GB2141679A

GB2141679A - Motor vehicle turntable

Info

Publication number: GB2141679A
Application number: GB08410276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick George Hyatt; William Brydson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-23
Filing date: 1984-04-19
Publication date: 1985-01-03
Also published as: GB8410276D0

Abstract

A turntable 1 comprises wheel support means 2 mounted on bearing means 4 having ground support engagement means 5 for support means 6 in use of the securing of the turntable to ground turntable 1. The wheel support means 2 are formed and arranged so that a pneumatically tyred motor vehicle 19 can be driven on and off and then supported by the wheel support means 2 during rotation of the turntable 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle turntable This invention relates to a turntable for a motor vehicle.

In many towns and cities there are large numbers of dwellings sited along busy roads which dwellings have limited space for accommodating a motor vehicle in off-street parking and in which it is normally impossible to turn round the vehicle. The vehicle is normally driven forwards off the road into the drive of the property for parking so that when it is desired to make a journey it is necessary to reverse out into the often busy road. Apart from being contrary to the advice provided in the highway code such a procedure can consume a considerable amount of time and fuel while waiting for a suitable gap in the traffic and is often dangerous to a greater or lesser extent due to one or more of the drivers restricted visibility, slow movement of the vehicle, and general awkwardness of the manoeuvre.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimize one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a turntable for a motor vehicle comprising wheel support means mounted on bearing means having ground support engagement means for securing of the turntable to ground support means in use of the turntable, said wheel support means being formed and arranged so that a pneumatically tyred motor vehicle can be driven on and off and then supported by said wheel support means during rotation of the turntable.

With a turntable of the present invention it is possible easily and quickly to turn a vehicle round through 1 80my in a confined space thereby saving time and fuel and increasing safety in at least some cases.

Desirably the wheel support means include inclined ramp surfaces at their opposite end portions. Conveniently the wheel support means are in the form of two parallel spaced apart elongate track members whose separation is advantageously adjustable for different vehicle track widths.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a turntable of the invention; and Figure 2 is a side elevation partially sectioned along the line A-A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a motor-vehicle turntable 1 comprising wheel support means in the form of two parallel spaced apart elongate track members 2 mounted on a table 3 rotatably mounted via main bearing means 4 on a base 5.

The base 5 constitutes a ground support engagement means, being laid on the ground e.g. an existing drive, on which it is secured in position with the aid of suitable foundations 6 or other anchor means (see Fig. 2). The base 5 is formed with two concentric circular bearing tracks 7 spaced apart and disposed so as to distribute the load on the base 5. The bearing tracks 7 support spherical main bearings 8 which are desirably held captive by suitable known means such as pins 9 or casings 10 at predetermined spaced apart positions on the base 11 of the table 3 which has a peripheral depending flange 12 which extends down the outer edge 13 of the base 5 to substantially seal the area between the table 3 and base 5 against ingress of foreign matter.

The table 3 is provided on its upper surface 14 with a plurality of parallel spaced apart elongate slide tracks 15 and bearing means 16 extending transversely of the track members 2 which they support. Parallel to the elongate tracks 15 and bearing means 16 (generally similar to but somewhat lighter duty than the main bearing means 4) are provided serrated locating members 17 which are selectively engagable by locking means 18 provided on the track members 2 for locking the latter in position on the table 3 at any desired separation corresponding to the track width of the user's vehicle 19.

At each end of the track members 2 are provided overhanging inclined ramp portions 20 to facilitate driving on and off the vehicle 19. Spaced from the ends are optionally provided part-cylindrical depressions 21 spaced apart in accordance with the wheel base of the vehicle 19 for receiving the wheels 21 when the vehicle is centrally located on the turntable.

In use the vehicle 19 is driven onto the track members 2 and its fixed brake put on.

The turntable is then rotated, conveniently by pushing on the front or rear of one side of the vehicle, about its centre through 1 80' so that the vehicle faces in the direction from which it has come. The vehicle may then be driven forwards out of the user's parking space. It may be seen that the device will be of particular value to the less experienced or more nervous driver.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus a, preferably collapsible or releasable, handle means 22 may be provided at one side of the turntable and/or a motor e.g. an electrically operated motor 23 provided with suitable drive means engaging 24 with the turntable may be used to rotate the turntable.

Conveniently in either case the turntable is provided with releasable engagement means 25 e.g. springloaded ball and cup means, disposed for acting between the table 3 and the base 5 for releasably holding the turntable in predetermined angular dispositions e.g.

with the vehicle pointing straight in and straight out of the drive. The bearing means may be of any conventional form e.g. roller bearings and made of any suitable material including for example suitable organic or inorganic polymeric materials.

Claims

1. A turntable for a motor vehicle comprising wheel support means mounted on bearing means having ground support engagement means for securing of the turntable to ground support means in use of the turntable said wheel support means being formed and arranged so that a pneumatically tyred motor vehicle can be driven on and off and then supported by said wheel support means during rotation of the turntable.

2. A turntable as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wheel support means include inclined ramp surfaces at their opposite end portions.

3. A turntable as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the wheel support means are in the form of two parallel spaced apart elongate track members whose separation is adjustable for different vehicle track widths.

4. A turntable as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the wheel support means are provided with wheel location means for resisting rnlling#oTthe vehicle along said wheel support means.

5. A turntable as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein is provided a motor formed and arranged for acting between said wheel support means and at least one of said ground support and ground support engagement means for rotation of said wheel support means on said ground support engagement means.

6. A turntable as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein is provided a releasable engagement means formed and arranged for acting between said wheel support means and at least one of said ground support and ground support engagement means so as to releasably lock them against relative rotation in selected predetermined angular dispositions.

7. A turntable as claimed in claim 6 wherein said releasable engagement means is formed and arranged for releasable locking in two positions angularly spaced apart by 180 .

8. A turntable substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.