US3704040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle for traversing rough terrain
Assignee: Peerless Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1971-12-06
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1991-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle for traversing rough terrain, such as is commonly found in open mining operations and highway construction work. The vehicle is characterized by a movable frame structure. The frame includes a pair of elongated side members which are joined in a spaced apart relationship near the rear of the frame members by a first crossmember which is provided with a pivotal joint to permit the side members to rotate or pivot relative to each other. The front ends of the side members are connected by second and third crossmembers, each of which is pivotally connected at both ends to the side members to provide lateral restraint to the side members while the vehicle is traversing rough terrain. The second and third crossmembers are vertically displaced to prevent relative rotation of the side members about their longitudinal axes while permitting up and down movement of the forward ends of the side members as the side members rotate about the pivot point in the first crossmember. The frame is adapted to support a body, such as a dump box which is pivotally mounted to the side members for pivotal movement about the same axis as the side members. The dump box is maintained in a level position as the vehicle traverses rough terrain by two hydraulic load leveler assemblies which are mounted on the second crossmember and engage the forward end of the dump box. Each side member supports, through suitable suspension means, wheel assemblies at the forward and rearward ends thereof, each of the wheel assemblies being oscillatable about an axis parallel to the path of travel of the vehicle to permit the wheel assemblies to conform to terrain which is inclined relative to the traverse axis of the vehicle. Power for driving the wheel assemblies and powering auxiliary equipment is derived from an engine module mounted on the side members between the wheel assemblies by mounting assemblies which permit movement of the module upon movement of the side members to minimize stresses in the module upon movement of one side member relative to the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo W Davis
- 👤 Marion D Lackey
- 👤 John Reuben Ross
- 👤 Bryant Trenary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:10
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/10; B60; B60B; B60B11/00; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/04; B60P1/045; B62D21/00; B62D21/18; B62D21/186; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D7/00; B62D7/02; B62D7/04; B60G; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/10; B60G2200/30; B60G2200/32; B60G2200/322; B60G2200/40; B60G2200/46; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A vehicle capable of traversing rough terrain, which vehicle includes a frame comprising: a pair of elongated side members; a first crossmember joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship and having a pivotal portion to permit said side members to rotate relative to each other in planes parallel to their longitudinal axes; a second crossmember also joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship, each end of said second crossmember being pivotally connected to one of said side members to permit limited rotation of said side member while providing lateral restraint on the side member; a third crossmember also joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship, each end of said side crossmember being pivotally connected to one of said side members to assist said second crossmember in providing lateral restraint on the side members during rotation, the points of connection of said third crossmember to said side members being vertically displaced from the points of connection of said second crossmember to said side members to prevent relative rotation of said side members about their longitudinal axes; and a body pivotally attached to said side members, the body being pivotal about the same axis as the pivotal portion of the first crossmember.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A vehicle capable of traversing rough terrain, which vehicle includes a frame comprising: a pair of elongated side members; a first crossmember joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship and having a pivotal portion to permit said side members to rotate relative to each other in planes parallel to their longitudinal axes; a second crossmember also joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship, each end of said second crossmember being pivotally connected to one of said side members to permit limited rotation of said side member while providing lateral restraint on the side member; a third crossmember also joining said side members in a spaced apart relationship, each end of said side crossmember being pivotally connected to one of said side members to assist said second crossmember in providing lateral restraint on the side members during rotation, the points of connection of said third crossmember to said side members being vertically displaced from the points of connection of said second crossmember to said side members to prevent relative rotation of said side members about their longitudinal axes; and a body pivotally attached to said side members, the body being pivotal about the same axis as the pivotal portion of the first crossmember.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said body extends over one of said second and third crossmembers and the crossmember over which it extends includes: means supported by the frame and engageable with the body for maintaining the body in a level position when one of said side members rotates relative to the other side member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
209 words
A vehicle capable of traversing rough terrain, which vehicle includes a frame having: a pair of elongated, generally parallel side members; a first crossmember joining said side members near the rearwardly oriented ends of said side members, the first crossmember having a pivotal portion to permit the forwardly oriented ends of said side members to move up and down; a second crossmember pivotally joined at each end to the side members near the forwardly oriented ends of the side members to permit up and down movement of said forwardly oriented ends while providing lateral restraint during the movements thereof; a third crossmember pivotally joined at each end to said side members near the forwardly oriented ends of said side members to permit up and down movement of said forwardly oriented ends and assist said second crossmember in providing lateral restraint on the side members, the points of connection of the third crossmembers to the side members being above or below the points of connection of the second crossmember to the side members to prevent relative rotation of said side members about their longitudinal axes; and a body pivotally attached to said side members, the body being pivotal about the same axis as the pivotal portion of the first crossmember.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
209 words
A vehicle capable of traversing rough terrain, which vehicle includes a frame having: a pair of elongated, generally parallel side members; a first crossmember joining said side members near the rearwardly oriented ends of said side members, the first crossmember having a pivotal portion to permit the forwardly oriented ends of said side members to move up and down; a second crossmember pivotally joined at each end to the side members near the forwardly oriented ends of the side members to permit up and down movement of said forwardly oriented ends while providing lateral restraint during the movements thereof; a third crossmember pivotally joined at each end to said side members near the forwardly oriented ends of said side members to permit up and down movement of said forwardly oriented ends and assist said second crossmember in providing lateral restraint on the side members, the points of connection of the third crossmembers to the side members being above or below the points of connection of the second crossmember to the side members to prevent relative rotation of said side members about their longitudinal axes; and a body pivotally attached to said side members, the body being pivotal about the same axis as the pivotal portion of the first crossmember.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the body is also pivotally attached to said first crossmember.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said body extends over substantially the entire length of said frame, and said vehicle includes: means attached to said second crossmember and engageable with said body for maintaining said body in a level position when the forwardly oriented end of said side member moves up and down.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The vehicle of claim 5, including: wheel assemblies mounted to each of said side members near the rearwardly and forwardly oriented ends of said frame member; each of said wheel assemblies being oscillatable about an axis parallel to the path of travel of the vehicle to permit the wheel assemblies to conform to terrain which is inclined relative to the transverse axis of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The vehicle of claim 6, including: means attached to each of said side members and said body for lifting and lowering the body relative to the side members; and cooperating guide means on said body and said side members for guiding said body to a predetermined position relative to said side members during lOwering of said body relative to said side members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle of claim 7, including: resilient means attached to said guide means to permit said side members to move inwardly relative to said body when said side members move up and down relative to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle of claim 8, including: a module suspended from said side members between the front and rear wheel assemblies; and means connecting said module at two points to one of said side members and at one point to the other side member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vehicle of claim 9, including: a third crossmember pivotally joined at each end to said side members near the forwardly oriented ends thereof, the points of connection of said third crossmember to said side members being vertically spaced from the points of connection of said second crossmember to prevent relative rotation of said side members about their longitudinal axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the first crossmember comprises: a pair of V-shaped struts the apices of which are positioned in a confronting relationship between said side members and the legs of which are attached to said side members, each strut having one leg attached toward the forward end of a side member and the other leg attached toward the rearward end of the side member; and means pivotally joining the apices of the struts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle of claim 11, wherein both of the legs of the struts are attached to the side members below the pivotal axis of the first crossmember.
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) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |