CA1206181A - Six-wheel armored vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

SIX-WHEEL ARMORED VEHICLE

ABSTRACT

A. six-wheel armored vehicle has each wheel driven by an engine mounted between the front wheels and to the side of a driver's station disposed in the beveled shaped nose of the vehicle. Terrain in front and to the sides of the vehicle may be viewed by a driver from within the vehicle by a plurality of periscopes. Alternatively, a hatch opening in a forward sloping surface of the nose immediately be-hind the periscopes permits the driver to raise his head out of the vehicle in order to view the terrain.
A fuel storage tank is formed integral with rear portions of the vehicle's hull and comprises a plurality of interconnected fuel cells defined by double wall construction of the hull body. A fresh air inlet and deflector arrangement in the upper horizontal surface of the hull delivers fresh air forwardly to an engine compartment for cooling the engine, and warm air generated by the engine is re-versed in flow direction and exhausted via a conduit through an outlet opening immediately adjacent the fresh air inlet.

Description

This invention generally relates to armored vehicles of the type employed for military or law enforcement activities, and deals more particularly with a six-wheel vehicle having an improved hull construction.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Application serial number 382,648, filed on July 28, 1981.
Armored personnel carriers of the type employing rubber tires, as distinguished from track-laying vehicles, have been produced in several countries for many years. Such vehicles include the "MOWAG" which is manufactured in Switzerland and the "COMMANDO" which is manufactured by the Cadillac Gage Company in the United States. See "Encyclopedia of Armored Cars and Half-Tracks", published by Chartwell Books, Inc.
of Secaucus, New Jersey, pages 120 and 130. One such carrier is a four-wheel vehicle having a unitized hull constructed of light, high-hardness steel and displacing sufficient volume to float. Driven by its own cleatedi^tires, the vehicle is capable of maneuvering in la~es and streams at low speeds.
The engine is located to the rear of the hull and gas tanks and other equipment are located near the front.
Six-wheel type armored vehicles, àlso currently manufactured in several countries, are advantageous in that an extra set of wheels disposed intermediate the front and rear wheels provide added traction, added stability and maneuverability in driving over uneven terrain and obstacles.
Previous six-wheel type armored vehicles suffer from one or more disadvantages however. For example, the extra set of wheels disposed between the front and rear wheels complicates the task of laying out the interior of the hull;.
The engine must be placed at a location which provides optimum height distribution on the wheels, however, the choice of engine placement is severely limited by the overall hull design and the necessity for locating the driver in an optimum driving position, as well as the need for accommodating power plant items such as fuel tanks, cooling systems and drive trains. In the past, these objectives have been ~chieved only at the expense of reducing the amount of usuable . .

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interior space within the hull which is devoted to tr,ansporfing personnel and their e~uipment.
According to the present invention there is provided a multi-axle armored vehicle including a unitized hull constructed from armor plate and exhibiting ballisticall~-resistant, oblique surfaces over substantially ~he entirety thereof, the hull including a box-like personnel-carrying body portion and an integral, forwardly, inwardly tapering wedge-shape nose portion. Front axle means is provided in the area of the nose portion and first and second parallel rear axle means is provided in the area of the body portion Suspension means mounts the front axle means to the hull.
Each of the front rear axles include a pair o~ transversly spaced wheels. An engine is drivingly connected to at least one of the axles for powering the vehicle, the engine being di;posed substantial3y within the nose of the hull and laterall~
from a longitudinal center line of the hull. A drive~ station is spaced laterally from the engine and within the nose of the hull. The hull is provided wi~h a plurality of wheel wells therein above the wheelsO The suspension means includes a pair of transversely spaced supporting arms respectively associated with each of the axles and having one end thereof secured to the corresponding axle, the opposite end of each of the supporting arms being pivotally connected to the hull at a location forward of the corresponding axle. A ~irst pair of telescoping shock absorbing assemblies is provided, each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the ~xle associated with the front set of wheel assemblies, the opposite end thereof being pivotall~ connected to the hull at a location substantially vertically aligned above the one end thereof such that the longitudinal axis of each of the pair of shock absorbing assemblies extends substantially vertical. A second pair of telescoping shock absorbing assemblies is provided each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the axle associated with the rear set of wheel assembles, the opposite end of each of the last named shock absorbing assemblies being pivotally connected to a hull at a location above the associated axle and forward of the associate axle.

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In a specific ernhodiment, each of the first and second parallel rear axle rneans has a power t~ansf~r differential, a drive shaft, and a pair of drive a~les ~1ith housing means for the di~ferentials. The drive shafts and drive axles include first and second pairs o~ a~le sleeves, the first and second pairs of axle sleeves each naving a pair of outboard ends. As indicated above, the suspension means including the pair of trailing swing arms on each side of the hull, each of the trailing swing arms being connected lQ at one end to one of the outboard ends of one of the axle sleeves. Means is provided for pivotally connecting the opposite ends of each of the trailing swing arms to the hull for swinging movement in a vertical plane. Spring means is provided for suspending the hull on each of the trailing spring arms, and vehicle wheels are connected to each of the trailing swing arms for concurrent vertical planar movement whereby wheel suspension movements are maintained in a limited transverse space outboard of the vehicle hull. The spring means includes the second pair of telescoping shock absorbers and a coil spring surrounding each of the shock absorbers having its opposite end supported by opposite ends of the shock absorbers. The opposite ends of the shock absorbers - are connected at axially offset and vertical spaced points on the hull and the trailing arm so that the shock absorbers and coil springs extend obliquely from the wheel assemblies toward the front end to reduce the vertical height of the wheel well occupied by the spring means. An engine is selectively drivingly connected to the drive shafts for powering the vehicle, the engine being disposed substantially within the nose of the hull and laterally from a longitudinal center line of the hull. The hull is provided with the plurality of wheel wells therein above the vehicle wheels and which have a transverse width slightly wider than the tread width of each vehicle wheel. The first pair of telescoping shock absorbers is provided which each have one end thereof pivotally connected to the front axle means, the opposite end thereof being pivotally connected to the hull at a location substantially vertically aligned above the one end -thereof such -that the - 2a -mab/ Y,~

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longitudinal axis of each of the first pair of shock ab30rb~rs extends s~bstantially vertically. Each of the second pair of telescopic shock absorbers have one end thereof pivotally connected to the axle sleeves associated with the rear set of vehicle wheel means, the opposite end of each of the las~
named shock absorbers being pivotally connected to the hull at a location above the associate axle sleeves and forward of the hull position of the axle sleeve connected thereto.
A stabilizer member is associated with each of the second pair of shock absorbers having opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to the hull at a location below the last mentioned pivotally connected hull location so that the stabilizer member has its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shock absorber to efficiently utilize wheel well space occupied by the spring means at ihe rear set of the vehicle wheel means.

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These and further features of the inventisn -,7ill ~e made clear or will become apparent during the course of the following description.
Description of the Drawings .
In the drawings, which form an integral part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like components are designated by identical reference numerals in the various views:
FIGURE 1 iS a front perspective view of the six-wheel armored vehicle which forms the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the vehicle of FIGURE 1, parts of the hull being broken away to reveal the interior thereof;
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the vehicle shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the vehicle of FIGURE 1, certain wheel and suspension componénts thereof having been removed for purposes of clarity;

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FIGURE 9 is a fragme~ary, perspective ~iew of certain components of the.suspension system for the rear wheels of ~he vehicle shown in FIGUR~ he remaining comp~nents having been removed;
FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, perspective Yiew of the suspension system for one of the front wheels o~ the vehicle shown in FI&URE l; and, FIGURE 11 is a seetional view taken ~lona the line 11-11 in FIGURE 2.

