A Four-Wheel Driven, All-Terrain Vehicle
20250010936 ยท 2025-01-09
Inventors
Cpc classification
B62K5/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62K5/003
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B62K5/003
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A four-wheel driven vehicle capable of all terrain use and which is particularly suitable for people with reduced physical ability has a frame with various arms, connections and suspension elements that assist the capability of use off-road or on trails and paths with uneven ground. The vehicle can be classified as a wheel chair according to national requirements and standards.
Claims
1-16. (canceled)
17. A four-wheel driven vehicle, comprising: a bracket device (18); and a frame (1) comprising: a right front wheel suspension (2) with a right front wheel (6) and a left front wheel suspension (3) with a left front wheel (7); and a right rear wheel suspension (4) with a right rear wheel (8) and a left rear wheel suspension (5) with a left rear wheel (9), wherein the right front wheel suspension (2) comprises a right, upper, front control arm (10) is shaped as an A-arm and is connected to the frame (1) with a right, upper, front connecting connection (50) and a right, upper, rear connecting connection (51), the right front wheel suspension (2) further comprises a right, lower, front control arm (12) shaped as a curved A-arm and is connected to the frame (1) with a right, lower, front connecting connection (56) and a right, lower, rear connecting connection (57), the left front wheel suspension (3) comprises a left, upper, front control arm (11) shaped as an A-arm and is connected to the frame (1) with a left, upper, front connecting connection (53) and left, upper, rear connecting connection (54), the left front wheel suspension (3) further comprises a left, lower, front control arm (13) shaped as a curved A-arm and is connected to the frame (1) with a left, lower, front connecting connection (59) and a left, lower, rear connecting connection (60), the right, upper, front connecting connection (50) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the right, upper rear connecting connection (51) such that the right, upper, front control arm (10) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, the right, lower, front connecting connection (56) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the right, lower rear connecting connection (57) such that the right, lower, front control arm (12) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, the left, upper, front connecting connection (53) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the left, upper rear connecting connection (54) such that the left, upper, front control arm (11) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, and the left, lower, front connecting connection (59) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the left, lower rear connecting connection (60) such that the left, lower, front control arm (13) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.
18. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein: the right rear wheel suspension (4) comprises a right, lower, rear control arm (14) shaped as an A-arm and a right, upper camber link (16), the right, upper camber link (16) extending between and being connected to the bracket device (18) and a right, rear, link element (25), and the left rear wheel suspension (5) comprises a left, lower, rear control arm (15) shaped as an A-arm and a left, upper camber link (17), the left, upper camber link (17) extending between and being connected to the bracket device (18) and a left, rear, link element (26).
19. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 18, wherein: the right, lower, rear control arm (14) is connected to the frame (1) with a right, rear, lower, front connecting connection (72) and a right, rear, lower, rear connecting connection (73), and the right, rear, lower, front connecting connection (72) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the right, rear, lower, rear connecting connection (73), such that the right, lower, rear control arm (14) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane, the left, lower, rear control arm (15) is connected to the frame (1) with a left, rear, lower, front connecting connection (75) and a left, rear, lower, rear connecting connection (76), and the left, rear, lower, front connecting connection (75) is connected to the frame (1) vertically higher than the left, rear, lower, rear connecting connection (76), such that the left, lower, rear control arm (15) is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.
20. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein: the right, upper, front control arm (10) and the right, lower, front control arm (12) are connected to a right, front link element (23) which is further connected to a right, front wheel hub (19) and a longitudinal axis (47) of the right, front link element (23) forms a positive caster angle (43), and the left, upper, front control arm (11) and the left, lower, front control arm (13) and connected to a left, upper, front control arm (11) and the left, lower, front control arm (13) are connected to a left, front link element (24) which is further connected to a left, front wheel hub (20) and a longitudinal axis (47) of left, front link element forms a positive caster angle (43).
21. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the right, upper camber link (16) and the left, upper camber link (17) are adjustable for individual adjustment of a camber angle (42).
22. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the right front wheel suspension (2) is provided with a right, front damping device (27) and the left front wheel suspension (3) is provided with a left, front damping device (28), the right, front damping device (27) is attached to the frame (1) and to either right, upper, front control arm (10) or the right, lower, front control arm (12), and the left, front damping device (28) is attached to the frame (1) and to either the left, upper, front control arm (12) or the left, lower, front control arm (13).
23. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the right rear wheel suspension (4) has a right, rear damping device (29) which is attached to the bracket device (18) and the right, lower, rear control arm (14), and the left rear wheel suspension (5) has a left, rear damping device (30) which is attached to the bracket device (18) and the left, lower, rear control arm (15).
24. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein each of the right front wheel (6) and left front wheel (7) is provided with a respective propulsion device for individual drive of the respective front wheel (6, 7), and each of the right rear wheels (8) and left rear wheel (9) is provided with a respective propulsion device for individual drive of the respective back wheel (8, 9).
25. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the right front wheel (6) and left front wheel (7) or the right rear wheel (8) and left rear wheel (9) or both is provided with over-dimensioned tyres.
26. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein a steering column (A) is arranged in a substantially vertical position and is connected to the frame (1) above a position of legs of a driver, and a steering bracket (33) is connected to the steering column (A) and a position damping device (35) is connected to the frame (1) and the steering bracket (33).
27. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, comprising a right tie rod (31) connected between the steering bracket (33) and a right tie rod bracket (62), and a left tie rod (32) connected between the steering bracket (33) and a left tie rod bracket (63), wherein the right tie rod (31) and left tie rod (32) are arranged in a substantially horizontal position above a leg position of the driver.
28. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 26, wherein the steering column (A) is substantially vertically arranged or inclined backward towards the driver when the vehicle is arranged on a horizontal ground such that a steering device (34) is arranged in a plane that is substantially horizontal when the steering device (34) is turned about the longitudinal axis (52) of the steering column.
29. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the frame (1) is made of pipe elements (36) and is designed such that the pipe elements (36) can be used as a grab handle during transfer in and out of a seat (37) for drivers with reduced physical ability.
30. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle is a wheel chair for drivers with reduced physical ability.
31. The four-wheel driven vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0089] Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached figures, where
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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[0105] The figure also shows how the lower, front control arms 12, 13 are shaped as curved A-arms, where the lower, front curved A-arms extend substantially horizontally from about the longitudinal centre line of the frame 1 and out over the outer pipe elements 36 of the frame 1 and down to the right, lower joint connecting connections 58, 61 at a lowermost part of the front link elements 23, 24.
[0106] The figure further shows an embodiment of the roll bar 38 of the vehicle which is arranged behind the seat 37 and which will extend above the head of the driver such that it protects the driver in an overturn. The figure shows an embodiment of the steering device 34 provided with a display which can show for example a map, speed, battery status etc. The figure further shows that all wheels 6, 7, 8, 9 are provided with over-dimensioned tyres (fat-bike wheels).
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[0108] The figure further shows an embodiment of the roll bar 38 of the vehicle which is arranged behind the seat 37 and which will extend above the head of the driver such that it will protect the driver in an overturn. The figure also shows the steering device 34 provided with a display which can show for example a map, gps position, speed, battery status etc. The figure further shows that all wheels 6, 7, 8, 9 are provided with over-dimensioned tyres (fat-bike wheels).
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[0110] The figure also shows left, rear, lower, rear connecting connection 75 and left, rear, lower, front connecting connection 76, both preferably ball joint couplings, but may alternatively be a pivot joints, ball-and-socket joints, link couplings other suitable devices for the left, lower, rear control arm 15 to the frame 1. It is clearly shown that there is a give distance between them in the longitudinal direction, preferably 250 mm, but this may adjusted depending on the position of the seat 37. It is also conceivable that the connecting connection 75 is arranged in front of the seat (not shown here). The connecting connections 75, 76 are preferably ball joint couplings, but may alternatively be a pivot joint, ball-and-socket joint, link coupling or another suitable connection. The figure further shows the roll bar 38 and how it is an extension of the frame 1.
