Steerable load transporting vehicle

Claim 1

In an automotive vehicle: a. a vehicle frame including first and second frame members extending longitudinally of the vehicle; b. a first plurality of ground engaging wheel assemblies supporting said frame adjacent one end of the vehicle, a second plurality of ground engaging wheel assemblies supporting said frame adjacent the other end of the vehicle, said wheel assemblies including ground engaging members rotatable about generally horizontal axes of rotation; c. a rigid suspension frame connecting one of said first or second pluralities of said wheel assemblies to said vehicle frame, said suspension frame comprising bearing structure connecting said suspension frame to said vehicle frame at a location spaced longitudinally along said vehicle frame from said one of said first or second plurality of wheel assemblies for enabling pivotal movement of said suspension frame and said one plurality of wheel assemblies relative to said vehicle frame about said location; d. steering mechanism for said one plurality of wheel assemblies comprising pivot structures connecting respective wheel assemblies of said one plurality of wheel assemblies to said suspension frame and defining generally vertical steering axes, each steering axis located adjacent the respective wheel assembly of said one plurality of wheel assemblies and actuator means connected between said suspension frame and said wheel assemblies for pivoting said wheel assemblies about said respective steering axes; e. each of said pivot structures spaced longitudinally relative to said vehicle frame from the horizontal axis of rotation of the associated wheel assembly; and, f. said one plurality of wheel assemblies each including an electric drive motor drivingly connected to said ground engaging member, said drive motors pivotable about said steering axes with said wheel assemblies.