Patents by Inventor David A. Renfroe

David A. Renfroe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7073822
    Abstract: A steering suspension system utilizing a flexible push/pull cable attached from an operator input mechanism across a suspension system to a wheel steering mechanism. An operator input mechanism is located within a land vehicle structure supported by a wheel. A suspension system connects the wheel to the land vehicle structure and a wheel steering mechanism is used to connect the wheel to the suspension system. The flexible cable connection minimizes the complexity in number of parts for the steering system while providing a flexible connection to the wheel steering mechanism allowing free suspension movement with minimal or negligible affects provided from the steering linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventors: David A. Renfroe, Joe Partain
  • Patent number: 6709013
    Abstract: There is disclosed lever steering apparatus for a land vehicle with steerable and independently suspended front wheels having left and right steering levers at the driver position. The left and right steering levers are coupled by lever mechanisms and an elongated rod to move in opposite directions. Left and right fore and aft links extend from the left and right steering levers to the left and right front wheels to transmit steering motion displacement to the steerable front wheels causing rotation of the axles of the wheels about a vertical axis. A controller arm connected to each wheel stub axles is connected to the forward end of a fore and aft link for steering motion of a front wheel. The control arm fore and aft link combination causes each wheel steering motion to have a predetermined relation to motion of the corresponding link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: University of Arkansas
    Inventors: David A. Renfroe, Joe Partain
  • Publication number: 20020135174
    Abstract: There is disclosed lever steering apparatus for a land vehicle with steerable and independently suspended front wheels having left and right steering levers at the driver position. The left and right steering levers are coupled by lever mechanisms and an elongated rod to move in opposite directions. Left and right fore and aft links extend from the left and right steering levers to the left and right front wheels to transmit steering motion displacement to the steerable front wheels causing rotation of the axles of the wheels about a vertical axis. A controller arm connected to each wheel stub axles is connected to the forward end of a fore and aft link for steering motion of a front wheel. The control arm fore and aft link combination causes each wheel steering motion to have a predetermined relation to motion of the corresponding link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: David A. Renfroe, Joe Partain
  • Patent number: 5931244
    Abstract: A steering system in an all-terrain four-wheeled vehicle with independent suspension wherein necessary forces for steering control are supplied by cable and pulley actuators with the cable running parallel to the suspension arm between vehicle frame and wheel, steering control by the driver being by manipulation of right and/or left steering levers eliminating the need of steering wheel and steering column in front of the driver. The steering actuators are independent and there is no linkage for coordinating their turning angles; rather, close coordination of the wheel turning angles for achieving the turning angle relation between the wheels is by a non-linear linkage whereby the actuators are provided with separate displacement motions with the non-linear relation to achieve the desired relation between the steering angles of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Board of Trustee of University of Arkansas
    Inventors: David A. Renfroe, Joseph F. Partain
  • Patent number: 5653304
    Abstract: A steering system in an all-terrain four-wheeled vehicle with independent suspension wherein necessary forces for wheels to respond to steering control is supplied by fluid pressure or electrical actuators mounted parallel to the suspension arm between vehicle frame and wheel control arm, steering control by the driver being by manipulation of right and/or left steering levers eliminating the need of steering wheel and steering column in front of the driver. The steering actuators are independent and there is no tracking rod or other linkage for coordinating their turning angles; rather, close coordination of the wheel turning angles for achieving the Ackerman angle relation or other non-linear turning angle relation between the wheels is by a now-linear linkage between left and right steering levers or elsewhere or by a computer control for electric actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: University of Arkansas, N.A.
    Inventor: David A. Renfroe
  • Patent number: 5435407
    Abstract: There is disclosed a steering system for a wheeled vehicle, particularly one with independent suspension of the steerable wheels, which is characterized by the lack of any necessity for a direct physical linkage between steering control arms of the left and right wheels and by the use of separate, independent fluid pressure cylinder pairs connected by fluid pressure conduit for imparting motion to the respective steerable wheels. Coordination between the angular motion of the left and right steerable wheels is attained by a direct mechanical linkage between actuator members of the hydraulic cylinders remote from the wheel suspension which linkage can be arranged for non-linear relative motion which will result in desired coordinated but unequal motion of left and right steerable wheels. Such linkage between actuator members is operated directly or indirectly by the steering wheel, steering levers, or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: University of Arkansas
    Inventor: David A. Renfroe