Vehicles, Systems For Vehicles, And Methods For Vehicles All To Improve Cornering Capability

• US 20110215544A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Rhodig
• Original Assignee: Michael Rhodig
• Inventors: Rhodig, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.103
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/00 Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces B60G17/033 takes precedence ; levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045; steering deflectable wheels combined with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends B62D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/007 means for adjusting the wheel inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/02 combined with means for inwardly inclining vehicle body on bends
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/08 with steering devices acting on two or more wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/10 with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends

Abstract

A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary.

Claims

1. A vehicle for following a curve in a path on a way, the vehicle comprising:

a. a frame for supporting a driver;

b. a base that supports the frame and permits movement of the frame with respect to the base;

c. a plurality of vehicle supports that each contribute to supporting the base, each vehicle support biased from the base against the way and not from the frame against the way; and

d. a camber controller that adjusts a camber of at least one vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports in accordance with a position of the frame with respect to the base, movement toward the position being promoted by a shifting of the driver'"'"'s mass by the driver toward a center of curvature of the curve in the path.

2. A method performed by a vehicle following a curve in a path on a way, the method comprising:

supporting a driver with a frame of the vehicle;

supporting the frame with a base of the vehicle;

supporting the base with a plurality of vehicle supports that each contribute to supporting the base, each vehicle support biased from the base against the way and not from the frame against the way;

responding to the driver'"'"'s mass being shifted by the driver toward a center of curvature of the curve in the path by moving the frame with respect to the base toward a position; and

adjusting a camber of at least one vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports in accordance with the position of the frame with respect to the base.

3. A method performed by a land vehicle for improving traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising

a. a base having a central longitudinal axis that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;

b. a frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle;

c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel; and

d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;

the method comprising;

allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base; and

adjusting a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel in response to the motion of the frame;

wherein

motion of the frame reduces a first distance from the center of mass of the vehicle to the road and reduces a second distance from the center of mass of the vehicle to the center of curvature of the curve in the road; and

motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.

4. A method performed by a land vehicle for improving traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising

a. a base comprising a pivot, the base having a central longitudinal axis through the pivot that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;

b. a frame supported by the base via the pivot, the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle;

c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel; and

d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;

the method comprising;

allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base via the pivot; and

adjusting a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel in response to the motion of the frame;

wherein

motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the frame and a point of the longitudinal axis, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the frame, of a transverse force and a gravitational force; and

motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.

5. A land vehicle capable of improved traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising:

a. a base having a central longitudinal axis that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;

b. a frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the frame supported by the base;

c. a coupling that allows the frame to move with respect to the base;

d. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel; and

e. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;

wherein

f. motion of the frame adjusts a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel;

g. motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the driver and a center of mass of the frame, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the driver, of a transverse force and a gravitational force; and

h. motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.

6. A land vehicle capable of improved traction when following a curve in a road, the vehicle comprising:

a. a base comprising a pivot, the base having a central longitudinal axis through the pivot that generally coincides with a direction of travel of the vehicle on the road;

b. a frame supported by the base via the pivot, the frame for supporting a driver of the vehicle, the pivot allowing motion of the frame with respect to the base;

c. a left wheel having a first axis of rotation, the left wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the left of the longitudinal axis with a left independent suspension mechanism that biases the left wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the left wheel, a first dimension of the left mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the left wheel; and

d. a right wheel having a second axis of rotation, the right wheel mechanically coupled to the base on the right of the longitudinal axis with a right independent suspension mechanism that biases the right wheel against the road over a range of vertical motion of the right wheel, a second dimension of the right mechanism varying in response to the vertical motion of the right wheel;

wherein

e. motion of the frame adjusts a camber of the left wheel and a camber of the right wheel;

f. motion of the frame tends to make parallel a line, that includes a center of mass of the frame and a point of the longitudinal axis, with a direction of a vector sum, at the center of mass of the frame, of a transverse force and a gravitational force; and

g. motion of the frame does not reduce the first dimension or the second dimension.