Modular metamorphic vehicle

• US 8,376,077 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Venton-Walters, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/377,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110114409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 180/209, 180/252, 180/253, 180 22- 24, 180/24.02, 180/24.07, 180/340, 180/9.48, 180/9.5, 180/9.52, 180/9.54, 180/41, 180/8.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 280/43, 280/43.15, 280/43.16, 280/43.17, 280/6.15, 280 6154- 6157
• US Class Current: 180/209
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/16 having dynamic absorbers as main damping means, i.e. spring-mass system vibrating out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/136 Twist-beam type arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/1424 Torsional
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/25 Dynamic damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/0262 Multi-axle trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/40 Variable track or wheelbase vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/14 the arm being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0678 Tractors of variable track width or wheel base for vehicles in general B60B23/12 and B60B35/10
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/048 Vehicles having separate armoured compartments, e.g. modular armoured vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle (10) comprising a vehicle body, a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body, and a plurality of wheels (16) coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle. The suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels and the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting (12) and a wide wheel track width setting (14) by pivoting a suspension link (18) about a vertical axis.

Claims

1. A suspension system for a vehicle having a body, comprising:

a plurality of wheels coupled to the vehicle and comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels positionable on opposite sides of the vehicle wherein at least one wheel is driven by a motor;

a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels;

wherein the changeable wheel track width comprises at least a narrow wheel track width setting and a wide wheel track width setting; and

wherein the wheel track width is changeable between the narrow wheel track width setting and the wide wheel track width setting by pivoting a suspension link about a vertical axis;

a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;

a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;

at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;

wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of the vehicle; and

wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel; and

a strut having first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the narrow wheel track width setting is configured so that the wheels are able to travel a first suspended vertical distance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wide wheel track width setting is configured so that the wheels extend to at least partially clear the vehicle body to permit the wheels to travel a second suspended vertical distance.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second suspended vertical distance is greater than the first suspended vertical distance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension link is at least one of a trailing and leading suspension arm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension link is configured to attach to the vehicle by pivoting about an axis which moves with suspension vertical displacement so that spurious vertical force resultant from wheel tractive force and angular arm position relative to the ground plane is minimized.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the suspension link is configured to be constrained in motion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the changeable wheel track width is held in the narrow wheel track width setting and the wide wheel track width setting by links driven by actuators.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the changeable wheel track width is held in the narrow wheel track width setting and the wide wheel track width setting by actuators moving the links directly, and wherein mechanical lock mechanisms are used to lock the links in the narrow wheel track width setting and the wide wheel track width setting.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the force utilized to change wheel track width is reduced by a combined use of a wheel steering mechanism and forward motion of the vehicle, so that during a track widening change the wheel steering mechanism aligns the wheels outward and during a track narrowing change the wheel steering mechanism aligns the wheels inward.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the strut is configured as a constant force strut.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembly include a planetary reduction drive coupled to the wheel.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each wheel is independently steerable.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension arm includes an angled portion and an unangled portion.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

a suspension system coupled to the vehicle body;

a plurality of wheels coupled to the suspension system comprising at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the at least one pair of wheels being located on opposite sides of the vehicle wherein at least one wheel is driven by a motor;

wherein the suspension system comprises a changeable wheel track width for the at least one pair of wheels; and

wherein the wheel track width is changeable between a narrow wheel track width setting and a wide wheel track width setting by pivoting a suspension link about a vertical axis;

a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;

a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;

at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;

wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of the vehicle; and

wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel; and

a strut having a first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle body is configured to be lowered between the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle when the wheels are in the wide track width setting.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the strut is configured as a constant force strut.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the assembly includes a planetary reduction drive coupled to the wheel.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each wheel is independently steerable.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the suspension arm includes an angled portion and an unangled portion.

21. A system for correcting vertical forces in vehicle suspensions, comprising:

a suspension arm comprising a first end and a second end;

a wheel attached at the first end of the arm by an assembly;

at least two links each comprising a first and second end having pivotable bearings at each end, the second ends of the at least two links coupled to the second end of the suspension arm;

wherein the first ends of the at least two links are configured to couple to a sprung mass of a vehicle; and

wherein a locus of a center of the wheels is constrained to a substantially vertical linear path over a range of suspension travel; and

a strut having first end coupled to the suspension arm and a second end coupled to one of the links.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the assembly comprises a rotatable axle shaft.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the assembly comprises a bearing assembly.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the strut is configured as a constant force strut.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the assembly includes a planetary reduction drive coupled to the wheel.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein each wheel is independently steerable.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the suspension arm includes an angled portion and an unangled portion.