steering rod is said ball joint fixed mounted on a pitman arm;

a ball joint fixed mounted to a pitman arm having a transverse axis from said lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said ball joint pointing to the front of the vehicle;

a spindle having a vertical axis with a pivot mount to said upper and lower tubular joint;

an axle having a horizontal axis with a rotatable mount therethrough the center of said spindle;

an axle having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft passing therethrough the center of said spindle having a fixed mount to said universal joint, located on the outer end of said CV slide shaft;

a CV slide shaft universally mounted to said axle with a rotatable mount therethrough the center of said spindle in a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a dog bone shaft having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft with two slot pins fixed mounted on the outer end of said dog bone shaft for receiving said telescopic slot mount on the inner end of said CV slide shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

a dog bone shaft with said universal attachment point to a differential having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a differential could have a limited pivot mount to said lower suspension frame to stay in line with a universal mount located on the inner end of said dog bone shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

an internal combustion motor having a fixed mount to said passenger compartment to drive all four said wheels of this vehicle, using said motor drive sprocket with said roller drive chain;

a middle differential having a fixed mount to the bottom of said tilt shaft, generally centered from the front and back of the vehicle in a transverse axis from a said front and back differential;

a lower differential sprocket having a fixed mount to the center drive joint of said middle differential, with a roller chain relationship to said roller drive chain;

a front and back drive dog bone shaft having a universal attachment point to said front and back of a middle differential, with a generally same axis as said tilt shaft;

a CV drive slide shaft, having a passage on the inner end for receiving a telescopically mounted outer end of said drive dog bone shaft, with a generally same axis as said tilt shaft;

a front and back differential having a universal drive mount to the outer end of said CV drive slide shaft;

an end less number of these suspensions assemble together side by side with said dual axle, and each said unmanned suspension frame having a single said steering rod to maintain alignment between sets of said wheels;

a central chassis system elongated from front to back with said front fixed mount to said front lower suspension frame maintaining alignment for said tilt shaft and said front tilt shaft pinion;

a central chassis system elongated from front to back with said back fixed mount to said back lower suspension frame maintaining alignment for said tilt shaft and said back tilt shaft pinion;

a right and left pinion locking device manually activated in the form of said ratchet pawl hinged mounted on said suspension frame in a generally parallel axis to said spindle, each said right and left ratchet pawl can be forced engaged at the same time into both sides of said tilt shaft pinion cogs;

a electro magnetic switch in position to mechanically engage said ratchet pawl into a segment of said tilt shaft pinion cogs to lock the tilted vehicle in a lateral lean position, maintaining complete control of the vehicle in a turn with independent steering, using said car type steering wheel, or said motor cycle type handle bar;

a left strut assembly operatively attached on said left lower control arm with said left lower strut attachment point, and at the top of said suspension frame having said left upper strut attachment point just left of center of said cross member positioning means;

a right strut assembly operatively attached on said right lower control arm with said right lower strut attachment point, and at the top of said suspension frame having said right upper strut attachment point just right of center of said cross member positioning means;

3. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a front and back motor pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a generally ten o'"'"'clock position transversely from each end of said tilt shaft, in a gear mesh relationship with said front and back tilt shaft pinion controlling said front lateral movable cross member, please note:

in conjunction with said back lateral movable cross member, using a forced mechanism for lateral lean control;

4. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a front and back motor pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a generally ten o'"'"'clock position transversely from each end of said tilt shaft, in a gear mesh relationship with said front and back tilt shaft pinion controlling said front lateral movable cross member, please note:

independently from said back lateral movable cross member, using individual mechanisms for mechanical lateral lean control;

5. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 4, wherein said a front and back motor pinion comprises:

A front and back electric DC servo gear motor having a fixed mount to said front and back suspension frame, controlled with said front and back pendulum using said front and back mechanical control box, working independently.

6. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 5, wherein said a front and back pendulum further comprising:

a front and back mechanical control box each having a rubber mount around said front and back pendulum shaft giving enough tension to maintain a comfortable independent lateral tilt for said front and back suspension frame, reducing the hard or fast lateral lean to a passenger compartment;

7. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said an upper tubular joint having said king pin for said steering support bar pivotally mounted to maintain said steering rod alignment, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

8. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a tilt support bar pivotally mounted on said king pin, having the inner end of said tilt support bar pivotally mounted to said passenger compartment king pin for lateral lean control of said passenger compartment;

9. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 8, wherein said a passenger compartment king pin comprising:

a slot mount on said passenger compartment for said passenger compartment king pin, with said leveling springs mounted inside the respective slot mount, centering the respective passenger compartment king pin and assisting said lateral movable cross member back to a center position on said suspension frame;

10. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said an upper and lower tubular joint, each having a vertical pivot mount for said spindle allowing independent steering from the lateral lean with said steering knuckle fixed mounted to the top of said spindle;

11. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 10, wherein said a steering knuckle comprises:

a steering knuckle having a pivotal ball joint mount to said steering rod, and pivotally mounted at the opposite inner end of said steering rod is said ball joint fixed mounted on a pitman arm, forced controlled independently from the lateral lean with said passenger compartment steering wheel;

12. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a axle having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft passing therethrough the center of said spindle with a fixed mount to said universal joint, located on the outer end of said CV slide shaft;

13. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 12, wherein said a CV slide shaft comprises:

a passage on the inner end for receiving a telescopically mounted outer end of said dog bone shaft;

14. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a dog bone shaft having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft with two slot pins fixed mounted on the outer end of said dog bone shaft for receiving said telescopic slot mount on the inner end of said CV slide shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

15. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said a differential having a limited pivot mount to said lower suspension frame to stay in line with said universal mount located on the inner end of a dog bone shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel said passenger compartment;

16. A four wheel drive vehicle with manual controlled wheel and passenger compartment lateral lean having an elongated passenger compartment on a tilt shaft from front to back, and independent steering, comprising:

a tilt shaft with a fixed mount to said passenger compartment, each end of said tilt shaft having a fixed mount to said front and back tilt shaft pinion;

a tilt shaft pinion rotatively mounted on a suspension frame for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a front to back middle pinion rotatively mounted on said front to back suspension frame in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said front to back tilt shaft pinion, for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a front to back top pinion rotatively mounted on said front to back suspension frame in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said front to back middle pinion, for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a lateral movable cross member and rack combined in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said top pinion;

a roller bearing guide having a fixed mount to the top of said suspension frame with a roller bearing relationship to the top of said lateral movable cross member for locating and aligning on the top of said top pinion;

an upper control arm having said upper attachment point in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said right and left lateral movable cross member, maintaining a fixed distance between said right and left upper control arm;

an upper tubular joint having said upper attachment point in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said upper control arm, maintaining a generally fixed distance between said right and left upper tubular joint;

a king pin having a fixed mount on said upper tubular joint transversely from the lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said king pin pointing to the back of the vehicle;

a steering support bar having a pivot hole at each end to be pivotally mounted to said king pin maintaining a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

an upper tubular joint having said king pin for said steering support bar pivotally mounted to maintain said steering rod alignment, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

a passenger compartment controls the lateral lean of this manual tilting suspension manually with a passenger shifting their body weight from side to side by pushing their feet against said floorboard/chassis, and could be assisted with an optional said electric DC servo motor, or hydraulic steering pump using a passenger forced mechanical lean control unit;

a timing of said lateral leaning passenger compartment to said lateral leaning right and left wheel is only accomplished when the lateral width of all said upper suspension components, and there said attachment points of said manual lateral leaning suspension are set in a final width dimension, to establish a ratio between said pinions and said rack;

a lower control arm having said lower attachment point in a articulated fashion to the outer end of said right and left said lower suspension frame, maintaining a fixed distance between said right and left lower control;

a lower tubular joint having said lower attachment point in a in an articulated fashion to the outer end of said lower control arm maintaining a generally fixed distance between said right and left lower tubular joint;

an upper and lower tubular joint, each having a pivot mount for said spindle allowing independent steering from the lateral lean with said steering knuckle fixed mounted to the top of said spindle;

a steering knuckle having a fixed mount on the top of said spindle in a generally transverse axis from said lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said steering knuckle pointing to the back of the vehicle, allowing independent steering from a lateral lean;

a steering knuckle having a pivotal ball joint mount to said steering rod and pivotally mounted at the opposite inner end of said steering rod is said ball joint fixed mounted on a pitman arm;

a ball joint fixed mounted to a pitman arm having a transverse axis from said lateral movable cross member with the outer end of said ball joint pointing to the front of the vehicle;

a spindle with a vertical axis having a pivot mount to said upper and lower tubular joint;

an axle having a horizontal axis with a rotatable mount therethrough the center of said spindle;

an axle having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft passing therethrough the center of said spindle having a fixed mount to said universal joint, located on the outer end of said CV slide shaft;

