Articulated vehicle suspension system

Claim 2

An articulated suspension system adapted for use with the load bearing frame of a vehicle comprising: an articulated frame including two halves each adapted for pivotal connection with said load bearing frame, each of said halves comprising a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, said longitudinal and transverse portions of one half being pivotally connected with the transverse and longitudinal portions, respectively, of the second half by a pair of hinge members both pivoting generally about a common axis; and ground support members connected with said articulated frame.

Claim 3

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal and transverse portions of each half are rigidly connected.

Claim 4

An articulated suspension system adapted for use with the load bearing frame of a vehicle comprising: an articulated frame including first and second half-frame portions, each including a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion; said first half-frame portion including first pivot means pivotal generally about a first axis and connected with said load bearing said second half-frame portion including second pivot means pivotal generally about a second axis generally parallel to and in spaced relation with said first axis and connected with said load bearing frame; said first and second halves being pivotally connected by third pivot means pivotal generally about a third axis generally parallel to said first and second axes; and ground support members for said articulated frame.

Claim 5

An articulated suspension system adapted for use with the load bearing frame of a vehicle comprising: an articulated frame including first and second half-frame portions, each including a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion; said first half-frame portion including first pivot means pivotal generally about a first axis and connected with said load bearing said second half-frame portion including second pivot means pivotal generally about a second axis generally parallel to and in spaced relation with said first axis and connected with said load bearing frame; said first and second halves being pivotally connected by third pivot means pivotal generally about a third axis generally parallel to said first and second axes; and ground support members for said articulated frame.

Claim 6

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first pivot means comprises means pivoting about a fixed pivot and said second pivot means comprises means pivoting about a movable pivot.

Claim 7

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first pivot means comprises first and second pivot members pivotally mounted for movememt about said first axis and fixed to the midpoints of said longitudinal and transverse portions, respectively, of said first half; said second pivot means comprises third and fourth pivot members pivotally mounted to move generally about said second axis.

Claim 8

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said longitudinal and transverse portions of each half are rigidly connected; and said third pivot means comprises fifth and sixth pivot members pivotally connecting the longitudinal and transverse portions of said first half-frame portion to the transverse and longitudinal portions of said second half-frame portion respectively.

Claim 9

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first, second and third axes extend angularly to both said longitudinal and transverse members.

Claim 10

An articulated vehicle suspension for attachment to a load supporting frame comprising: an articulated frame including articulately connected first and second pivotally connected portions; first means for pivotally mounting said first portion on said load bearing frame for movement about a first axis; second means for pivotably mounting said second portion on said load bearing frame for movement generally about a second axis which is generally parallel to and in spaced relation with said first axis; and wheels for supporting said vehicle suspension.

Claim 11

An articulated vehicle suspension for attachment to a load supporting frame comprising: an articulated frame including articulately connected first and second pivotally connected portions; first means for pivotally mounting said first portion on said load bearing frame for movement about a first axis; second means for pivotably mounting said second portion on said load bearing frame for movement generally about a second axis which is generally parallel to and in spaced relation with said first axis; and wheels for supporting said vehicle suspension.

Claim 12

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second portions include: first and second articulately connected halves; said first means including first and second spaced-apart pivot means pivotalLy mounted for movement generally about a fixed pivot located on said first axis for pivoting said first half of said articulating frame relative to said load bearing frame; said second means including third and fourth spaced-apart pivot means pivotably mounted for movement generally about a movable pivot located on said second axis for pivoting said second half of said articulating frame relative to said load bearing frame; said third and fourth pivot means swinging toward and away from said first and second pivot members when said first and second halves are moved relative to each other.

Claim 13

An articulated suspension system as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said third and fourth movable pivot means comprises a shackle linkage including a first bracket having an enlarged aperture therein and adapted to depend from said load bearing frame, a second bracket on the articulating frame; a pin on the second bracket passing freely through said aperture and movable laterally therein; and a link having one end connected with said first bracket and the other end attached to said pin.

Claim 14

A vehicle comprising: a rectangular articulating frame having four corners and including a pair of longitudinally extending members and a pair of transversely extending members; said longitudinally and transversely extending members being rigidly connected at the corners of said frame along a first diagonal and pivotally connected at the corners along a second diagonal of said rectangular frame; a load bearing frame; means for pivotally connecting the midpoints of said longitudinally and transversely extending members with said load bearing frame; and support members at each of the four corners of said articulating frame for supporting said vehicle on the surface over which it is to travel.

Claim 15

A vehicle comprising: a rectangular articulating frame having four corners and including a pair of longitudinally extending members and a pair of transversely extending members; said longitudinally and transversely extending members being rigidly connected at the corners of said frame along a first diagonal and pivotally connected at the corners along a second diagonal of said rectangular frame; a load bearing frame; means for pivotally connecting the midpoints of said longitudinally and transversely extending members with said load bearing frame; and support members at each of the four corners of said articulating frame for supporting said vehicle on the surface over which it is to travel.

Claim 16

A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for pivotally connecting the midpoints includes means pivoting about an axis extending angularly to both said longitudinally and transversely extending members.

Claim 17

A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for pivotally connecting the midpoints includes first pivot means pivoting about a first fixed axis and second pivot means pivoting generally about a second movable axis.

Claim 18

A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for pivotally connecting the midpoints includes first and second pivot means movable about first and second apaced apart axes, said first and second axes extending parallel to and in spaced relation with said second diagonal.

Claim 19

An articulated suspension system for use with a load bearing vehicle frame comprising: a rectangular frame including first and second complementary frame portions; means for connecting said first and second portions to said load bearing frame; means pivotally connecting said first and second frame portions about a transverse axis coinciding with a diagonal of said rectangular frame; and means for supporting said rectangular frame for movement along a surface.

Claim 20

An articulated suspension system for use with a load bearing vehicle frame comprising: a rectangular frame including first and second complementary frame portions; means for connecting said first and second portions to said load bearing frame; means pivotally connecting said first and second frame portions about a transverse axis coinciding with a diagonal of said rectangular frame; and means for supporting said rectangular frame for movement along a surface.

Claim 21

An articulated suspension as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means connecting said first and second portions with said vehicle frame permits limited generally transverse movement of one of said longitudinal members and limited generally longitudinal movement of one said transverse members while maintaining said longitudinal members and transverse members in respective parallel relation.