Three wheeled vehicle with all wheel steering

• US 5,431,243 A
• Filed: 08/17/1993
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald C. Richards
• Original Assignee: Donald C. Richards
• Inventors: Richards, Donald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US08/107,075
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 280/103, 280/98, 280/92, 280/691, 280/696, 180/215, 180/216, 180/210
• US Class Current: 180/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4232 Sliding mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/01 the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide camber maintaining means B60G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/183 specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts tubular skeleton B62D23/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 31/003 compact cars, e.g. city cars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/065 with single rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/027 Motorcycles with three wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/05 characterised by a single rear wheel

Abstract

A three wheeled vehicles has two front wheels and one rear wheel. The front wheels are driven. Both front and rear wheels are steered. A novel steering linkage causes the vehicle to steer with directionally conventional response to a steering input, in that the direction of turning a steering wheel or bar is also the direction in which the vehicle turns. A rear axle assembly provides uncomplicated construction accommodating both the steering and a spring and shock absorber type suspension. In a first embodiment, bodywork covers the front of the vehicle, spanning both front wheels. In a second embodiment, bodywork is extended to envelope substantially the entire vehicle.

Claims

1. A three wheeled vehicle, there being a front axle and a rear axle mounted thereon, two front wheels disposed upon said front axle and one rear wheel disposed upon said rear axle, said vehicle including at least one passenger seat mounted thereon, power means mounted within said vehicle, transmission means operably connected to said power means and to said front wheels, thereby driving said front wheels, suspension means mounted to said vehicle and connecting said front wheels and said rear wheel thereto, and steering means mounted to said vehicle and to each of said wheels, said steering means controlling all of said wheels,

said steering means causing directional response of said vehicle to a steering input wherein clockwise rotation of a steering shaft, as viewed by a driver, causes said vehicle to steer to a right side direction, and counterclockwise rotation of said steering shaft, as viewed by a driver, causes said vehicle to steer to a left side direction,

wherein said two front wheels are driven by said power means through said transmission means, and

at least one of said wheels further having suspension means including spring means and shock absorbing means disposed within inner and outer concentric members,

said inner and outer concentric members being mechanically linked one to another whereby said inner and outer concentric members rotate to the same degree while permitting said inner concentric member to be axially displaced while said outer concentric member is axially immobilized, and

whereby said at least one of said wheels is enabled to be vertically displaced relative to said three wheeled vehicle while maintaining an attitude;

determined by a steering input and simultaneously maintaining a portion of the weight of said three wheeled vehicle supported thereon.

2. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said front wheels.

3. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said rear wheel.

4. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 1, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning at least both of said two front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to at least behind said front wheels.

5. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 4, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said rear wheel.

6. A three wheeled vehicle, there being a front axle and a rear axle mounted thereon, two front wheels disposed upon said front axle and one rear wheel disposed upon said rear axle, said vehicle including at least one passenger seat mounted thereon, power means mounted within said vehicle, transmission means operably connected to said power means and to said front wheels, thereby driving said front wheels, suspension means mounted to said vehicle and connecting said front wheels and said rear wheel thereto, and steering means mounted to said vehicle and to each of said wheels, said steering means controlling all of said wheels,

said steering means causing directional response of said vehicle to a steering input wherein clockwise rotation of a steering shaft, as viewed by a driver, causes said vehicle to steer to a right side direction, and counterclockwise rotation of said steering shaft, as viewed by a driver, causes said vehicle to steer to a left side direction,

wherein said two front wheels are driven by said power means through said transmission means, and

said one rear wheel further having suspension means including spring means and shock absorbing means disposed within inner and outer concentric members,

said inner and outer concentric members being mechanically linked one to another whereby said inner and outer concentric members rotate to the same degree while permitting said inner concentric member to be axially displaced while said outer concentric member is axially immobilized, and

whereby said one rear wheel is enabled to be vertically displaced relative to said three wheeled vehicle while maintaining an attitude determined by a steering input and simultaneously maintaining a portion of the weight of said three wheeled vehicle supported thereon.

7. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 6, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said front wheels.

8. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 6, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said rear wheel.

9. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 6, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning at least both of said two front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to at least behind said front wheels.

10. The three wheeled vehicle according to claim 9, further having bodywork covering, partially enclosing, and spanning both of said front wheels, and extending from a front of said vehicle to behind said rear wheel.