Chassis apparatus for all terrain vehicles

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising: longitudinally extending frame means, at least three movable linkage means connected respectively to said frame means and extending from opposite sides of the longitudinal direction of said frame means, ground engaging means affixed to each of said linkage means remote from said frame means for supporting said chassis, first operating means comprising first extensible cylinder means articulatingly coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means horizontally relative to said frame means, and second operating means comprising second extensible cylinder means operatively coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means vertically relative to said frame means, said second cylinder means each having one end pivotally connected to said frame means and their opposite end coupled to said linkage means rocking means associated with each of said linkage means, said rocking means being pivotally supported on said frame means about a generally horizontally extending axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said linkage means each being pivotally connected to their respective rocking means about axes generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of said rocking means.

Claim 3

A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 including: control means associated with each of said first and second extensible cylinder means for selectively controlling the movement of said cylinders.

Claim 4

A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 including: reversible drive means for operatively engaging at least two of said wheel means on opposite sides of said frame means for selectively rotating said wheel simultaneously or individually in either direction.

Claim 5

A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 including: automatic leveling means coupled with pairs of said control means for said second cylinder means on opposite sides of said frame means for maintaining said frame means substantially level while traversing uneven terrain.

Claim 6

A vehicle comprising: longitudinally extending frame means, a plurality of movable linkage means connected respectively to said frame means and extending from opposite sides of the longitudinal direction of said frame means, ground engaging means affixed to each of said linkage means remote from said frame means for supporting said chassis, first operating means operatively coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means horizontally relative to said frame means, second operating means operatively coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means vertically relative to said frame means, said ground engaging means comprising axle means and wheel means rotatably mounted thereon said axle means being connected to said linkage means, said axles extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, each of said linkage means comprising a pair of spaced parallel beams eaCh of said beam pairs being pivotally connected to their associated axle on one end and the opposite end pivotally connected to said frame means, rocking means associated with each of said link pairs, said rocking means being pivotally supported on said frame means about a generally horizontally extending axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said link pairs being pivotally connected to said means about axes generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of said rocking means, said first operating means comprising extensible cylinder means articulatingly connected at one end to said frame means and articulatingly connected at the opposite end to one of said links, and said second operating means comprise second extensible cylinder means having their axes generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame means and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame means and pivotally connected at the opposite end to said rocking means for pivotally moving said rocking means.

Claim 7

A vehicle comprising: longitudinally extending frame means, a plurality of movable linkage means connected respectively to said frame means and extending from opposite sides of the longitudinal direction of said frame means, ground engaging means affixed to each of said linkage means remote from said frame means for supporting said chassis, first operating means operatively coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means horizontally relative to said frame means, second operating means operatively coupled with each of said linkage means for independently moving said linkage means vertically relative to said frame means, said ground engaging means comprising axle means and wheel means rotatably mounted thereon said axle means being connected to said linkage means, said axles extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, each of said linkage means comprising a pair of spaced parallel beams eaCh of said beam pairs being pivotally connected to their associated axle on one end and the opposite end pivotally connected to said frame means, rocking means associated with each of said link pairs, said rocking means being pivotally supported on said frame means about a generally horizontally extending axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said link pairs being pivotally connected to said means about axes generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of said rocking means, said first operating means comprising extensible cylinder means articulatingly connected at one end to said frame means and articulatingly connected at the opposite end to one of said links, and said second operating means comprise second extensible cylinder means having their axes generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame means and being pivotally connected at one end to said frame means and pivotally connected at the opposite end to said rocking means for pivotally moving said rocking means.

Claim 8

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 5 including: control means associated with each of said first and second extensible cylinder means for selectively controlling the movement of said cylinders.

Claim 9

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 6 including: reversible drive means for operatively engaging at least two of said wheel means on opposite sides of said frame means for selectively rotating said wheels simultaneously or individually in either direction.

Claim 10

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 7 including: automatic leveling means coupled with pairs of said control means for said second cylinder means on opposite sides of said frame means for maintaining said frame means substantially level while traversing uneven terrain.

Claim 11

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 8 wherein: said automatic leveling means includes pendulum means pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, and including means connecting said pendulum means with said pairs of control means for simultaneously varying the extension of said second cylinder means on opposite sides of said frame means so that when the second cylinder means on one side of said frame means are extended, the second cylinder means on the opposite side are retracted.

Claim 12

A vehicle chassis comprising: generally horizontally extending frame means, a plurality of ground engaging means for supporting said frame means, at least two of said ground engaging means being axially adjacent on opposite sides of the longitudinal direction of said frame means, linkage means connecting each of said ground engaging means with said frame means, said linkage means being independently vertically pivotable relative to said frame means for selectively varying the vertical position of said ground engaging means relative to said frame means, the linkage means connected to said axially adjacent ground engaging means being independently horizontally pivotable relative to said frame means for selectively varying the horizontal position of said axially adjacent ground engaging means relative to said frame means, said ground engaging means including wheel means rotatably mounted on axles for rollingly supporting said frame means, one of said wheel means being substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said one wheel being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis the linkage means connected to said one wheel including steering means, said one wheel means having its axle supported in said steering means, said steering means being horizontally pivotably connected to said linkage means whereby said wheel is directionally movable relative to said frame means for steering said chassis.

Claim 13

A vehicle chassis comprising: generally horizontally extending frame means, a plurality of ground engaging means for supporting said frame means, at least two of said ground engaging means being axially adjacent on opposite sides of the longitudinal direction of said frame means, linkage means connecting each of said ground engaging means with said frame means, said linkage means being independently vertically pivotable relative to said frame means for selectively varying the vertical position of said ground engaging means relative to said frame means, the linkage means connected to said axially adjacent ground engaging means being independently horizontally pivotable relative to said frame means for selectively varying the horizontal position of said axially adjacent ground engaging means relative to said frame means, said ground engaging means including wheel means rotatably mounted on axles for rollingly supporting said frame means, one of said wheel means being substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said one wheel being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis the linkage means connected to said one wheel including steering means, said one wheel means having its axle supported in said steering means, said steering means being horizontally pivotably connected to said linkage means whereby said wheel is directionally movable relative to said frame means for steering said chassis.

Claim 14

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 10 wherein: each of said horizontally pivotable linkage means comprise a pair of spaced parallel beams each of said beam pAirs being pivotally connected to their associated axle on one end and the opposite end pivotally connected to said frame means,

Claim 15

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 11 including: rocking member means associated with each of said beam pairs, said rocking means being pivotally supported on said frame means about a generally horizontally extending axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said frame means, said beam pairs being pivotally connected to said rocking means about axes generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of said rocking means.

Claim 16

A vehicle chassis as set forth in claim 12 including: reversible drive means associated with at least two of said wheel means on opposite sides of said frame means for selectively rotating said wheels simultaneously or individually in either direction.