Patent US3638581A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3638581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible rail-highway vehicle tilt control
Assignee: Aresco Trak Chief Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1970-03-04
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1990-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Tilt control means for a rail vehicle effective in making the vehicle chassis tilt upwardly in the direction of displacement while negotiating a curve so that the vehicle leans into the curve, by utilizing pivoted control arms between the chassis and the vehicle wheels, the control arms diverging downwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 William James Yard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60F; B60F1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
Tilt control means for a convertible rail-highway vehicle which has a chassis and rail-engaging wheels carried on an axle journaled in bearings, comprising a subframe, means pivotally coupling the subframe to the chassis, and further means coupling the subframe to the wheel axle bearings, one of said means comprising at least one pair of transversely spaced symmetrical tilt control arms having upper and lower ends, pIvot means at respective said ends, the axes of the pivot means all being parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the distance between said pivot means at said lower ends exceeding the distance between said pivot means at said upper ends whereby the tilt control arms diverge downwardly so that upon sideways displacement, the chassis tilts transversely upwardly in the direction of displacement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
Tilt control means for a convertible rail-highway vehicle which has a chassis and rail-engaging wheels carried on an axle journaled in bearings, comprising a subframe, means pivotally coupling the subframe to the chassis, and further means coupling the subframe to the wheel axle bearings, one of said means comprising at least one pair of transversely spaced symmetrical tilt control arms having upper and lower ends, pIvot means at respective said ends, the axes of the pivot means all being parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the distance between said pivot means at said lower ends exceeding the distance between said pivot means at said upper ends whereby the tilt control arms diverge downwardly so that upon sideways displacement, the chassis tilts transversely upwardly in the direction of displacement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Tilt control means according to claim 1, further comprising a sprung frame containing said wheel axle bearings, said further means coupling the subframe to the wheel axle bearings comprising a pair of compression springs interposed between the subframe and the sprung frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
Tilt control means according to claim 1, further comprising a sprung frame containing said wheel axle bearings, said further means coupling the subframe to the wheel axle bearings comprising a pair of compression springs interposed between the subframe and the sprung frame, a chassis frame extension securable to the chassis of the vehicle, a retractable frame, and hydraulic lifting means on the chassis frame extension coupled to the retractable frame, the pivot means at the upper ends of said tilt control arms being pivoted to the retractable frame, and the pivot means at their lower ends being pivoted to the subframe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of forwardly projecting arms, further pivot means coupling the rear ends of said projecting arms to the chassis frame and securing means securing their front ends to the retractable frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, wherein the hydraulic lifting means are constituted by at least one hydraulic cylinder trunnion mounted between the retractable frame and the chassis frame extension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle is provided with a front axle having pneumatic tired road wheels thereon, further comprising a cable secured at one end to the forwardly projecting arms and at the other end being securable to said front axle, and a pulley carried on the chassis frame extension, the cable passing over the pulley, the length of the cable being such that it limits downward movement of the retractable frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, wherein the subframe is provided with side members each having inwardly facing slipper guides controlling the sprung frame for relative vertical movement upon the flexure of each respective spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, wherein the retractable frame includes retaining arms which embrace the fore and aft faces of the subframe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, further comprising resilient buffers positioned between the sides of the retractable frame and respective sides of the subframe, the buffers being effective in limiting sideways movement of the retractable frame with respect to the subframe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Tilt control means according to claim 3, further comprising rubber buffer pads projecting outwardly from the retractable frame and engaging complementary cups on the inner faces of the side members of the subframe thereby being effective i5 limiting sideways movement of the retractable frame with respect to the side frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |