Wheel drive and suspension arrangement for transport vehicle

Claim 1

A WHEEL DRIVE AND SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT FOR A TRANSPORT VEHICLE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED MAIN FRAME; (B) A FRONT STEERING WHEEL ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID MAIN FRAME; (C) A FRONT CROSS MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID MAIN FRAME AND PROJECTING FROM THE SIDES THEREOF; (D) A REAR CROSS MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID MAIN FRAME AND PROJECTING FROM THE SIDES THEREOF; (E) A PAIR OF ELONGATED SIDE FRAMES; (F) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAMES ON SAID FRONT CROSS MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT A TRANSVERSE AXIS; (G) MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE FRAMES ON SAID FRONT CROSS MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID TRANSVERSE AXIS; (H) SPRINGS INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE TRAILING ENDS OF SAID SIDE FRAMES AND THE PROJECTING PORTIONS OF SAID REAR CROSS MEMBER; (I) GROUND ENGAGING WHEELS INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT THE TRAILING ENDS OF SAID SIDE FRAMES; (J) INDIVIDUAL ELECTRIC MOTORS MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID SIDE FRAMES; (K) MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID INDIVIDUAL MOTORS TO RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID GROUND ENGAGING WHEELS; (L) A BATTERY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN FRAME IN A FORE AND AFT LOCATION BETWEEN SAID FRONT CROSS MEMBER AND SAID REAR CROSS MEMBER; AND, (M) ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS EXTENDING FROM SAID BATTERY TO THE RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID INDIVIDUAL ELECTRIC MOTORS.