Belted vehicle suspension system
First Claim
1. A suspension system for a vehicle having a longitudinal centerline, comprising:
- first and second wheel assemblies positioned on a first side of said centerline;
third and fourth wheel assemblies positioned on a second opposed side of said centerline;
a first flexible endless belt encircling said first and second wheel assemblies;
a second flexible endless belt encircling said third and fourth wheel assemblies;
an axle assembly having first and second end portions and a central portion and extending transverse to said centerline, said first end portion positioned intermediate said first and second wheel assemblies and said second end portion positioned intermediate said third and fourth wheel assemblies;
first and second arms pivotally connecting said first and second wheel assemblies respectively to said first end portion of said axle assembly;
third and fourth arms pivotally connecting said third and fourth wheel assemblies respectively to said second end portion of said axle assembly;
a first adjustable force inducing means connecting said first wheel assembly to said second wheel assembly;
a second adjustable force inducing means connecting said third wheel assembly to said fourth wheel assembly; and
means for directing a downwardly directed force onto said axle assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension system for a non-powered belted vehicle includes a pair of wheel assemblies positioned on each side of the vehicle, a flexible endless belt encircling each pair of wheel assemblies, and an axle assembly extending transverse to the wheel assemblies. The wheel assemblies are connected to the axle assembly by a plurality of pivotal arms and each pair of wheel assemblies are interconnected by a fluid actuated cylinder. Belted vehicles which utilize smooth wheels to frictionally engage the belt for driving and stopping the belt, require considerable tension between the wheels and the belt. High belt tension is desirable for driving and stopping but unnecessarily high belt tension is undesirable due to overstressing of vehicle components. The subject suspension system utilizes a variable load applied to the vehicle to increase the belt tension for efficient vehicle operation.
45 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A suspension system for a vehicle having a longitudinal centerline, comprising:
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first and second wheel assemblies positioned on a first side of said centerline; third and fourth wheel assemblies positioned on a second opposed side of said centerline; a first flexible endless belt encircling said first and second wheel assemblies; a second flexible endless belt encircling said third and fourth wheel assemblies; an axle assembly having first and second end portions and a central portion and extending transverse to said centerline, said first end portion positioned intermediate said first and second wheel assemblies and said second end portion positioned intermediate said third and fourth wheel assemblies; first and second arms pivotally connecting said first and second wheel assemblies respectively to said first end portion of said axle assembly; third and fourth arms pivotally connecting said third and fourth wheel assemblies respectively to said second end portion of said axle assembly; a first adjustable force inducing means connecting said first wheel assembly to said second wheel assembly; a second adjustable force inducing means connecting said third wheel assembly to said fourth wheel assembly; and means for directing a downwardly directed force onto said axle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
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first and second wheel assemblies positioned on a first side of said vehicle, and third and fourth wheel assemblies positioned on a second opposed side of said vehicle, each wheel assembly having a hub portion, first and second spaced apart wheels, and a shaft connecting the first and second wheels together; a first flexible non-metallic endless belt encircling the first and second wheel assemblies; a second flexible non-metallic endless belt encircling the third and fourth wheel assemblies; an axle connecting said first and second wheel assemblies to said third and fourth wheel assemblies; a plurality of pivot arms pivotally connecting said hub portions of said wheel assemblies to said axle; first and second fluid pressure assemblies connecting respectively said first wheel assembly to said second wheel assembly and said third wheel assembly to said fourth wheel assembly; a frame structure, including a load supporting platform positioned at a higher vertical elevation than said wheel assemblies; and a plurality of supporting brackets securing said frame structure to said axle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A suspension system for a vehicle having a longitudinal centerline, comprising:
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first and second wheel assemblies positioned on a first side of said centerline; third and fourth wheel assemblies positioned on a second opposed side of said centerline; a first flexible endless belt encircling said first and second wheel assemblies; a second flexible endless belt encircling said third and fourth wheel assemblies; an axle assembly having first and second end portions and a central portion and extending transverse to said centerline, said first end portion positioned intermediate said first and second wheel assemblies and said second end portion positioned intermediate said third and fourth wheel assemblies; first and second arms pivotally connecting said first and second wheel assemblies respectively to said first end portion of said axle assembly; third and fourth arms pivotally connecting said third and fourth wheel assemblies respectively to said second end portion of said axle assembly, each of said first, second, third, and fourth arms having a first end portion having first and second spaced apart forked journals encircling one of the first and second end portions of said axle assembly, said forked journals of said first and third arms being alternately interspersed respectively with the forked journals of said second and fourth arms; a first adjustable force inducing means connecting said first wheel assembly to said second wheel assembly; a second adjustable force inducing means connecting said third wheel assembly to said fourth wheel assembly; and means for directing a downwardly directed force onto said axle assembly.
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Specification