All-terrain vehicle

• US 4,966,242 A
• Filed: 08/22/1988
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Les Entreprises Bernard Baillargeon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Les Entreprises Bernard Baillargeon Incorporated
• Inventors: Baillargeon, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): HILL, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US07/234,573
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.44, 180/9.46, 180/9.1, 180/242, 305/35 EB, 305/44, 280/400, 280/421
• US Class Current: 180/9.44
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/021 comprising a universal coupling joint
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/0655 Articulated endless track vehicles steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00; articulated buses B62D47/025; tractor-trailer combinations or road trains comprising a uni-axle unit and a uni-axle trailer B62D53/02

Abstract

There is disclosed an all-terrain vehicle having a front and a rear body frame connected by an articulated joint for allowing relative lateral oscillation of the frames about an oscillation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front body frame and located above both frames. The joint simultaneously allows for relative pivoting movement of the frames about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the oscillation axis. The vehicle is driven by four pressure-fluid operated motor assemblies of which the motor output shafts are coaxial two-by-two and are mounted to extend laterally outwardly of the frames and on which shafts are operatively mounted endless track assemblies for winter use, particularly, or pneumatic tires. The motors are fed in pressure-fluid by piping connected to pumps actuated by an engine mounted on the front body frame. At least that part of the piping that traverses the body frames, at the articulated joint, is flexible.

Claims

1. An all-terrain vehicle comprising:

a front vehicle body including a generally flat body frame having a longitudinal axis;

a rear vehicle body including a generally flat body frame having a longitudinal axis;

an articulated joint connecting said body frames together for allowing relative lateral oscillation of said frames about a roll axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of one of said body frames, said roll axis being located above both of said frames;

said joint further allowing pivotal movement of said frames about a steer axis perpendicular to said roll axis;

said articulated joint comprising;

(1) a first articulation member and means mounting said first member on one of said body frames for relative oscillation of said first member and of said one of said body frames about said roll axis;

(2) a second articulation member solid with the other of said body frames; and

(3) means joining said two articulation members together, said means being constructed to allow said relative oscillation and said pivotal movement of said body frames;

four motor assemblies each including a pressure-fluid operated motor having an output shaft;

means mounting two of said motor assemblies on said front body frame with the output shafts thereof being coaxial and extending laterally outwardly of said front body frame;

means mounting the remaining two motor assemblies on said rear body frame with the output shafts thereof being coaxial and extending laterally outwardly of said rear body frame;

pressure fluid generating means on one of said body frames, said generating means including fluid piping operatively connected to said motors to supply pressure fluid thereto for rotating said shafts;

wherein a portion of said piping extends between said body frames and is flexible for easing said relative lateral oscillation and said pivotal movement of said body frames; and

four ground-engageable traction means, each connected to one of said output shafts for propelling said vehicle over the ground.

2. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said articulation members are essentially flat plates and said joining means comprise:

a pair of top vertically spaced parallel ears and a pair of bottom vertical spaced parallel ears projecting perpendicularly from one of said flat plates toward the other plate;

a top bracket and a bottom bracket projecting perpendicularly from the other of said plates toward said one of said plates and being respectively received between said pairs of ears, and

pivot pin means including a pair of pins extending perpendicularly of and through said ears and brackets for allowing relative pivoting movement of said front and rear body frames.

3. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a pair of jacks, one on each side of said steer axis, for the lateral selective adjustment of said body frames, said jacks being connected at the ends thereof respectively to one of said flat plates and to one of said body frames facing said one of said flat plates, constructed to allow relative pivotal movement of said body frames.

4. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first articulation member is mounted for oscillation on the rear end of said front body frame and said second articulation member is secured to the front end of said rear body member.

5. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressure fluid generating means are mounted on said front body frame.

6. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said motor assemblies are hydraulic motor assemblies.

7. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground-engaging traction means are endless-track assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising:

an endless traction belt and a sprocket wheel driving said belt into rotation, said sprocket wheel being operatively connected to the output shaft of one of said motor assemblies;

an elongated idler-wheel bar mounted, intermediate the ends thereof, on the mounting means for said one of said motor assemblies for rocking motion of said bar about a rock axis parallel to the rotation axis of said output shaft, and

idle wheels mounted at the ends of said rocking bar for free rotation and for operative contact with said traction belt.

8. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rock axis of said idler-wheel bar is located beneath the rotation axis of said output shaft.

9. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein said motor assemblies are hydraulic motor assemblies.

10. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said articulation members are essentially flat plates and said joining means comprise:

a pair of top vertically spaced parallel ears and a pair of bottom vertical spaced parallel ears projecting perpendicularly from one of said flat plates toward the other plate;

a top bracket and a bottom bracket projecting perpendicularly from the other of said plates toward said one of said plates and being respectively received between said pairs of ears, and

pivot pin means including a pair of pins extending perpendicularly of and through said ears and brackets for allowing relative pivoting movement of said body frames of said front and rear vehicle bodies, respectively.

11. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground-engaging means are pneumatic tire means operatively connected to the output shafts of said motor assemblies.

12. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein said front body frame has a rear end and said rear body frame has a front end, said articulation joint being provided between said ends and comprising:

a first articulation member and means mounting said first member on one of said body frame ends for oscillation thereof about said oscillation axis;

a second articulation member solid with the other of said body frame ends, and

means joining said two articulation members together for allowing said relative lateral oscillation and relative pivoting movement of said body frames.

13. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein said articulation members are essentially flat plates and said joining means comprise:

a pair of top vertically spaced parallel ears and a pair of bottom vertical spaced parallel ears projecting perpendicularly from one of said flat plates toward the other plate;

a top bracket and a bottom bracket projecting perpendicularly from the other of said plates toward said one of said plates and being respectively received between said pairs of ears, and

pivot pin means including a pair of pins extending perpendicularly of and through said ears and brackets for allowing said relative pivoting movement of said body frame.

14. An all-terrain vehicle, comprising:

a front and a rear body frame, each having a longitudinal axis;

an articulated joint connecting said body frames together and constructed for allowing relative lateral oscillation of said frames, about an oscillation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of one of said body frames and located above both of said frames, and for allowing relative pivoting movement of said frames about a pivot axis perpendicular to said oscillation axis;

four motor assemblies each including a pressure-fluid operated motor having an output shaft;

means mounting two of said motor assemblies on said front body frame with the output shafts thereof being coaxial and extending laterally outwardly of said front body frame;

means mounting the remaining two motor assemblies on said rear body frame with the output shafts thereof being coaxial and extending laterally outwardly of said rear body frame;

pressure fluid generating means on one of said body frames, said generating means including fluid piping operatively connected to said motors to supply pressure fluid thereto for rotating said shafts;

wherein a portion of said piping extends between said body frames and is flexible for easing said relative lateral oscillation and said pivotal movement of said body frames;

four ground-engageable traction means, each connected to one of said output shafts for propelling said vehicle over the ground;

wherein said ground-engaging traction means are endless-track assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising;

an endless traction belt and a sprocket wheel driving said belt into rotation, said sprocket wheel being operatively connected to the output shaft of one of said motor assemblies;

an elongated idler-wheel bar mounted, intermediate the ends thereof, on the mounting means for said one of said motor assemblies for rocking motion of said bar about a rock axis parallel to the rotation axis of said output shaft, and

idle wheels mounted at the ends of said rocking bar for free rotation and for operative contact with said traction belt;

wherein said bar is hollowed out at one end thereof, and said vehicle further comprises;

a rod telescopically received in said one end of said bar and means for telescoping said rod in said bar;

an elongated idler-wheel support and means mounting said support on said rod for swinging motion of said support about a swing axis parallel to said rock axis of said idler-wheel bar, and wherein

two of said idler-wheels are mounted for free rotation on said support, one on each side of said swing axis.

15. An all-terrain vehicle as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a block and screw means for selectively positioning said block on said rocking bar, at the other end and lengthwise thereof, and

a further idler wheel mounted on said block for free rotation about an axis parallel to said rock axis of said idler wheel rocking bar.