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[0112] The figure shows the front damping devices 26 and 27 and how they preferably are connected between the lower, front control arms 12 and 13 and the frame 1. The figure also shows the upper, front control arms 10 and 11 and how they preferably are connected to the frame 1 and to their respective link elements 23 and 24, and from there further connected together with their lower, front control arms 12 and 13. The figure shows the connecting connections which preferably are ball joint coupling, but may also be a pivot joints, ball-and-socket joints, link couplings or another type of suitable connection, for the upper control arms 10, 11, 12 and 13 where the front connecting connections 50, 53, 56 and 59 are located vertically higher than the rear connecting connections 51, 54, 57 and 60.
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[0114] There is further shown an embodiment of the camber links 16 and 17 and how they are connected with their connecting connections 68 and 70, here shown as link coupling, to the bracket device 18 and their connecting connections 69 and 71, here shown as ball joint coupling, but may also be a link coupling, pivot joint, ball-and-socket joint or other suitable connections, to their link elements 25 and 26. Further, the lower, rear control arms 14 and 15 are connected with their connecting connections 74 and 77, here shown as link connections that rotate about an axis, to their connecting connections 25 and 26 and are thereby connected to the upper camber links 16 and 17. Further, the lower, rear control arms 14 and 15 are connected to the bracket device 18 via the connecting connections 73 and 76, here shown as link coupling. The figure further shows a right, rear damping device 28 and a left, rear damping device 29 which are attached to each lower, rear control arm 14 and 15 and to the bracket device 18. The damping devices 28, 29 may function as both springing and damping for the rear suspensions 4 and 5.
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[0116] The figure also shows the bracket device 18 with its two parts, a front bracket 18a and a rear bracket 18b. The figure shows the upper camber links 16 and 17 with their respective connecting connections 69 and 71, here shown as ball joint couplings, but may alternatively be link couplings, ball-and-socket joints, pivot joints or other suitable connections, which are connected with their respective link connections 25 and 26.
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[0118] The figure clearly shows how the frame's 1 front part is formed with a frame as a fork down on each side of the foot-/leg placement and in front of the foot placement. The figure shows the substantially horizontal upper, front control arms which are arranged above the foot-/leg placement of the driver and the substantially vertical steering column ends in the steering bracket in a position above the foot-/leg position of the driver, and where the substantially horizontal tie rods are arranged above the foot-/leg position of the driver. Such a geometry of the frame 1 affects the maximum length of the vehicle such that the length of the vehicle does not exceed the requirements for the outer dimensions which are defined for wheel chairs in many countries.
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[0120] The figure also shows the vertical axis 80 of the steering column and the longitudinal axis 79 of the steering column, where it is indicated a turning about the longitudinal axis of the steering column 79 where the steering device 34 keeps its substantially horizontal position on turning about the longitudinal axis 79 of the steering column since the longitudinal axis 79 of the steering column is just slightly tilted backwards towards the driver relative to the vertical axis 80 of the steering column. The steering device 34 will then not come into conflict with the legs of the driver on turning about the longitudinal axis 79 of the steering column. In order for the steering column (A) not to come into conflict with the legs of the driver, the steering column (A) is preferably attached to a steering bracket 33 in a vertical position on the frame 1 above the legs of the driver, and the steering bracket 33 is further connected to a right and a left tie rod 31 and 32 which are also arranged in a vertical position above the legs of the driver. The front control arms and the tie rods preferably have connecting connections which are ball joint couplings to both the frame 1 and the link elements 23 and 24, but may also be ball-and-socket joints, link couplings, pivot joints or other suitable connections.
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TABLE-US-00001 Ref. no. Name: Description: 1 Frame 2 Right front wheel suspension 3 Left front wheel suspension 4 Right rear wheel suspension 5 Left rear wheel suspension 6 Right front wheel 7 Left front wheel 8 Right rear wheel 9 Left rear wheel 10 Right, upper, front control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an A, called an A-arm 11 Left, upper, front control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an A, called an A-arm 12 Right, lower, front control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an arched A, called arched A-arm 13 Left, lower, front control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an arched A, called arched A-arm 14 Right, lower, rear control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an A, called an A-arm 15 Left, lower, rear control arm Support arm, or control arm, shaped as an A, called an A-arm 16 Right, upper camber link 17 Left, upper camber link 18 Bracket device Comprises two brackets, a front bracket a and a rear bracket b 19 Right, front wheel hub 20 Left, front wheel hub 21 Right, rear wheel hub 22 Left, rear wheel hub 23 Right, front link element 24 Left, front link element 25 Right, rear link element 26 Left, rear link element 27 Right, front damping device 28 Left, front damping device 29 Right, rear damping device 30 Left, rear damping device A Steering column 31 Right tie rod 32 Left tie rod 33 Steering bracket 34 Steering device Handlebars, steering wheel, joystick etc. 35 Position damping device 36 Pipe element 37 Seat 38 Roll bar 39 Right handle Front brake 40 Left handle Rear brake 41 Kick-up angle [] 42 Camber angle [] 43 Caster angle [] 44 Vertical axis of the wheel 45 Centre axis of the wheel Hjulets senterakse 46 Vertical axis of the link element 47 Longitudinal axis of the link Can also be called the steering axis of the element front wheels 48 Kick-up longitudinal axis 49 Horizontal plane 50 Right, upper, front connecting Front, connecting connection between right, connection upper control arm 10 to the frame 1. 51 Right, upper, rear connecting Rear, connecting connection between right, connection upper control arm 10 to the frame 1 52 Right, upper, joint connecting Connecting connection between right, connection upper, front control arm 10 to right, front link element 23 53 Left, upper, front connecting Front, connecting connection between left, connection upper, control arm 11 to the frame 1 54 Left, upper, rear connecting Rear, connecting connection between left, connection upper, control arm 11 to the frame 1 55 Left, upper joint connecting Connecting connection between left, upper, connection front control arm 11 to left, front link element 24 56 Right, lower, front connecting Front, connecting connection between right, connection lower, control arm 12 to the frame 1 57 Right, lower, rear connecting Rear, connecting connection between right connection upper control arm 12 to the frame 1 58 Right, lower, joint connecting Connecting connection between right, lower, connection front control arm 12 to right, front link element 23 59 Left, lower, front connecting Front, connecting connection between left, connection lower control arm 13 to the frame 1 60 Left, lower, rear connecting Rear, connecting connection between right, connection upper control arm 13 to left, front 61 Left, lower, joint connecting Connecting connection between right, lower, connection front control arm 13 to left, front link element 24 62 Right tie rod bracket 63 Left tie rod bracket 64 Right, inner tie rod connecting Connecting connection between right tie rod connection 31 and steering bracket 33 65 Right, outer tie rod connecting Connecting connection between right tie rod connection 31 and right tie rod bracket 62 66 Left, inner tie rod connecting Connecting connection between left tie rod connection 32 and steering bracket 33 67 Left, outer tie rod connecting Connecting connection between left tie rod connection 32 and right tie rod bracket 63 68 Right, inner camber connecting Connecting connection between right connection camber link 16 and bracket device 18 69 Right, outer camber connecting Connecting connection between right connection camber link 16 and right, rear link element 25 70 Left, inner camber connecting Connecting connection between left camber connection link 17 and the bracket device 18 71 Left, outer camber connecting Connecting connection between left camber connection link 17 and right, rear link element 25 72 Right, rear, lower, front connecting Front connecting connection to the frame 1 connection for right, lower, rear control arm 14 73 Right, rear, lower, rear connecting Rear connecting connection to the frame 1 connection for right, lower, rear control arm 14 74 Right, rear, lower joint connecting Connecting connection between right, lower, connection rear control arm to the right, rear link element 25 75 Left, rear, lower, rear connecting Front connecting connection to the frame 1 connection for the right, lower, rear control arm 14 76 Left, rear, lower, front connecting Rear connecting connection to the frame 1 connection for right, lower, rear link arm 15 77 Left, rear, lower joint connecting Connecting connection between left, lower, connection rear link arm 15 to the left, rear link element 26 78 Lower, rear link arm bracket 79 Longitudinal axis of steering column 80 Vertical axis of steering column