WO1988004564A1

WO1988004564A1 - Steering system for one and/or multi track vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1988004564A1
Application number: PCT/EP1987/000802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Kubierschky
Original assignee: Stefan Kubierschky
Priority date: 1986-12-19
Filing date: 1987-12-18
Publication date: 1988-06-30
Also published as: NO165094C; EP0333764A1; NO865182D0; NO865182L; NO165094B; AU1049288A

Abstract

Steering system for steering of drive element (1) in a vehicule (3) where the vehicule (3) has forward and rearward drive elements (1) of which at least one is steerable, as well as two between these, about a common axis rotable and symmetrical about the center line of the vehicle's arranged steering drive elements (2), that the steering drive elements (2) are rotable about an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that each steerable drive element (2) is journalled rotably about a vertical axis to underside of the vehicle by a rotating bearing (10), that each steerable drive element (1) has one, closer to the underside of the vehicle (3) than the pivot axis for the steering drive elements (2), arranged and towards the protruding arm (5) of the steering drive elements (2) the outer end of which through a flexible link (4) is designed for manipulation for rotating the drive element (1) by rotating the axis of the steering drive elements (2) via a pivot arm (9) so that the drive element (1) at a certain angular position of the vehicle (3) in relation to the base on which the drive element or the drive elements (2) and the steering drive elements (2) stand, will turn a predetermined angle about the rotating bearing (10) at the position of the axis for the steering drive elements (2), and thus the following actuating of the arm (5) of the drive element (1) by the pivot arm (9), while the rotating axis for the drive elements (1) and the steering drive elements (2) intersect in the center for the course in which the vehicle (3) is moved.

Description

Steering system for one and/or multi track vehicles

This invention relates to a steering system for single and/or multi-track vehicles. Vehicles in this connection comprise vehicles with drive elements in the form of wheels, chains, rollers or equivalent, or combination of these. Vehicles of above type are used in several areas, has for articles within sport and leisure. Mentioned here are skate boards, ski boards, mono skis, roller skates, roller bob, ski bob, snow bob, ice-skate boards, roller skis for cross-country and down hill, slalom etc., land surfing etc. The field does however also cover sledges, stock cars and children's prams.

Further, the field also covers utility vehicles of any kind like bike cycles, motor bikes as well as vehicles for driving on snow, like motor sledges or snow scooters.

In principal all types of single and multi track vehicles are covered where weight displacement can be carried out decisibly.

With the steering system for vehicles according to the invention, simplified and safe steering of vehicles can be achieved solely by the user's movements on the vehicle. In cases where weight displacements of this kind cannot be carried out as desired, the steering system may through a modified embodiment, which also may be arranged for optional engagement and this engagement use for the steering, a steering rod or equivalent, or by means of another mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic method.

These advantages are achieved by the steering system according to the invention in connection with the spesifications of the characterizing parts of the accompaning claims.

Various areas of the application for the steering system according to the invention, have been described below in the connection with the drawings, where Fig. 1 schematically shows the principle of the steering system, Fig. 2 shows in perspective the steering system mounted in a vehicle with a front wheel and a rear wheel, Fig. 3-5 show the steering system in connection with a roller skate, with steering at the rear, at the front, and at the front and at the rear. Fig. 6 shows the steering system in connection with a roller skate generally shown from below, Fig. 7 shows the roller skate in Fig. 6 from the side, Fig. 8a-d shows the various possibilities for the utilization of the steering system according to the invention in connection with sail-driven vehicles on land, Fig. 9 shows in more detail the device in Fig. 8a, Fig. 10 shows in perspective a possible embodiment of the device in Fig. 2, Fig. 11 shows in side elevation an embodiment of the invention with drive elements in form of belts. Fig. 12 shows the device in Fig. 11 seen from the underside. Fig. 13 shows in perspective, from below, the device in Fig. 7, Fig. 14 shows a skate board with the steering system according to the invention seen from the side. Fig. 15 shows a ski board with the steering system according to the invention, seen from the side and, Fig. 16 shows schematically and in perspective an embodiment of a snow scooter with steering system according to the invention.

Advantageously use of the steering system according to the invention can be achieved when the steering system is actuating the forward drive element of a vehicle, it's rear drive element or it's forward and rear drive elements as shown in Fig. 3-5. The drive elements can be in the form of wheels, rollers, belts, skis or equivalent such as shqwn in Fig. 2, 6, 8, 11, 15 and 16. The principle of the steering system will particularly appear from Fig. 1 and more particularly in connection with Fig. 2, The vehicle 3 which may be of various designs, as shown in the drawings, e.g. a plate of a skate board, the base of a roller skate etc. To the underside of the vehicle 3, is attached a drive element 1 rotably about a vertical shaft in a rotating bearing 10. A steering rod 5 is connected to the drive element 1 in such a way that turning the steering rod 5 will provide a proportionate rotation of the drive element 1. A steering drive element 2 has been attached to each side of the center of area of the vehicle and at a distance from this.S steering drive elements 2 are interconnected by means of a traversal shaft 8 and are pressed with spring means 6 down against the base 11. The longitudinal shaft 7 is preferably possitioned closer base 11 than the steering rod 5. A pivot arm 9 is in one end attached to the longitudinal shaft 7 and it's other end is vertically slidingly linked to the protruding end of the steering rod 5. Rotation of the longitudinal shaft 7 will thus rotate the pivot arm 9 which via the link, or the flexible connection, will likewise rotate the protruding end of the steering rod 5 outward from the center area of the vehicle 3, thus also adjust the drive element 1 angularly in proportion to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The steering drive elements 2 can be rotably attached to the traversal shaft 8 which is connected to the longitudinal shaft 7, directly as shown in Fig. 1, or indirectly as shown in Fig. 2. In both cases the steering drive elements 2 are by means of suitable springs 6, alowed to move vertically in relation to the vehicle 3 in order to safely in this manner to abut the base 3 and also in order to absorb any hight variations rising from the angularity of the vehicle 3, depending on the drive elements 1 being used. Since the vehicle 3 because of the user's weight displacement, is brought to a angular position in relation to the vertical plane, a rotation bearing 10 will likewise move away from this plane while the link of the steering rod 5 with the pivot arm 9 will implay that the drive element 1 will be rotated in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 3 so that the vehicle 3 will move in a curved path and in a circular path if the position of the vehicle 3 is kept. The axis of the shaft 8 and the axis of the drive element 1 will intersect in the center of the circle. If the vehicle has two steerable drive elements 1, one at the front and one behind the steering drive elements 2, the movement of the drive elements 1 will be symmetrical about the shaft 8 and also in this case the axes of the drive elements 1 and the axis of the shaft 8 will intersect in the center of the circle.

Fig. 2 shows a vehicle with forward and rearward drive elements 1 as well as two steering drive elements 2, where the steering can be carried away out by weight displace ment or under the influence of a steering lever 12. The longitudinal shaft 7 is pivotly journalled to the vehicle 3 (not shown), but can by separate locking lever 13 be locked in a neutral position in order that the user by means of weight displacement on the vehicle will be able to achieve steering in the above-mentioned manner. By releasing the locking lever 13 the longitudinal shaft 7 will however be rotable in relation to the vehicle. When the user activates the steering lever 12 for instance towards the left in Fig. 2, the pivot arms 9 will move towards right and at the same time move the steering rods 5 towards the right so that the forward drive element 1 is facing towards left and the rearward drive element will face towards the right and the vehicle thereby will turn in a circular path if the steering lever 12 is kept firmly in this position.

Fig. 3-5 show roller skates where each drive element

1 can consist of one or two wheels. In Fig. 3 a forward drive element is in a fixed position while Fig. 5 shows an embodiment where both the forward and the rearward drive element are being steered by steering drive elements 2 in the same manner as described above.

As shown in Fig. 6 and 7 the steering drive elements

2 can be equal to the drive elements 1. As shown in Fig. 7 the longitudinal shaft 7 is in this embodiment not attacted directly to the traversal shaft 8, however to an upper end of a vertical pivo arm 9, while the traversal shaft 8 is fixed to the lower end of the pivot arm 9. Rotating the drive elements 1 in relation to the vehicle 3 will however by achieved in the same manner as described above. Fig. 13 shows schematically and in perspective the roller skate in Fig. 6 and 7.

Roller skates are today mainly made with two pairs of rollers which are journalled in such a way that their axes in rubber suspentions of the rollers, will be forced to turn by angular positioning of the foot. With the steering system according to the invention it is possible to use six wheels as described above. In addition to multi-track embodiments it is also however possible with a mixture of for in stance one wheel at the front or at the rear.

The steering system according to the invention gives possibilities within several areas of application with the combination of wheels, belts, mows etc., with one or two tracks, with steering by means of a steering lever or only by weight displacement. There will also be reasonable, simple solutions for the disabled for steering of vehicles with the steering system according to the invention. However, the vehicles may with a steering system according to the invention, be buildt as belt vehicles at very low cost, since the vehicles are very simple to operate and they may also be made as amphibian constructions. Contrary to known belt driven constructions where the belt are exposed to heavy wear during operation, corresponding vehicles will with the steering system according to the invention achieve a considerably less wear, greater driving safety and manoeuvrability.

Fig. 8a and d and Fig. 9 show a possible embodiment of a wind surfer on wheels, designed with the steering system according to the invention. Correspondingly, as shown in Fig. 8b, c and Fig. 10, a beach surfer with a fixed mast may be build with the same steering system. Fig. 11 and 12 show the principle made-up of roller skis for down-hill skiing where today are used forward rearward belts and where the roller skis with a steering system according to the invention, could be build very low and in a simple manner be steered by correspondingly placement of the user's weight. The roller skis may be designed as shown in Fig. 12, with two parallel belts, one at the front and two parallel belts at the rear.

