Central multi directional transmission system

• US 7,784,812 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francisco Javier Lares
• Original Assignee: Francisco Javier Lares
• Inventors: Lares, Francisco Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeagley; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/439,799
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 180/14.4, 180/14.6, 180/14.7
• US Class Current: 280/474
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/011 Modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 12/00 Steering specially adapted for vehicles operating in tandem or having pivotally connected frames steering endless tracks or the like B62D11/00; steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/14 of adjustable length or width
• 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: B62D 53/021 comprising a universal coupling joint
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/00 Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for steering positon indicators B62D15/02

Abstract

A dual chassis with multi-directional transmission wherein a front chassis and a rear chassis can be united to function as a traditional chassis or separated when traveling over uneven terrain. A multi-directional transmission serves to increase the distance between the two chassis and enable them to travel at differing vertical and horizontal angles.

Claims

1. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission, comprising:

a) a rear chassis frame assembly;

b) a front chassis frame assembly;

c) a pair of hydraulically retractable central bars to selectively connect and disconnect said front chassis and said rear chassis to form a unified, stable rigid chassis to a independently movable, yet coupled multi-directional front chassis and rear chassis;

wherein said rear chassis frame assembly comprises side frame members having a means for securing said central bars to said rear chassis frame assembly, wherein said means for securing said central bars is a pair of pressure locks;

d) a central multi-directional mechanism connecting a medial portion of said front chassis to a medial portion of said rear chassis to selectively allow independent horizontal and vertical movement of said front and rear chassis for traversing uneven terrain when said front chassis and rear chassis are disconnected from each other by said hydraulically retractable central bars;

e) a pair of fixed wheels disposed on a rear portion of said rear chassis and a pair of wheels disposed on a front portion of said front chassis; and

f) means for increasing the distance between said front chassis and said rear chassis during dual chassis operation.

2. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 1, wherein said rear chassis frame assembly comprises:

a) a pair of spaced-apart parallel said side frame members, each having said means for securing said central bars thereto disposed at the forward end thereof;

b) a first bridge communicating between the forward portions of said side frame members;

c) a rear bridge communicating between the rear portions of said side frame members; and

d) a secondary bridge communicating between said side frame members and disposed in a region between said first bridge and said rear bridge.

3. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission in claim 2, wherein said front chassis frame assembly comprises:

a) a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart side frame members having channels disposed on tips said side frame members of said front chassis frame assembly thereof to house said central bars;

b) a front bridge communicating between a front portion of said side frame members; and

c) a rear bridge communicating between a rear portion of said side frame members.

4. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 3, wherein said multi-directional transmission comprises:

a) a central hydraulic piston having a movable portion and a stable end thereof fastened to said secondary bridge of said rear chassis;

b) a hexagonal bar having a distal end extending from the movable portion of said piston;

c) said central multi-directional mechanism disposed on the distal end of said hexagonal bar;

d) a main bar extending from said central multi-directional mechanism opposite said hexagonal bar and passing through said rear bridge of said front chassis;

e) a pair of bumps disposed on said main bar adjacent said rear bridge of said front chassis opposite said central multi-directional mechanism to act as stops to restrict rotation of said main bar and the related central multi-directional mechanism to a first horizontal position to a 90 degree rotation to a second vertical position and back again;

f) a central disc brake disposed on said main bar adjacent said bumps;

g) a clutch gear disposed on said main bar adjacent said central disc brake;

h) a central gear disposed on said main bar adjacent said clutch gear; and

i) a pair of opposing shock absorbers originating at arm supports of said central gear and terminating at their respective said side frame members.

5. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 4, wherein multi-directional transmission further comprises a geared turning auxiliary mechanism transitionally disposed between the distal end of said movable portion of said central hydraulic piston and said hexagonal bar, said turning auxiliary mechanism being driven by a worm drive to extend and rotate said hexagonal bar and the associated central multi-directional mechanism from said first position to said second position and back to said first position.

6. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 5, further including a bearing guide surrounding said hexagonal bar and disposed within said first bridge of said rear chassis.

7. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 4, further comprising a chassis connecting means including providing said central hydraulic piston in a fully retracted position to place said central multi-directional mechanism in the horizontal first position, said retractable wheels fully retracted into their respective chassis, said disc brake applied fully in the braking position, and both said central bars fully extended from said rear chassis and secured to said pressure locks on said front chassis thereby forming a stable, unified chassis.

8. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission comprising:

a) a rear chassis frame assembly;

b) a front chassis frame assembly;

c) a central multi-directional mechanism connecting a medial portion of said front chassis to a medial portion of said rear chassis to selectively allow for the independent horizontal and vertical movement of said front and rear chassis when traversing uneven terrain;

d) a pair of hydraulically retractable central bars to selectively connect said front chassis to said rear chassis to form a unified, stable rigid chassis;

e) a pair of fixed wheels disposed on a rear portion of said rear chassis and a pair of wheels disposed on a front portion of said front chassis;

f) a pair of selectively retractable wheels disposed on a front portion of said rear chassis and a pair of selectively retractable wheels disposed on a rear portion of said front of said front chassis; and

g) means for increasing the distance between said front chassis and said rear chassis during dual chassis operation.

9. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 8, wherein said rear chassis frame assembly comprises:

a) a pair of spaced-apart parallel side frames members, each having means for securing said central bars thereto disposed at the forward end thereof;

b) a first bridge communicating between the forward portions of said side frame members;

c) a rear bridge communicating between the rear portions of said side frame members; and

d) a secondary bridge communicating between said side frame members and disposed in a region between said first bridge and said rear bridge.

10. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission in claim 9, wherein said front chassis frame assembly comprises:

a) a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart side frame members having channels disposed on tips said side frame members thereof to house said central bars;

b) a front bridge communicating between a front portion of said side frame members; and

c) a rear bridge communicating between a rear portion of said side frame members.

11. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 10, wherein said central multi-directional transmission comprises:

a) a central hydraulic piston having a movable portion and a stable end thereof fastened to said secondary bridge of said rear chassis;

b) a hexagonal bar having a distal end extending from the movable portion of said piston;

c) said central multi-directional mechanism disposed on the distal end of said hexagonal bar;

d) a main bar extending from said central multi-directional mechanism opposite said hexagonal bar and passing through said rear bridge of said front chassis;

e) a pair of bumps disposed on said main bar adjacent said rear bridge of said front chassis opposite said central multi-directional mechanism to act as stops to restrict rotation of said main bar and the related central multi-directional mechanism to a first horizontal position to a 90 degree rotation to a second vertical position and back again;

f) a central disc brake disposed on said main bar adjacent said bumps;

g) a clutch gear disposed on said main bar adjacent said central disc brake;

h) a central gear disposed on said main bar adjacent said clutch gear; and

i) a pair of opposing shock absorbers originating at arm supports of said central gear and terminating at their respective said side frame members.

12. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 11, wherein said central multi-directional transmission further comprises a geared turning auxiliary mechanism transitionally disposed between the distal end of said movable portion of said central hydraulic piston and said hexagonal bar, said turning auxiliary mechanism being driven by a worm drive to extend and rotate said hexagonal bar and the associated central multi-directional mechanism from said first position to said second position and back to said first position.

13. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 12, further including a bearing guide surrounding said hexagonal bar and disposed within said first bridge of said rear chassis.

14. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for securing said central bars is a pair of pressure locks.

15. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 11, wherein said arm supports are designated as a main arm and a second arm and said main arm is mounted on the end of said main bar and has a vertical initial position of 90°

according to said second arm based on an initial position of said second arm with the vehicle leveled at 0°

of torsion, including the 90°

turn of said central multi dimensional mechanism, 50°

of each side and the 25°

of torsion, these degrees of torsion are included in the 50°

torsion on each side, the 50°

or more will accrue when lifting or bringing down one wheel or a vehicles corner, leaving the other half chassis in a horizontal position or 0°

of torsion.

16. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 11, wherein said central multi-directional mechanism further comprises a gear assembly including a main central gear, a main worm screw, a union, a pair of yokes and a pair of cooperating cardan joints.

17. A dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission as recited in claim 14, further comprising a chassis connecting means including providing said central hydraulic piston in a fully retracted position to place said central multi-directional mechanism in the horizontal first position, said retractable wheels fully retracted into their respective chassis, said disc brake applied fully in the braking position, and both said central bars fully extended from said rear chassis and secured to said pressure locks on said front chassis thereby forming a stable, unified chassis.

18. A method for using a dual chassis frame with multi-directional transmission including a rear chassis frame assembly, a front chassis frame assembly, a central multi-directional mechanism comprising a disk brake and connecting a medial portion of said front chassis to a medial portion of said rear chassis to selectively allow for the independent horizontal and vertical movement of said front and rear chassis when traversing uneven terrain, a pair of hydraulically retractable central bars and pressure locks to selectively connect said front chassis to said rear chassis to form a unified, stable rigid chassis and selectively disconnect said front chassis from said rear chassis to allow independent horizontal and vertical movement of said front and rear chassis, a pair of fixed wheels disposed on a rear portion of said rear chassis and a pair of wheels disposed on a front portion of said front chassis, a pair of selectively retractable wheels disposed on a front portion of said rear chassis and a pair of selectively retractable wheels disposed on a rear portion of said front of said front chassis, and central hydraulic piston with a movable portion comprising a hexagonal bar for increasing the distance between said front chassis and said rear chassis during dual chassis operation, wherein said dual chassis frame is placed into dual chassis mode by the following functions:

a) releasing said pressure locks;

b) extending said retractable wheels of said front chassis and said rear chassis;

c) retracting said central bars;

d) releasing said disc brake; and

e) extending said central hydraulic piston thereby effectively extending said hexagonal bar and said central multi-directional mechanism to increase the distance between said front chassis and said rear chassis.