Swinging Axle Or Half-axle Patents (Class 280/93.504)
  • Patent number: 11820449
    Abstract: An embodiment independent corner module includes a knuckle unit positioned at an inward area of a wheel, an upper arm fastened between an upper end of the knuckle unit and a vehicle body, a lower arm fastened between a lower end of the knuckle unit and the vehicle body, a steering unit configured to input a steering angle to the knuckle unit by being rotated with respect to the lower arm, and a rack steering unit positioned under the steering unit and fastened to the knuckle unit, the rack steering unit being configured to apply a rotating force to the knuckle unit by varying a length thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Sehyun Chang, Sang Woo Hwang, Min Jun Kim, Young Il Sohn
  • Patent number: 9307696
    Abstract: A lawn mower has a dual-tubular frame for shock absorption. The dual-tubular frame has two parallel, longitudinally-extending tubular structures with curved portions allowing for flexion. A seat bracket interconnects the tubular structures. An engine is mounted to the tubular structures rearward of the seat bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Justin Warner, Warren Pendry, Eric Canonge, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Lennie D. Rhoades, Roger J. Leon, David Bonner, Darren Chandler, Jake Fiser, Brad Graham, Duncan K. Burns, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8857551
    Abstract: A rear suspension of a three-wheeled car with two front wheels and one rear wheel installed in the car body frame may include a pair of roll links that may be connected to the front wheels and twists as the car turns, and a roll connector that pivots around a shaft as the roll links twist, and a knuckle assembly, which may be joined to a rear wheel, installed in the rear end of the car body frame, and connected to a roll connector so that it turns left and right as the roll connector turns, wherein the knuckle assembly turns in the same direction the front wheels turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Jae-Kil Lee
  • Patent number: 8851489
    Abstract: A steering system for motor vehicles including agricultural machines is provided. The system includes a first conventional steering assembly for the front wheels to rotate only each of the front wheels within a respective first predetermined steering angle, each front wheel rotatable to a pre-determined first maximum value within its pre-determined angle. The system also includes a second steering assembly to independently steer a front axle and the front wheels within a second pre-determined steering angle. The second steering assembly is activated only after each of the front wheels have reached its respective first maximum value within its first pre-determined steering angle, during the conventional steering performed by the first conventional steering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Gabriele Balboni
  • Patent number: 8814186
    Abstract: A steering mechanism of a reverse tricycle in combination includes a structural member including a central opening, two upper openings, and two lower openings; two upper link arm assemblies pivotably secured to the upper openings respectively; two lower link arm assemblies pivotably secured to the lower openings respectively; a shock absorber disposed through the central opening and having both ends pivotably secured to the lower link arm assemblies respectively; and two pivot assemblies wherein one pivot assembly pivotably secured to a hub of one front wheel of the tricycle and an other pivot assembly pivotably secured to a hub of an other front wheel of the tricycle. The steering mechanism causes leaning of the reverse tricycle in the direction of turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Adiva Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Komasato Rinda
  • Patent number: 8801012
    Abstract: A vehicle has a chassis (11) and at least one axle (12, 13) suspended from the chassis for vertical and roll movement relative to the chassis. The axle is mounted on the chassis via a first pivotal mounting means in the form of an upper pair of arms (12a, 13a) which is pivoted on the chassis for vertical pivoting movement relative thereto and which carry an axle support (15, 16) on which the axle (12, 13) is free to pivot in the roll mode. A first damping means (19) acts between the chassis (11) and the first pivotal mounting means (12a, 13a) to control vertical movement of the axle relative to the chassis, and a second damping means acts between the first pivotal mounting means (12a, 13a) and the axle (12, 13) to provide independent control of the roll movement of the axle relative to the chassis. A second lower pair of pivoting arms (12b, 13b) also connect the axle (12, 13) to the chassis to control fore and aft movement of the axle relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO SA
    Inventors: Geoffroy Husson, Frederic Ducroquet
  • Publication number: 20140203544
    Abstract: A golf cart includes a frame, an adjuster, and a pair of suspension assemblies that reduce changes in camber angles in a pair of wheels caused by an adjustment of a ground clearance. The adjuster includes a pair of first adjusting portions and a pair of second adjusting portions. Each of the first adjusting portions includes a first upper hole and a first lower hole. Each of the second adjusting portions includes a second upper hole and a second lower hole. Each suspension assembly includes a damper and an arm portion. When the golf cart is set to a high ground clearance, the first adjusting portions are installed between the frame and the dampers, and the second adjusting portions are installed between the frame and the arm portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Yamaha Motor Power Products Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta INOUE, Ken ITOU, Yuya SATO
  • Patent number: 8607914
    Abstract: A rear suspension of a three-wheeled car with two front wheels and one rear wheel installed in the car body frame may include a pair of roll links that may be connected to the front wheels and twists as the car turns, and a roll connector that pivots around a shaft as the roll links twist, and a knuckle assembly, which may be joined to a rear wheel, installed in the rear end of the car body frame, and connected to a roll connector so that it turns left and right as the roll connector turns, wherein the knuckle assembly turns in the same direction the front wheels turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lee, Jae-Kil Lee
  • Publication number: 20130249179
    Abstract: To reduce the complexity, maintenance, and cost, and to increase the reliability of a riding lawnmower employing a short turn radius steering system, the riding lawn mower may be configured with a linkage and steering assembly that eliminates or reduces complicated gearing. A riding lawn mower may comprise a link system, pivot brackets, and spindle assemblies. The geometry of the steering system may be configured to provide a turn radius of seven inches or less. Moreover, the geometry of the steering system may be configured to provide Ackerman steering, such that, the inside wheel turns sharper than the outside wheel in a turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA CONSUMER OUTDOOR PRODUCTS N.A., INC.
    Inventor: Duncan Burns, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130193658
    Abstract: A steering system for motor vehicles including agricultural machines is provided. The system includes a first conventional steering assembly for the front wheels to rotate only each of the front wheels within a respective first predetermined steering angle, each front wheel rotatable to a pre-determined first maximum value within its pre-determined angle. The system also includes a second steering assembly to independently steer a front axle and the front wheels within a second pre-determined steering angle. The second steering assembly is activated only after each of the front wheels have reached its respective first maximum value within its first pre-determined steering angle, during the conventional steering performed by the first conventional steering assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Gabriele Balboni
  • Patent number: 8056911
    Abstract: In summary, there is provided a front axle mounting assembly (100) which is suitable for a tractor or a construction vehicle for example. The assembly comprises a steerable front axle (130), which is typically the front axle on a tractor, and a pair of support arms (120) which extend forwardly from the main body of the vehicle. The arms are pivotally mounted to the body of the vehicle, for example, at the front of the chassis, at transversely spaced mounting points (121). The other ends of the arms (120) are pivotally attached to, and maintained at a fixed spacing, by a crosslink member (124). The axle (130) is mounted to the crosslink member (124) so as to be parallel thereto when viewed from above. By mounting the axle (130) on two support arms (120) instead of one, the effective radius of pivot of the axle is significantly increased, thereby allowing the axle to move sideways to a greater extent for a given angular displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: AGCO SA
    Inventor: Geoffroy Husson
  • Patent number: 7637512
    Abstract: A boom support vehicle for supporting elongated loads includes a front dolly which is pivotally connected to a rear dolly at an articulation point. The front dolly includes a front self steering castor axle, and a rear conventional axle. This combination of axles results in stability at high speeds, while also reducing the amount of scuffing which the boom support vehicle experiences as the transporting vehicle and the boom support vehicle negotiate a turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: James R. McGhie, Robb I. McGhie
  • Patent number: 7467683
    Abstract: A steering axle for vehicles includes means for angularly displacing the axle body about a steering axis as a consequence of the relative displacement between the wheel hubs and the axle body, and vertical securing means are provided between the axle body and the bearing structure in order to hold the axle body secured vertically to the bearing structure during the lateral displacement, wherein the vertical securing means comprise an extensible member, the extension of which is correlated to the position of the axle body with respect to the second steering axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Carraro S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luciano Malvestio
  • Publication number: 20060049597
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a transmission shaft, a linkage, and a seat. The chassis has two front wheel units pivotally mounted thereto. The transmission shaft is rotatably mounted to the chassis. The linkage is connected between the transmission shaft and the two front wheel units for turning the two front wheel units upon rotation of the transmission shaft. The seat is fixedly mounted on the transmission shaft for the user sitting thereon to turn the transmission shaft and to further turn the two front wheel units relatively to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: J.D. Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Do Chan, Wan-Chu Hung
  • Patent number: 6729647
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for folding and stowing of a steering assembly in combination with virtually any nature of wheeled devices which include at least one “steerable” wheel, so that a more thin, stowed profile is achieved. All components of the steering assembly/dashboard are integrated into a generally parallel plane and profile without use of a separate “steering column,” so that the assembly, when folded, is conveniently stowed within the side elevational profile of the wheeled device. The folding steering assembly embodiments may be adapted to any steerable wheeled devices, with fixed or stowable wheels, whether user occupied, or remote controlled, and including wheeled devices specially equipped with implements (e.g., material handling, imaging, scientific or measurement, agricultural, landscaping, lawn-mowing as but a few examples).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Richard N. Shapiro, Philip A. Gurecki
  • Patent number: 6371237
    Abstract: A steering mechanism for a ride height adjustable vehicle is provided having a leg which is coupled to a wheel and rotatably coupled within a journal. A base plate is secured to the leg and a pair of uprights are secured to the journal. The uprights are secured to the journal substantially parallel to one another. The uprights are secured to the top of a spring and the spring is secured to a spring plate. Means are provided for rotating the base plate relative to the spring plate, and the spring plate is slidably coupled to both the first upright and the second upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James A. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 6299181
    Abstract: A log hauler having a wheeled tractor and one or more wheeled log trailers with support wheels which are individually steerable to permit the log hauler to travel in a serpentine manner through a tree harvesting area. The support wheels are vertically adjustable to provide stability as the log hauler traverses uneven ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Jan A. Ericksson
  • Patent number: 6263990
    Abstract: An auto-carriage has a first frame and a second frame pivotally connected to the first frame so that both the front wheels and the rear wheels of the carriage are able to maintain engagement to the ground at all times. Furthermore, a pair of unidirectional bearings are provided to distal ends of an axle, such that the carriage is able to change the moving direction easily. A first linkage connected to a secondary linkage through a universal joint enables the steering force of a user to convert to the driving force to the front wheel bracket so as to change the moving direction of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Chieh-I Liu