US3689101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Swivelling wheel suspension for vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-09-01
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1990-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A wheel suspension arranged to support a driven wheel for swivelling movement in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane whereby a vehicle may be mounted on a number of wheels to provide independent driving, steering and suspension of the wheels. A swivelling wheel suspension comprising a pivot member arranged to be pivotally mounted in an upright position to provide swivelling in a horizontal plane, a spring biased lever arm pivotally mounted relative to the pivot member to provide swivelling in a vertical plane of a wheel carried in upright position by the lever arm, driving shafts and gears for the associated wheel, and steering means to swivel the pivot member.
Inventors
- 👤 William George Spence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:14
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/0607; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/04; B60K17/043; B62D49/0621
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
302 words
A swiveling wheel suspension adapted to be mounted on the left-hand or right-hand side of a vehicle, comprising a pivot bearing means adapted to be fixed to said vehicle under one side thereof and defining an upright pivot axis, a pivot member rotatably mounted in said upright pivot bearing means for rotation about said upright pivot axis, a pivot means carried by the lower end of said pivot member and having a pivot axis both extending away from said pivot member transversely of said upright pivot axis, the later axis intersecting the pivot axis of said pivot means, a lever arm mounted on said pivot means and defining a free end spaced radially from the latter, said lever arm being rotatable about said transversely extending pivot axis in an upright plane horizontally offset from said upright pivot axis, a wheel axle mounted on said free end of said lever arm, having its axis parallel to and spaced from said transversely extending pivot axis and adapted to hold the wheel in an upright plane horizontally offset from said upright pivot axis, said lever arm capable of taking two normal positions with the line joining the wheel axle axis to the transversely extending pivot axis, inclined on either side of said upright pivot axis, and spring means connected to said lever arm and to said pivot means and biasing said lever arm in both directions of rotation of said lever arm about said transversely extending axis, whereby said spring means are arranged to bias said lever arm downwardly in either of the normal positions of said lever arm, whereby said swiveling wheel suspension can be mounted on the left-hand or right-hand side of a vehicle with the wheel on the outside of the pivot member and with the wheel axle trailing said pivot member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
302 words
A swiveling wheel suspension adapted to be mounted on the left-hand or right-hand side of a vehicle, comprising a pivot bearing means adapted to be fixed to said vehicle under one side thereof and defining an upright pivot axis, a pivot member rotatably mounted in said upright pivot bearing means for rotation about said upright pivot axis, a pivot means carried by the lower end of said pivot member and having a pivot axis both extending away from said pivot member transversely of said upright pivot axis, the later axis intersecting the pivot axis of said pivot means, a lever arm mounted on said pivot means and defining a free end spaced radially from the latter, said lever arm being rotatable about said transversely extending pivot axis in an upright plane horizontally offset from said upright pivot axis, a wheel axle mounted on said free end of said lever arm, having its axis parallel to and spaced from said transversely extending pivot axis and adapted to hold the wheel in an upright plane horizontally offset from said upright pivot axis, said lever arm capable of taking two normal positions with the line joining the wheel axle axis to the transversely extending pivot axis, inclined on either side of said upright pivot axis, and spring means connected to said lever arm and to said pivot means and biasing said lever arm in both directions of rotation of said lever arm about said transversely extending axis, whereby said spring means are arranged to bias said lever arm downwardly in either of the normal positions of said lever arm, whereby said swiveling wheel suspension can be mounted on the left-hand or right-hand side of a vehicle with the wheel on the outside of the pivot member and with the wheel axle trailing said pivot member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A swiveling wheel suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pivot member, pivot means and lever arm are hollow and communicate with each other, said wheel axle extending through said hollow lever arm and said pivot member being open at its upper end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A swiveling wheel suspension as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring means is a torsion spring positioned around said pivot means and having one end secured to said lever arm and the other end engageable with either one of a pair of mutually facing abutments carried by said pivot member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A swiveling wheel suspension as claimed in claim 3, further including a tire wheel mounted on said wheel axle with the tire of said wheel surrounding and overlapping said lever arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
196 words
A wheel vehicle comprising a frame, an upright pivot bearing member fixed to said frame under one side of the same, an upright tubular pivot member rotatably mounted within said pivot bearing member for rotation about an upright pivot axis, a second pivot member carried by the lower end of said first pivot member extending horizontally laterally therefrom and being tubular, a hollow lever arm mounted on said second tubular pivot member for rotation in a vertical plane horizontally offset from said pivot bearing member, said lever arm being freely rotatable about said second pivot member and defining a free end spaced radially from the axis of said second pivot member, a wheel axle mounted on the free end of said lever arm, a road wheel mounted on said wheel axle for rotation in a plane parallel to and horizontally offset from the sAid pivot bearing member, said road wheel including a rim and a tire surrounding and overlapping said lever arm and said second pivot member, said first and second pivot members and said lever arm being in communication with one another, and spring means biasing said lever arm against both its directions of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
A wheel vehicle comprising a frame, an upright pivot bearing member fixed to said frame under one side of the same, an upright tubular pivot member rotatably mounted within said pivot bearing member for rotation about an upright pivot axis, a second pivot member carried by the lower end of said first pivot member extending horizontally laterally therefrom and being tubular, a hollow lever arm mounted on said second tubular pivot member for rotation in a vertical plane horizontally offset from said pivot bearing member, said lever arm being freely rotatable about said second pivot member and defining a free end spaced radially from the axis of said second pivot member, a wheel axle mounted on the free end of said lever arm, a road wheel mounted on said wheel axle for rotation in a plane parallel to and horizontally offset from the sAid pivot bearing member, said road wheel including a rim and a tire surrounding and overlapping said lever arm and said second pivot member, said first and second pivot members and said lever arm being in communication with one another, and spring means biasing said lever arm against both its directions of rotation.
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) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |