EP0625100A1 - Vehicule avec roue retractable - Google Patents
Vehicule avec roue retractableInfo
- Publication number
- EP0625100A1 EP0625100A1 EP93904183A EP93904183A EP0625100A1 EP 0625100 A1 EP0625100 A1 EP 0625100A1 EP 93904183 A EP93904183 A EP 93904183A EP 93904183 A EP93904183 A EP 93904183A EP 0625100 A1 EP0625100 A1 EP 0625100A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- path
- vehicle according
- locking
- coupling
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D61/00—Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
- B62D61/12—Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
- B60F3/00—Amphibious vehicles, i.e. vehicles capable of travelling both on land and on water; Land vehicles capable of travelling under water
- B60F3/003—Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
- B60F2301/00—Retractable wheels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
- B60F2301/00—Retractable wheels
- B60F2301/02—Retractable wheels slidably
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60F—VEHICLES FOR USE BOTH ON RAIL AND ON ROAD; AMPHIBIOUS OR LIKE VEHICLES; CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES
- B60F2301/00—Retractable wheels
- B60F2301/04—Retractable wheels pivotally
Definitions
- the present invention relates to vehicles with retractable wheels, particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for use in amphibious craft.
- the invention concerns the supporting of the wheel position while the wheel is in use.
- the wheels are moveable between a lower position in which they engage the ground and via which the craft is driven on land, and a raised position in which they are stored while they are not in use. In order to reach the required current levels of safety it is necessary to support the wheels in at least the lower position. In most disclosures the wheels are held in the lower position by the retraction mechanism which raises and lowers the wheels, for example a hydraulic ram. This does not provide adequate safety as it does not cater for ram failure. In the upper position the wheels are also held and firmly supported by the retraction mechanism.
- a vehicle having a wheel which is moveable between a lower position and a raised position by a wheel retraction mechanism, characterised in that the retraction mechanism comprises a support element connected to the wheel via a coupling on the element and means for moving the said element in a path encompassing a highest position of the coupling, a lowest position of the coupling, and an upward return beyond the said lowest position; the means for moving the element comprising a rotary member and the mechanism including an abutment disposed in the path of the element to limit the upward return of the element.
- the support element may be an arm which is swung by the rotary member so that the said highest and lowest positions of the coupling are on a vertical plane taken through the axis of the rotary member.
- the rotary member may be directly driven from a motor, or may be turned indirectly by a transmission such as a chain, band or rope.
- the support element may be a bar or rod which is carried on an elliptical path by a transmission such as a chain, band or rope.
- the transmission may be continuous.
- the tranmission may have fixed ends and means is provided to transmit the rotary movement by action on the transmission between the ends.
- the rotary member is driven by a transmission rather than directly because it overcomes the problem of reliance on particular sprocket or gear teeth and thus wear of those teeth.
- the rotary member may be a sprocket or truckle for example.
- the support element is advantageously connected to the wheel via a suspension device or shock absorber.
- the wheel is also stopped in the raised position by an abutment disposed in the path of the support element to limit the down return of the element past the highest position of the coupling.
- a guide may be provided to determine the path of the wheel during retraction in response to movement of the support element.
- the element comprises at least one crank arm which is rotatable about an axis between upper and lower extreme pivotal positions defined by respective abutments, the said coupling being spaced from the said axis and the total angle of movement of the arm between the extreme positions being greater than 180 degrees.
- a subsidiary locking arrangement for the retractable wheel mechanism, the locking arrangement comprising a locking bar pivotally connected at one end to the crank arm to pivot with respect to the arm, and pivotally mounted via a support at the other end, the arrangement including means allowing for the change in distance between the said one end of the locking bar and the said support as the crank arm pivots, and means operable to lock the locking bar when the crank arm is in an extreme pivotal position.
- the locking bar is pivotally mounted via a support to pivot, and to slide on a first path, as the arm pivots; wherein the means operable to prevent the said one end of the locking bar from moving includes a locking member which is moveable in a second path intersecting the first path; wherein the operation includes the transfer of the locking member to block the first path to prevent sliding movement of the locking bar.
- the locking bar may be telescopic and the means operable to lock the locking bar would lock either the extension or the angle for example.
- Figure 1 shows the outline of the front part of an amphibious craft cut away to illustrate in perspective a wheel support and retraction mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 2 shows the wheel mechanism of Figure 1 in greater detail
- Figure 3 is a detailed view of part of the wheel retraction mechanism of Figure 1
- Figure 4 is an expanded view of the collar and collar-carrier of the retraction mechanism of Figure 1
- Figure 5 illustrates a driven-wheel retraction mechanism for an amphibious craft according to a second embodiment and having an independent locking mechanism, which may be used for example for the rear wheels of the craft of Figure 1,
- Figure 6 is a side view of part of the mechanism of Figure 5
- Figure 7 is a part plan-view of an embodiment similar to that of Figure 5,
- Figure 8 is a side view of a further embodiment of the wheel retraction locking mechanism, with one crank arm shown in plan at Figure 8a .
- Figure 9 shows details of the independent, subsidiary locking mechanism for the retraction mechanism of Figure 5
- Figure 1 illustrates a steered forward wheel 10 of a medium speed amphibious craft which wheel is retractable into a compartment 11 in the craft.
- the wheel is supported by a wheel support mechanism 12 and is raised into the compartment for storage and lowered for road use by means of a retraction mechanism 14.
- the wheel support mechanism includes a pillar 15 which is pivotally mounted at the upper end to the craft.
- the pillar is mounted via a pivot 16 to a bracket 18 fixed to the inner wall 20 of the compartment.
- the inner wall of the compartment is part of the hull stress-bearing structure.
- the lower end of the pillar 15 is also pivotally mounted via a similar hinge pivot and bracket (not shown) .
- a collar 22 is fitted on the pillar 15 to be slidable up and down the pillar and rotatable with the pillar.
- the section of the pillar and that of the collar are both square. However the shape is not important so long as the sections cooperate to prevent relative rotation between the pillar and the collar.
- the wheel 10 is fitted on a threaded stub-axle 24 which is coupled to the collar 22 via an arm 26 which holds the stub-axle 24 out from the bottom of the collar.
- the arm 26 is a double bracket construction with a respective bracket 27 welded to each side of the collar and the pin 24 is fitted into an infill piece 28. Any suitable fabricated structure or casting designed to support the stub axle would be adequate as the arm 26 to replace the brackets 27, for example a box-section.
- the collar 22 is moved up and down the pillar 15 by a collar carrier 30.
- the collar carrier 30 (see Figure 4) comprises upper and lower ring brackets 32 and 34 joined at one end by a connector bracket 36.
- a bar 38 is fitted at the junction between the connector bracket 36 and the lower ring bracket 34, the bar 38 incorporating a rod 39 protruding from each side.
- the lower end of a suspension device 40 is pivotally fitted on each end of the rod 39.
- Figure 4 illustrates the assembly of the collar 22 and collar carrier 30, which takes place before the assembly is fitted to the pillar 15.
- the top of the collar comprises a threaded ring 41.
- the collar carrier 30 is located with its ring brackets 32,34 one above and one below the collar 22 and is held in position by a first threaded cap 43 which passes through the upper ring bracket 32 to screw into the threads of the ring 41 and a second threaded cap (not shown) which passes through the lower ring bracket 34 upwardly to screw into the bottom of the collar.
- the inner bore of the caps 43 each have a square section to fit over the pillar 15.
- the fitting of the collar and collar carrier incorporates anti-friction surfaces or devices between the ring bracket 32 and the collar surface 41 and between the lower ring bracket 34 and the threaded cap (not shown) . Suitable anti-friction devices include anti-thrust races, or nylon bushes, or the ball race 45 shown.
- the wheel can be steered by means of a steering arm bracket 60 ( Figure 2) carrying a ball 62 and fitted to the pillar 15 by a plate 64 and four sets of nuts 66, bolts (not seen) and spacers 68 which are welded to the pillar. Movement of the steering arm bracket 60 by means of the ball 62 causes rotation of the pillar about the pivotal mountings.
- the collar 22 turns with the pillar 15 carrying the wheel with it. This action is described in patent specification GB 2,218,052.
- the collar carrier 30 allows the pillar 15 to turn within it on thrust races such as the ball race 45.
- Each suspension device or shock absorber 40 comprises a compression spring 42 fitted around a piston 44 and damper 47 in the usual way.
- the upper end of the two suspension devices 40 are both hinged to a support element comprising a rod 48 mounted on and fixed to travel with a double chain 50.
- the rod 48 is fitted to the double chain 50 to be moveable with the chain.
- the double chain 50 is a strong continuous chain mounted about two pairs of rotary members in the form of sprockets 52,54.
- the sprockets forming each of the sprocket pairs 52,54 are locked together on a respective common shaft 55,53 to maintain parallel motion of the chains to prevent tilting of the rod 48.
- the shafts 55,53 are supported for rotation on a frame 61.
- the shafts 53,55 forming the axes of the sprockets are mounted vertically one above the other, but this is not thought to be critical. In fact if a castor or camber angle is required the axes may be deliberately set not vertically one above the other to create, for example, a 2 1/2 degree angle between the vertical and the chains.
- the pillar 15 would have to be set at a corresponding angle.
- one pair of the sprockets 53,55 is driven either clockwise or anticlockwise by an electrical motor (not shown) causing the rod 48 to move up or down in a path determined by the movement of the chains 50 and the position of the sprockets 53,55.
- This in turn lifts or lowers the suspension devices 40 and thus the wheel 10 and in so doing causes the collar carrier to move on the pillar 15.
- the locking of the wheels is achieved in two ways - firstly the electric motor (not shown) operates through a gear box with final drive by worm and wheel which in certain circumstances can prevent movement of the chain when the motor is not powered.
- the lower blocks 58 are fitted on the return from the downward travel, far enough beyond the lowest position of the rod 48 for the upward reaction force from the road on the wheel to be taken on the blocks 58 rather than on the chains 50 or sprocket teeth. In both locked overcentred positions the chains 50 will hold the rods 48 firmly against the blocks, but they will not take the greater part of the force.
- the load bearing capability of the mechanism can be varied by increasing or decreasing the strength of the components. No redesign is necessary.
- the same principle can be used to lift a pair of wheels and both forward and rear wheels.
- the arrangement can be adapted to cater for driven wheels as is described hereafter.
- the above wheel retraction mechanism has been illustrated and described in relation to front wheels which are steered.
- the mechanism is equally suitable if there is no steering or for use to raise and lower a rear wheel.
- the wheel (not shown) is fitted on the bolts 71 and driven by means of a chain drive or shaft (not shown) in casing 72.
- a chain drive or shaft (not shown) in casing 72.
- the chain casing 72 is pivoted at its upper end to a bracket 73 about a pivot 74 and the bracket 73 is fitted to the inside of an enclosed wheel compartment (not shown) being part of the hull stress bearing structure.
- the wheel compartment is open only at the bottom, and is disposed inside the mono-coque hull of the craft.
- the bracket 73 has two parallel sides 75 forming a channel therebetween.
- the wheel is raised and lowered by a retraction mechanism 70 comprising a driven rigid crankshaft pivoting on two bearings 85 supported by bracket sides 75, a pair of crank arms 84 driven by the crankshaft, and a pintle 81 rigidly mounted between the crank arms 84 and firmly locked to them to form the crankshaft.
- the retraction mechanism is connected to the casing via a suspension system 76 pivotally mounted to the pintle 81 and comprising a spring 77 fitted outside a damper 78 and a secondary spring 79.
- the spring 77 At the upper end the spring 77 abuts a spring housing 80, which spring housing incorporates an aperture allowing a secondary spring and damper mounting 83 to protrude, enabling both the housing 80 and the mounting 83 to pivot on the pintle 81.
- the spring housing 80 is pivoted to the pintle 81 by means of two mounting brackets 82 attached to the upper end of the spring housing 80.
- the crank arms 84 form the "support element" of the claims.
- the crankshaft is fixed to a rotary member in the form of a sprocket 87 and driven from an electric motor 89 via sprocket 88 and a drive chain 86 .
- the crank arms 84 are rotated through an arc defined by abutment stops 90,91 (described hereafter) by rotation of the shaft. Movement of the chain 76 turns one arm 84 via the sprocket 77, and the second arm follows.
- the pivotal arc of the crank arms 84, shown in Figure 6, is from a lower, hatched position against a stop block 90, through a lowest position, through the bracket channel between the sides 75, through a highest position, and after a downward return, to an upper stop block 91.
- a rectangular or square-section locking element or bar 94 has a yoke 95 the elements of which are pivoted to the pintle 81 between the spring mounting brackets 82 and the webs of the crank arms 84.
- a roller 96 ( Figure 8) is fitted to the free end of the bar 94.
- the link 101 ( Figure 9) may be operated from the cock-pit via a lever system including rods, pivots and/or cables.
- the passage 97 has a through opening 102 at a position substantially in a horizontal line with the shaft bearings 85 and the single end of the locking bar is supported by a sleeve in the form of a a pivoting sliding trunnion 103 hinged to pivot on pins 104.
- a sleeve in the form of a a pivoting sliding trunnion 103 hinged to pivot on pins 104.
- the tube 98 is fitted to the bulkhead of the craft by means of brackets 105 which support the trunnion 103 at the pins 104.
- the locking block 99 ( Figure 9) comprises a wedge-shaped body 107 which can roll or slide in the tube 98 via two pairs of small wheels or rollers 108 disposed in respective recesses 109.
- the body is essentially of the same section as the tube 98 but with its leading and trailing edges curved.
- the locking block 99 is pivoted to the operating link 101 via a through bore 111.
- a line “A” is defined by the longitudinal centre line of the bar 94 when the roller 96 is at its furthest distance from the tube 98.
- the locking tube 98 is mounted substantially at right angles to the line "A”.
- the geometry of the locking bar and crank arms is such that the shortest line joining the axis of the bearings 85 to the axis of the roller 96 is also line "A”. This line not only joins the central crank shaft pivot 85 to the centre of the opening 102 but it also equally divides the angle of movement ⁇ between the upper and lower positions of the locking bar longitudinal axis.
- bracket sides are shaped with two abutment surfaces 112 and the crank arms have rear extensions 113 each of which carries a stop block 114 which engages with the relevant abutment surfaces 112.
- bracket sides can be boxed in to provide extra strength where appropriate, and suggested areas are illustrated at 116 and 117.
- the roller 96 has its axis guided at each end in a respective slot so that the position of the roller axis changes (as the bar 94 moves between its extreme positions ) from one end of the slot to the other.
- the roller axis is also on line "A”.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
- Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
Abstract
Un véhicule comporte une roue (10) qui peut être déplacée grâce à un mécanisme de rétraction (14), entre une position inférieure dans laquelle elle peut être utilisée, et une position haute conçue pour le rangement. Le mécanisme de rétraction comporte un élément support (48) relié à la roue via un accouplement et comprend un élément rotatif, déplaçable grâce à un entraînement par chaîne (50) conçu pour déplacer l'élément selon un chemin comprenant une position de l'accouplement la plus haute, une position de l'accouplement la plus basse, un retour vers le bas au-delà de la position la plus haute et un retour vers le haut au-delà de la position la plus basse. Le mécanisme comprend des butées respectives (56, 58) positionnées dans le chemin de l'élément dans les retours vers le bas et vers le haut, de manière à bloquer les mouvements supplémentaires de l'élément avec l'accouplement décentré. La roue est ainsi maintenue dans les deux positions, haute et basse, contre les forces dominantes de l'élément. Un système de blocage indépendant supplémentaire conçu pour les positions extrêmes du mécanisme de rétraction est aussi décrit.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9202834 | 1992-02-11 | ||
GB929202834A GB9202834D0 (en) | 1992-02-11 | 1992-02-11 | Improvements in retractable wheels |
GB9219406 | 1992-09-14 | ||
GB929219406A GB9219406D0 (en) | 1992-02-11 | 1992-09-14 | Improvements in retractabel wheels |
PCT/GB1993/000269 WO1993015923A1 (fr) | 1992-02-11 | 1993-02-09 | Vehicule avec roue retractable |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0625100A1 true EP0625100A1 (fr) | 1994-11-23 |
Family
ID=26300302
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93904183A Withdrawn EP0625100A1 (fr) | 1992-02-11 | 1993-02-09 | Vehicule avec roue retractable |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0625100A1 (fr) |
AU (1) | AU3506493A (fr) |
CA (1) | CA2129851A1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1993015923A1 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19860562A1 (de) * | 1998-12-22 | 2000-06-29 | Reinhart Radebold | Fahrzeug |
GB0017782D0 (en) * | 2000-07-21 | 2000-09-06 | Gibbs Tech Ltd | Bump stop |
GB0020679D0 (en) | 2000-08-23 | 2000-10-11 | Covelink Marine Ltd | Suspension system |
GB0110638D0 (en) | 2001-05-01 | 2001-06-20 | Covelink Marine Ltd | Vehicle with retractable wheel |
GB0206903D0 (en) | 2002-03-23 | 2002-05-01 | Covelink Marine Ltd | Vehicle with retractable wheel |
GB2404171B (en) * | 2003-07-25 | 2007-03-14 | Gibbs Tech Ltd | Amphibious vehicle with disconnectable retractable suspension |
US7329161B2 (en) * | 2004-11-30 | 2008-02-12 | Thomas Roering | Amphibious recreation vehicle |
US9370979B2 (en) | 2011-10-28 | 2016-06-21 | Ross Anthony Stevens | Amphibious vehicle |
CN117206776B (zh) * | 2023-11-08 | 2024-02-20 | 中铁三局集团有限公司 | 一种三维导轨便携式机器人移动底盘 |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3227123A (en) * | 1964-05-06 | 1966-01-04 | Hellmut R Voigt | Hydrofoil speed and pleasure craft |
US3421472A (en) * | 1967-04-10 | 1969-01-14 | Frank Fasano | Amphibious vehicle |
US3653332A (en) * | 1970-02-12 | 1972-04-04 | Olson & Sons Inc Chas | Convertible rail-highway vehicle |
DE3302998C2 (de) * | 1983-01-29 | 1986-09-25 | Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern Göppner GmbH, 6750 Kaiserslautern | Radaufhängung für in den Fahrzeugkörper einschwenkbare Räder bzw. Radachsen |
FR2568215B3 (fr) * | 1984-07-30 | 1986-12-12 | Pavon Salvador | Embarcation dont la coque comporte des roues escamotables et/ou un attelage incorpore |
-
1993
- 1993-02-09 AU AU35064/93A patent/AU3506493A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-02-09 CA CA 2129851 patent/CA2129851A1/fr not_active Abandoned
- 1993-02-09 WO PCT/GB1993/000269 patent/WO1993015923A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-02-09 EP EP93904183A patent/EP0625100A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9315923A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2129851A1 (fr) | 1993-08-12 |
AU3506493A (en) | 1993-09-03 |
WO1993015923A1 (fr) | 1993-08-19 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19940902 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BE CH DE ES FR GB IE IT LI MC NL PT |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19950426 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19960904 |