a CV slide shaft universally mounted to said axle with a rotatable mount therethrough the center of said spindle in a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a dog bone shaft having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft with two slot pins fixed mounted on the outer end of said dog bone shaft for receiving said telescopic slot mount on the inner end of said CV slide shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

a dog bone shaft with said universal attachment point to a differential having a generally transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

a differential could have a limited pivot mount to said lower suspension frame to stay in line with a universal mount located on the inner end of said dog bone shaft, allowing full lateral lean of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

an internal combustion motor having a fixed mount to said passenger compartment to drive all four said wheels of this vehicle, using said motor drive sprocket with said roller drive chain;

a middle differential having a fixed mount to the bottom of said tilt shaft, generally centered from the front and back of the vehicle in a transverse axis from a said front and back differential;

a lower differential sprocket having a fixed mount to the center drive joint of said middle differential, with a roller chain relationship to said roller drive chain;

a front and back drive dog bone shaft having a universal attachment point to said front and back of a middle differential, with a generally same axis as said tilt shaft;

a CV drive slide shaft, having a passage on the inner end for receiving a telescopically mounted outer end of said drive dog bone shaft, with a generally same axis as said tilt shaft;

a front and back differential having a universal drive mount to the outer end of said CV drive slide shaft;

an end less number of these suspensions assemble together side by side with said dual axle, and each said unmanned suspension frame having a single said steering rod to maintain alignment between sets of said wheels;

a central chassis system elongated from front to back with said front fixed mount to said front lower suspension frame maintaining alignment for said tilt shaft and said front tilt shaft pinion;

a central chassis system elongated from front to back with said back fixed mount to said back lower suspension frame maintaining alignment for said tilt shaft and said back tilt shaft pinion;

a right and left pinion locking device manually activated in the form of said ratchet pawl hinged mounted on said suspension frame in a generally parallel axis to said spindle, each said right and left ratchet pawl can be forced engaged at the same time into both sides of said tilt shaft pinion cogs;

a electro magnetic switch in position to mechanically engage said ratchet pawl into a segment of said tilt shaft pinion cogs to lock the tilted vehicle in a lateral lean position, maintaining complete control of the vehicle in a turn with independent steering, using said car type steering wheel, or said motor cycle type handle bar;

a left strut assembly operatively attached on said left lower control arm with said left lower strut attachment point, and at the top of said suspension frame having said left upper strut attachment point just left of center of said cross member positioning means;

a right strut assembly operatively attached on said right lower control arm with said right lower strut attachment point, and at the top of said suspension frame having said right upper strut attachment point just right of center of said cross member positioning means;

17. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 16, wherein said a passenger compartment fixed mounted to said tilt shaft having said front and back tilt shaft pinion fixed mounted to each end of said tilt shaft, allowing a passenger to shift their body weight similar to a motor cycle or bicycle in a lateral leaning motion for manual lateral lean control of said right and left wheel and said passenger compartment;

18. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 16, wherein said a front and back middle pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said front and back tilt shaft pinion for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

19. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 16, wherein said a front and back top pinion rotatively mounted on said front and back suspension frame in a gear mesh relationship on the top of said front and back middle pinion for rotation about a transverse axis from said tilt shaft;

20. The four wheel drive vehicle of claim 16, wherein said a ratio between said tilt shaft pinion, said middle pinion, and said top pinion diameters can be calculated to maintain said right and left steering rod alignment while keeping a fixed distance between said right and left ball joint mounted on a pitman arm and said right and left steering knuckle, through out a fill right and left lateral lean;

21. A four wheel drive vehicle with mechanical or manual controlled wheel and passenger compartment lateral lean having an elongated passenger compartment on a tilt shaft from front to back, and independent steering, countering out the opposing tilt of a lower suspension frame, comprising:

a suspension frame and chassis that stays generally parallel to the ground its transversing;

a right upper counter strut king pin fixed mounted on the top of said right upper tubular joint;

a left lower counter strut king pin fixed mounted on the bottom of said suspension frame;

a right strut pivotally mounted from said right upper counter strut king pin to said left lower counter strut king pin;

a lateral movable cross member moves laterally to the left forcing said right strut to counter out the opposing tilt of said lower suspension frame;

a left upper counter strut king pin fixed mounted on the top of said left upper tubular joint;

a right lower counter strut king pin fixed mounted on the bottom of said suspension frame;

a left strut pivotally mounted from said left upper counter strut king pin to said right lower counter strut king pin;

a lateral movable cross member moves laterally to the right forcing said left strut to counter out the opposing tilt of said lower suspension frame;