The use of skate boards are increasing substantially and Fig. 14 shows an embodiment of a skate board with a steering system according to the invention. The skate board can be provided with two or even three rollers for the drive elements at the front and at the rear and otherwise in accordance with the above described principle. Known skate boards have axles journalled in the forward and the rearward end of the foot plate which may entail a risk that the user, when great manoeuvreability is desired, will place the weight on the forward or the rearward part of the board and thus in front of or behind the traversal center line of the skate board, which will envolve a considerable safety risk. By using the skate board steering according to the invention the user has a complete control of the skate board's steering from all places on the skate board and thus the risk for the user to move the weight to the forward or to the rearward part of the board will be reduced as this does not give any advantages. Because of the six, nine wheels, a curve safety will be achieved particularly as all rollers are moved on the track with the same center.

Fig. 15 shows a mono ski with forward and rearward drive elements 1 in form of skis or mows and where the steering drive elements 2 likewise are developed as skis or mows. The journalling and manner of operation correspond to the construction in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 shows the principle for the design of a snow scooter with drive in the rearward drive element 1 which has been developed with a belt and a motor arranged internally in the belt. The construction is otherwise designed as in Fig. 2, with a possibility for steering by means of a steering lever 12, or by operating the lock lever 13 by weight displacement.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. Steering system for steering of drive element (1) in a vehicle (3), CHARACTERIZED BY the vehicle (3) having Sforward and rearward drive elements (1) of which at least one is steerable, as well as two between these, about a common axis, rotateable and symmetrical about the vehicle's center line arranged steering drive elements (2), the steering drive elements (2) being rotateable about one in the vehicle's longitudinal arranged axis, each steerable drive element (1) is journalled rotateably about vertical axis to the vehicle' s underside with a pivot bearing (10), each steerable drive element (1) as one, closer to the underside of the vehicle (3) than the pivot axis of the steering drive elements (2) arranged and toward the steering drive elements (2), protruding arm (5) which outer end with flexible link (4) is designed for being actuated for rotating the drive element (1) by rotating the shaft of the steering drive elements (2) via a pivot arm (9), so that the drive element (1) by a certain angular position of the vehicle (3) in relation to the bases on which the drive element or the drive elements (1) and a steering drive element (2) stands, will turn to a predetermined angle about the rotating bearing (10) by the position of the axis for the steering drive elements (2) and by the influence of the pivot arm (9) on the arm (5) of the drive element (1) while the steered rotation axes of the drive element (1) and a steering drive element (2) will intersect in the center of the course in which the vehicle (3) is moved.

2. Steering system as in claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY the rotation of the forward drive element, the rearward drive element or both drive elements being controlled by the position of the steering drive elements (2) in relation to the vehicle (3).

3. Steering system as in claims 1-2, CHARACTERIZED BY the steering elements (2) being journalled resiliently to the vehicle (3) and that the flexible link (4) allows for vertical movement of the pivot arm (9) in relation to the arm (5) of the drive element (1).

4. Steering system according to claim 1-3, CHARACTERIZED BY a longitudinal shaft (7) being fixedly connected to a shaft (8) for the steering drive element (2) and at least one pivot arm (9) will actuating the arm (5) of the drive element (1).

5. Steering system according to claims 1-3, CHARACTERIZED BY the one end of the pivot arm (9) being fixedly connected to a shaft (8) for the steering drive elements (2), and the other end of the pivot arm being fixedly connected to a longitudinal shaft (9), one end or both ends of which are flexibly connected to the outer end of the arm (5).

6. Steering system according to claims 1-5, CHARACTERIZED BY each drive element comprises one or more wheels and that each steering drive element (2) comprises one wheel.

7. Steering drive element according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY the forward and the rearward drive elements (1) each consist of two at a distance from each other arranged wheels, and that each of the steering drive elements (2) comprises one wheel of mainly the same size.

8. Steering system according to claims 1-7, CHARACTERIZED BY the vertical distance between the transversal pivot axis and a flexible link (9) of the steering drive elements (2), as well as the length of the arm(s) of the drive elements (1) being adapted to the requirements for roller skates, roller skate boards, roller wind surfers, roller skis etc.

9. Steering system according to claims 1-5, CHARACTERIZED BY at least one drive element (1) comprises one or two belts and that each steering drive element (2) comprises one belt or one ski.

10. Steering system according to claims 1-5, CHARACTERIZED BY each drive element (10) comprises one ski, mow etc. and each steering drive element (2) comprises one ski, mow etc.

11. Steering system according to claims 1-10, CHARAC- TERIZED BY a drive means, for instance a motor, connected to at least one steerable drive element (1).