US4072325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pendulum stabilized ground vehicles
Assignee: BRIGHT ENGR Inc
•
Filing: 1977-01-28
•
Granted: 1978-02-07
•
Expires: 1997-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for automatically stabilizing moving ground vehicles against the effects of transverse acceleration forces and roll moments, due to turning maneuvers, by means of an on-board pendulum, suspended from a stable platform, part of the vehicle, and intercoupled to pivotally supported vehicle ground wheels, acting so as to incline the planes of rotation of the pivotally supported ground wheels of the vehicle to the angle of the vector resultant of the gravitational force component acting on the pendulum and the transverse acceleration force component acting on the pendulum; the device thereby provides, within the design maximum angle of inclination of the ground wheels and the adhesion capability of the tires on the roadbed, essentially complete stabilization of the turning vehicle. The stabilizing effect is that the angle of the force vector resultant acting on the vehicle will nominally be that of the planes of rotation of the ground vehicle wheels, excepting small steering and suspension system deviations that may act on the steerable ground wheels or wheel. The vehicle is designed such that any transverse forces acting on the vehicle automatically cause the vehicle to lean, bank, or rotate about the longitudinal axis, much as a conventional two-wheeled motorcycle leans on a turn, thereby establishing the necessary angle of inclination required to balance the gravitational forces present and the inertial forces generated by the turning maneuvers.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerd Bright
- 👤 Donald R. Bright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:34
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D37/00; B62D37/04; B62K; B62K5/00; B62K5/02; B62K5/05; B62K5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A ground vehicle including, in combination, suspension frame means, ground wheel means, ground wheel support means, means coupled to proximate extremities of said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said ground wheel support means, pendulum means, means centrally coupled to said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said pendulum means such that said pendulum means depends downwardly from said suspension frame means, means for intercoupling said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and said pivotally supported pendulum means such that motion of said pivotally supported pendulum means transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle causes a corresponding motion of said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and hence, of said attached ground wheel support means and said ground wheel means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A ground vehicle including, in combination, suspension frame means, ground wheel means, ground wheel support means, means coupled to proximate extremities of said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said ground wheel support means, pendulum means, means centrally coupled to said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said pendulum means such that said pendulum means depends downwardly from said suspension frame means, means for intercoupling said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and said pivotally supported pendulum means such that motion of said pivotally supported pendulum means transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle causes a corresponding motion of said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and hence, of said attached ground wheel support means and said ground wheel means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
A ground vehicle including in combination, steering device means, suspension frame means, ground wheel means, ground wheel support means, means coupled to proximate extremities of said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said ground wheel support means, pendulum means, means centrally coupled to said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said pendulum means such that said pendulum means depends downwardly from said suspension frame means, means for intercoupling said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and said pivotally supported pendulum means in such a manner that motion of said pendulum means due to inertial forces acting on said pendulum means and causing said pendulum means to move transversely in said vehicle will be transferred from said pendulum means to said pivotally supported ground wheel support means, and hence to said ground wheel support means, causing the angle of inclination of said ground wheel means to the ground or roadbed to be positioned to the nominal angle of inclination of said pendulum means to the roadbed; a further means of intercoupling said steering device means, said pivotally supported ground wheel support means, and said pendulum means such that changes in the angle of inclination of said ground wheel means to the roadbed do not cause a change in the relative position of said steering device means referred to said pendulum means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
A ground vehicle including in combination, steering device means, suspension frame means, ground wheel means, ground wheel support means, means coupled to proximate extremities of said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said ground wheel support means, pendulum means, means centrally coupled to said suspension frame means for pivotally supporting said pendulum means such that said pendulum means depends downwardly from said suspension frame means, means for intercoupling said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and said pivotally supported pendulum means in such a manner that motion of said pendulum means due to inertial forces acting on said pendulum means and causing said pendulum means to move transversely in said vehicle will be transferred from said pendulum means to said pivotally supported ground wheel support means, and hence to said ground wheel support means, causing the angle of inclination of said ground wheel means to the ground or roadbed to be positioned to the nominal angle of inclination of said pendulum means to the roadbed; a further means of intercoupling said steering device means, said pivotally supported ground wheel support means, and said pendulum means such that changes in the angle of inclination of said ground wheel means to the roadbed do not cause a change in the relative position of said steering device means referred to said pendulum means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
Means for pivotally supporting vehicle ground wheel support means from the proximate extremities of suspension frame means such that said ground wheel support means are capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and also are capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the combined camber and caster angles of said ground wheel support means; with further means for attachment of pendulum means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said intercoupling means causes rotation of said ground wheel support means about an axis parallel to said vehicle longitudinal axis; with further means for attachment of a steering device to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said intercoupling means causes rotation of said ground wheel support means about an axis generally parallel to the combined camber and caster angles of said ground wheel support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
Means for pivotally supporting vehicle ground wheel support means from the proximate extremities of suspension frame means such that said ground wheel support means are capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and also are capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the combined camber and caster angles of said ground wheel support means; with further means for attachment of pendulum means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said intercoupling means causes rotation of said ground wheel support means about an axis parallel to said vehicle longitudinal axis; with further means for attachment of a steering device to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said intercoupling means causes rotation of said ground wheel support means about an axis generally parallel to the combined camber and caster angles of said ground wheel support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
Means for pivotally supporting pendulum means from vehicle suspension frame means such that said pendulum means is capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; further means for attachment of said pendulum means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said pendulum means causes transverse motion of said intercoupling means in the direction of motion of said pendulum means; further means for attachment of steering device means to said pendulum means such that operation of said steering device means is with respect to said pendulum means; further means for attachment of said steering device means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said pendulum means does not cause transverse motion of said intercoupling means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
Means for pivotally supporting pendulum means from vehicle suspension frame means such that said pendulum means is capable of pivotal motion about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; further means for attachment of said pendulum means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said pendulum means causes transverse motion of said intercoupling means in the direction of motion of said pendulum means; further means for attachment of steering device means to said pendulum means such that operation of said steering device means is with respect to said pendulum means; further means for attachment of said steering device means to ground wheel support means intercoupling means such that transverse motion of said pendulum means does not cause transverse motion of said intercoupling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for intercoupling said pivotally supported ground wheel support means and said pivotally supported pendulum means comprise leaning arm means affixed to said ground wheel support pivotal support means, said leaning arm means intercoupled by link means connected to said pendulum means by pivot joint means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for intercoupling said steering device means and said pivotally supported ground wheel support means comprise steering arm means affixed to said ground wheel support means and to said steering device means, said steering arm means intercoupled by link means connected to said steering arm means by pivot joint means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for intercoupling said steering device means and said pivotally supported pendulum means comprise bearing means internal to, and concentric with the pivot axis of, said pivot means of said pivotally supported pendulum means, said bearing means supporting the outer circumference of steering shaft means of said steering device means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said steering device means comprise handlebar means affixed to steering shaft means, said steering shaft means supported by bearing means internal to and concentric with said pivot means of said pivotally supported pendulum means, said steering shaft means terminated with a coupling means for attachment to steering gearbox means, further means comprised of steering gearbox means mounted on said pendulum means and connected to said steering shaft means, with said gearbox output shaft supporting a steering arm means.
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) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |