Tilting vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle including a chassis having a fore and aft axis, a differential gear having a differential carrier, the differential carrier being pivotably mounted relative to the chassis about said axis, the differential gear having two opposite half shafts, each half shaft being connected to a respective wheel hub, the vehicle further including two opposite tie rods, each said wheel hub having one end of a respective tie rod pivotably connected thereto, the other end of the respective tie rod being pivotably connected to the chassis, the differential carrier and the chassis having a control arm pivotably attached therebetween, whereby on cornering of the vehicle the control arm constrains the differential carrier to pivot relative to said chassis, in a predetermined manner, wherein the respective tie rods are pivotably mounted on a common upper collar, the upper collar being pivotably mounted on the chassis above the differential carrier, wherein two further tie rods are provided below the respective half shafts, said further tie rods being pivotably mounted on a common lower collar, the lower collar being pivotably mounted on the chassis underneath the differential carrier, and wherein each of the upper and lower collars have a radius arm extending therefrom on the same side, a link being pivotably connected between the radius arms.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tilting chassis vehicle has a differential gear driving opposed half shafts (16,18). Each half shaft is connected to a respective wheel hub. Pivoting tie rods (24,26) are provided between the chassis (12) and these wheel hubs, and a control arm (48) is provided between the chassis and the differential carrier to constrain movement thereof. The arrangement gives a novel tilting vehicle with shaft drive and low centre of gravity.
65 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A vehicle including a chassis having a fore and aft axis, a differential gear having a differential carrier, the differential carrier being pivotably mounted relative to the chassis about said axis, the differential gear having two opposite half shafts, each half shaft being connected to a respective wheel hub, the vehicle further including two opposite tie rods, each said wheel hub having one end of a respective tie rod pivotably connected thereto, the other end of the respective tie rod being pivotably connected to the chassis, the differential carrier and the chassis having a control arm pivotably attached therebetween, whereby on cornering of the vehicle the control arm constrains the differential carrier to pivot relative to said chassis, in a predetermined manner, wherein the respective tie rods are pivotably mounted on a common upper collar, the upper collar being pivotably mounted on the chassis above the differential carrier, wherein two further tie rods are provided below the respective half shafts, said further tie rods being pivotably mounted on a common lower collar, the lower collar being pivotably mounted on the chassis underneath the differential carrier, and wherein each of the upper and lower collars have a radius arm extending therefrom on the same side, a link being pivotably connected between the radius arms.
Specification