US3570615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for controlling the application of motion of vehicle wheels
Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et Aux Énergies Alternatives
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Filing: 1969-04-02
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1989-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling the application of motion to vehicle wheels disposed at the vertices of a polygon which is located in one plane and which can be inscribed within a so-called base circle, each wheel being associated with means for individual driving about its rotational axis. Any two adjacent wheels are driven with a speed ratio corresponding to the ratio of the lengths of straight line segments cut on the chord of the base circle which joins the pivotal axis of the two wheels by the line bisecting the angle defined by the two directions which connect the center of rotation to the two axes in said plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Guilbaud
- 👤 Jouars Ponchartrain
- 👤 Jean Vertut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:27
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of rotation of the wheels of a vehicle in which the pivot vertical axes of the wheels intersect a base plane at the vertices of a base polygon which can be inscribed within a base circle, the base plane being parallel to a plane passing through the axes of rotation of the wheels and corresponding to a reference circle in a reference plane by a geometrical transformation, comprising means for causing the rotational axes of the wheels to continuously converge towards a common point which is the center of rotation of the vehicle and lies on the axis of rotation of the vehicle, the rotational axis of the vehicle intersecting the base plane at a base point which is related alternatively to a transformed point in the reference circle related thereto by the said geometrical transformation and to the conjugate of the transformed point with reference to the reference circle, individual means for each wheel for rotating it about its rotational axis, and means for controlling each individual rotating means for driving any two wheels with a speed ratio equal to the ratio of the lengths of straight-line segments on a chord of the base circle which joins the pivotal axes of the two wheels, formed by a line bisecting the angle subtended by the chord at the base point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of rotation of the wheels of a vehicle in which the pivot vertical axes of the wheels intersect a base plane at the vertices of a base polygon which can be inscribed within a base circle, the base plane being parallel to a plane passing through the axes of rotation of the wheels and corresponding to a reference circle in a reference plane by a geometrical transformation, comprising means for causing the rotational axes of the wheels to continuously converge towards a common point which is the center of rotation of the vehicle and lies on the axis of rotation of the vehicle, the rotational axis of the vehicle intersecting the base plane at a base point which is related alternatively to a transformed point in the reference circle related thereto by the said geometrical transformation and to the conjugate of the transformed point with reference to the reference circle, individual means for each wheel for rotating it about its rotational axis, and means for controlling each individual rotating means for driving any two wheels with a speed ratio equal to the ratio of the lengths of straight-line segments on a chord of the base circle which joins the pivotal axes of the two wheels, formed by a line bisecting the angle subtended by the chord at the base point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said control means including three bifurcated members which meet at said transformed point and two of said members connecting said transformed point to the two vertices of said reference circle corresponding to the pivot axes of said two wheels, the third of said members being held by a deformable parallelogram linkage in the position of the line bisecting the angle between said two bifurcated members, said third member moving along the chord which connects said vertices, a sliding contact of a linear potentiometer whose resistor extends parallel to said chord.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system in accordance with claim 2, each of said wheels being driven by an electric motor and the rotation of said motor being controlled by a voltage which is proportional to the voltage at the sliding contact of the potentiometer relative to a variable reference voltage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |