Vehicle control training device

• US 4,998,594 A
• Filed: 12/04/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John C. Orloski
• Original Assignee: John C. Orloski
• Inventors: Orloski, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US07/445,208
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 180/198, 180/209, 280/43, 280/704, 280/709, 280/86, 280/87.2, 280/702, 280/414.5, 280/43.23, 254/2, 254/2 C, 254/45, 105/215.2, 414/465, 414/589, 414/678
• US Class Current: 180/198
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/06 for carrying vehicles B60P3/12 takes precedence; caravans, camping, or like vehicles with vehicle-carrying means B60P3/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/20 with fluid-pressure lift
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A driver training apparatus for simulating skid conditions of a vehicle which includes a lifting frame supported by four caster wheels which underlies and is connected with the vehicle suspension system and is propelled by the vehicle. Under normal driving conditions, the caster wheels turn to follow the direction of movement of the vehicle steered by the driver. Under the control of an instructor, the frame of the apparatus can raise the forward or rearward pairs of the caster wheels simultaneously or individually to raise the forward or rearward pairs of wheels of the vehicle relative to the surface of a roadway to simulate a slick road or skidding condition. Under the control of the instructor, the pivoting axis of the caster wheels can be inclined with respect to the vertical to stabilize lateral or forward movement of the vehicle when partially supported by the driver training apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing the normal coefficient of gripping friction between the tires of a vehicle and the surface of a roadbed, comprising:

generally horizontal rectangular auxiliary frame means for underlying a vehicle frame normally supported by tire equipped wheels,

said auxiliary frame means including elongated side members transversely interconnected by end and intermediate cross braces,

a coextensive first sleeve journaled by the respective end cross brace and connected with said outrigger means, and,

fluid pressure operated means supported by said auxiliary frame and connected with said first sleeve for angular rotation of the latter and raising and lowering said outrigger means;

outrigger means including pairs of caster wheels disposed laterally of respective ends of said auxiliary frame means for horizontal pivoting movement about upright axes; and

,

manually operated control means for selectively raising and lowering said pairs of caster wheels by pairs or in unison relative to a vehicle frame and simultaneously tilting the caster wheel pivot axes by pairs relative to their normally vertical axis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said outrigger means includes:

an elongate axle adjacent and generally parallel with said first sleeve and extending at its respective end portions beyond the lateral limits of the respective end portions of a vehicle, and,

caster wheel means journaled by the respective end of said axle for angular rotation in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 in which the outrigger means further includes:

a second sleeve surrounding said axle medially its ends; and

, struts interconnecting said first and second sleeves.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further including:

an elongated stabilizer bar connected at its respective ends with respective ends of said axle in upward and forwardly spaced relation with respect to said axle and the adjacent end of a vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which the respective end portions of said axle are turned upwardly and laterally outward from the adjacent lateral limit of said vehicle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 and further including:

other pressure cylinder means extending transversely between and operatively connected with the respective auxiliary frame end cross brace and said axles independently of said first and second sleeves for angular rotation of said axle relative to said second sleeve.