US3656572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicles with incidence-angle driving wheels
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-04
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1990-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle comprising steering wheels, driving wheels distinct therefrom and supporting most of the total weight of the vehicle, and means for swivelling said driving wheels through equal angles to either side of their positions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said means being controlled by a servomechanism comprising a transverse acceleration sensor. The vehicle includes an axle carrying the driving wheels and mounted for pivotal motion in relation to the chassis about an axis lying in the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the chassis and passing through a transmission joint, the pivotal motion of said axle being controlled by the said servomechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Ernest Mercier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:51
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/02; B62D61/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A vehicle having a longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry and a chassis having front and rear ends, at least one steering wheel mounted on said chassis, at least one transverse driving axle supporting a driving wheel on each of its two ends and mounted for pivotal motion in relation to said chassis about an axis lying in said longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry, driving means mounted on said chassis, a transmission formed by a substantially longitudinal portion connected to said driving means and comprising at least one universal joint and by two lateral portions interconnected to said substantially longitudinal portion and said two driving wheels respectively, said axis passing through said universal joint, means for controlling said pivotal motion of the axle positioned between said axle and said chassis, and a servomechanism comprising transverse acceleration sensing means connected to said means for controlling pivotal motion of the axle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A vehicle having a longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry and a chassis having front and rear ends, at least one steering wheel mounted on said chassis, at least one transverse driving axle supporting a driving wheel on each of its two ends and mounted for pivotal motion in relation to said chassis about an axis lying in said longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry, driving means mounted on said chassis, a transmission formed by a substantially longitudinal portion connected to said driving means and comprising at least one universal joint and by two lateral portions interconnected to said substantially longitudinal portion and said two driving wheels respectively, said axis passing through said universal joint, means for controlling said pivotal motion of the axle positioned between said axle and said chassis, and a servomechanism comprising transverse acceleration sensing means connected to said means for controlling pivotal motion of the axle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said axis is inclined at an angle to said chassis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal motion control means are formed by a double-acting jack connected between said axle and said chassis and activated by said servomechanism, means for restoring the axle into its neutral position being connected between said axle and said chassis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said two driving wheels are carried by two trailing arms which are pivotally mounted on said transverse axle at said two ends thereof respectively, for pivotal motion about the axis thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A vehicle according to claim 4, comprising two transverse aligned torsion bars parallel to the axis of said transverse axle and each having an inboard end and an outboard end, said inboard ends of said torsion bars being positioned facing each other and being interconnected by a first damper reacting against said axle, and said outboard ends of said torsion bars being connected to said two trailing arms and to two further dampers, respectively, each of said further dampers reacts against said axle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, having two steering wheels disposed respectively at said front and rear ends of the chassis in said longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry, said axle being a single driving axle dispoSed between said front and rear ends of the chassis, and said vehicle having its center of gravity located proximate said driving wheels.
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) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |