FR2807726A1 - Conversion system for four to two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage has wheels with half-axles sliding into tube under carriage body - Google Patents

Abstract

The conversion system consists of wheels (6) on swinging arms with half-axles (1) which can slide into the ends of a transverse tube (C) fitted to the underside of a carriage and be fixed in position by transverse bolts. The wheels are mounted on the swinging arms by hubs (4) with pivots (5), and the arms have springs and dampers. The positions of their half-axles can be adjusted to vary the track width and camber, and two or more axle tubes can be fitted to allow the carriage wheelbase to be varied.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for transforming a four-wheel animal traction car (two axles) into a two-wheel car (one axle) and this in different models, with different wheelbases, so as to better adapt it to the use of the moment.

Until now, it was necessary to have several vehicles, in order to adapt to various situations.

device according to the invention overcomes this drawback. It has the effect, according to a first characteristic, of an axle with independent wheels, constituted by two half-axles which fit into a tube forming an integral part of the chassis of the car. This axle works in two ways, either in trailing arms when it is rear axle in the four-wheel version, or in thrust arms when it is a single axle in two-wheel version. The suspension is provided by a spring / shock absorber combination on the right and on the left. When changing the position of the arms, you must separate the lower attachment of the spring / shock absorbers, rotate the arms downwards by about 140, and attach the handsets on the other side of the arms.

second characteristic of this axle is that it is adjustable in width, so as to be able to vary the dimension of the track. This variation is done by sliding the half-axles in the tube. Locking in position is achieved by two bolts crossing on each side.

third characteristic of this axle is that the wheels can have either a positive camber angle, like old cars, or a negative camber angle, to promote handling.

fourth characteristic is that this axle can be moved so as to adapt the wheelbase to the length of the car, when one is a four-wheel version.

attached drawings illustrate the invention figure 1 represents the car in short version, four wheels. Figure 2 shows the car in two-wheel version.

figure 3 represents the car in long version, four wheels figure 4 represents the axle.

reference to these drawings, the device comprises an axle composed of two half-axles (A) and (B), connected together by a tube (C) see figure 4.

Each half-axle consists of - an axle (1), one end of which slides in the tube (C), which allows the width of the track to be varied, and the other end receives the suspension arm (2). This is immobilized in translation in the tube (C) by two through bolts.

A welded tab perpendicularly on this axis ensures the upper anchoring of the spring / shock absorber combination.

- a suspension arm (2) having at one end a bore which is mounted on the axis (1) and constitutes the articulation of the suspension, at the other end a bore (4) which receives the axis (5) the wheel, and on the upper and lower face, the lower anchor for fixing the spring / shock absorber combination.

- an axle (5) ensuring the connection between the suspension arm and the wheel. - a wheel - a spring / shock absorber combination (3).

In the short four-wheel version according to FIG. 1, the suspension works in drawn arms, two half-axles are in the same place as in the two-wheel version, and the wheels have a negative camber angle.

In the long version with four wheels according to Figure 3 the two half-axles are offset backwards and fit into a tube (C ') so as to have a wheelbase compatible with the length of the car.

In the two-wheel version according to FIG. 2, the front axle is removed, the suspension arms are pivoted forwards, they then work in pushed arms and the wheels have a positive camber angle.

The device according to the invention is particularly intended for participation in horse-drawn carriage competitions (Combined Driving Competition, Complete Driving Competition, TREC, TRADITION, etc.), as well as for walking.

Claims (4)

1) Device for transforming a four-wheel animal-drawn car into a two-wheeled car, characterized in that it comprises an axle consisting of two half-axles (A) and (B) which fit into a tube (C ). Each half-axle has an axis (1) on which is fixed an oscillating suspension arm. On each arm is fixed a spring / shock absorber combination (3). At the end of each arm, a bore receives the axis (5) for fixing the wheel (6). 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the axes which fit into the tube (C) can slide in order to vary the width of the track. They are immobilized by crossing bolts. 3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the bore in which is fixed the axis of the wheel (6) at the end of the suspension arm is inclined so as to give a camber angle to the wheel. 4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the half-axles (A) and (B) can be moved and fit into another tube (C ') so as to adapt the wheelbase to the length of the car long version, four wheels.