Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1990-11-02
1992-01-14
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280718, 280719, B60G 300
Patent
active
050803905
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to vehicles with plastic suspensions.
The vehicle is particularly, though not exclusively, suited for use as a means of supporting a ground probing radar assembly. Such an assembly has a square metal plate above the antenna which produces a large amount of radio frequency shielding of the metal work of the electronics units mounted above the plate. In order to reduce spurious reflections off objects placed near to the antenna, such as the vehicle suspension, it is necessary to use 4-fold symmetry as far as possible.
A vehicle according to the invention has four wheels of plastics material with a suspension of plastics material comprising four wheel mountings and four pairs of equal length arms, one pair for each mounting, the four pairs as seen in plan being arranged in a square, one arm in any pair extending lengthwise of the vehicle from an anchorage on the vehicle to the mounting and the other extending transversely of the vehicle from an anchorage on the vehicle to the mounting, the suspension also comprising means controlling vertical wheel motion.
In one form of vehicle, said means comprises a buffer carried by each mounting which on upward movement pushes against an abutment.
Preferably, the abutment is one end portion of an arm mounted mid-way between two leading or trailing wheels so that the two buffers carried by the mountings of those wheels push against abutments on the same arm. Preferably, each pair of leading or trailing wheels has an arm mounted mid-way between the wheels of the pair.
One embodiment of vehicle will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively, a plan, a side elevation and an end elevation, partly in section of the vehicle.
The drawings show a vehicle having a chassis 10 in the form of a square 6 millimeter thick aluminum alloy plate. The square is 60 centimeters by 60 centimeters and is supported on four ground wheels 12 of synthetic plastics materials. The wheels 12 are each mounted in a mounting 14 secured to a block 16. Each block 16 is secured to a pair of equal length arms 18, 20 which, as seen in plan, are arranged in a square as shown in FIG. 1. The arms 18, 20 as shown are slightly angled but they could equally well conform exactly to the sides of a square. The mountings 14 are positioned so that the wheels 12 are at the corners of a rectangle, as shown.
Each arm 18, 20 consists of two spring leaves 22, 24 and 26, 28 arranged one above the other. Each arm 18 extends lengthwise of the vehicle from an anchorage 30, secured mid-way along one side of the chassis plate 10, to the relevant mounting block 16. Each arm 20 extends transversely of the vehicle from an anchorage 32, secured mid-way along one end of the chassis plate 10, to the relevant mounting block 16. The spring leaves 22, 24 and 26, 28 are each integral with the mounting 16 and either the anchorage 30 or 32.
Each mounting block 16 carries an upright buffer 36 which extends through a hole in the plate 10. The two buffers 36 on the mounting block 16 at one end of the vehicle (FIG. 3) on upward movement press against an abutment in the form of end portions of a multi-leaf spring arm 38. The arm 38 is pivotted about a horizontal pivot pin 40 secured in a mounting 42. The buffers 36 at the other end of the vehicle are similar and on upward movement press against an abutment in the form of end-portions of a multi-leaf spring arm 38, in this case locked against pivotal movement about its pin 40.
The arms 18, 20 kinematically locate each wheel mounting 14 with respect to the chassis 10 so that the wheel mounting can move approximately vertically. They are similar to pin-jointed, rigid arms which in a modification is used instead.
The stiffness in the suspension is provided by the spring arms 38. By locking one arm 38 against motion about its pivot pin 42, it is ensured that all four wheels 12 engage the ground. In a modification both arms 38 are locked against motion, so providing independent four wheel suspension.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1209205 (1916-12-01), Ridgway
patent: 4055362 (1977-10-01), Becker, III
patent: 4620285 (1986-10-01), Perdue
patent: 4690427 (1987-09-01), Raidel, Sr.
patent: 4749206 (1988-06-01), Delery et al.
British Gas plc
Rice Kenneth R.
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