Best Mode For Carrying Out t e In~en~ion -Referrins to the drawings, a swLmmabie SIX-wheel armored vehicle, generallv designated by the numeral 10l includes a vehicle hull 12 defined by a pair of laterally spaced sides 14, a ~ront end 16, a rear end 18, a horizontally extending top 22, and a bottom 20 joined together to form an enclosed in-terior space. The hull 12 i5 preferably formed of high hardness armor pla~es joined toge~her by welding.
Ballistic pr~tection is provided by designing th~
hull 12 to present an oblique surface to small arms fire from nearly.all direc~ions, such obli~ui~y being effecti~e ~o greatly enhance the effec~ive penetration resistance of the armor plate in all critical areas.
Each lateral side 14 Lncludes an upper sloping surface 24 and a lowex sloping surface 26 joined together ~iong a marginal edge 28. Upper sloping surface 24 is provided wi~h a plurality o~
longitudin~lly spaced viewin~ ports 44, each con-taining a- window of thick ballistic resistan~ glass, a plurality of closable weapon aper~ures or "pistol ports" 46, and shielded vents 48. Ports 4S and ~ents 8~

48 are preferably ab~ve the expected water line during swimming operation.s. The lower sloping sides 26 are interrupted at the belt line 28 to d~fine ~ront and rear wheel wells 42. As best shown in FIGURE 2, ~he S vertical surfaces of the front wheel w211 interiors are inwardly sloping ~o llow c~earance for the .turn-iny wheels whereas the rear well interiors are SUD-stantially flatn A11 other surfaces of lower sides 2Ç are su~stantially inwardly sloped for ballistic resistance and protectioR of the occupan~s of ~h~
vehicle.
As indicated previously, the top 22 of ~he hull 12 is flat and extPnds esse~tially hoxizon~al~
: Al~hough forming no part of the present inYentiont a 15 gun turret 22 may be mounted on a rotatable turret base 23 on the top 22 if desired. -As will be under-stood by those skilled in the art, a basket depends from the tl~r~et into the cent~al portion of hull 12.
The ~ront 16 of the hull 12 incl~des a unique ~e~e~d nose defined by a long upper sloping surface 36 and a lower sloping surface 38, b~th of which are quite obli~ue to a vertical plane; i.e., surfa~e 36 is about 70 from vertical and s~rface 38 is abou~ 45 from vertical. The ront end 16 fur~her includes a pair of inwardly tapering sides defined by an upper, triangularly shaped sloping surface 30 and a lower sloping surfa~e 32 joined along welded joint 34.
This extreme wedge shape for the nose of vehicle 10 creates several ad~antages. First, outstanding bal listic protection to ground le~el small arms fire, especially ~n the area of the dri~er. Secona, the ability for the ~ehicle to "cam" itself over verti-cal obstacles such as dirt ba~ks and walls~ Thir~, a s~reamlined shape for impro~ed speed due to reduced , !

drag in both air and water~ Fourth, improved steering capability in water due to ~he exposure of front wheels which can act A S rudders or deflectors~
A pair of transYersely spaced, protectively enclosed headlight assemblies 92 are secured to the forward of sloping surface 36. The front end 16 is further pro~ided with a driver's hatch 86 in one upper corner of the sloping surfa~e 36~
As b~st seen in FIGURES 7 and 8, the rear end 18 of the hull 12 slopes downwardly and forwardl~ to form an overhang, and iacludes a door openi~g 40 which may be closed by a hinged, double panel.door (not shown~
mounted on hull 12. Rear portions of the lateral sides 14 and bottom 20 defining the door opening 40 are of a double wall construction and include an outer, armored wall 50, and an inner wall 52 spaced from the outer w211 50 to define a plural~ty of fuel storage cells 54, 56 and 58 respectively disposed i~ the lateral sides 14 and bottom 20 of the hull 12. The fuel s orage cells 54, 56 and 5~ are interconnected wi~h each o~her and with a later discussed engine 78 via a fuel delivery line (not shown). Cells 54, 56 and 58 may be lined i~ des ir~ .
As shown in FIGU~E 2, the vehicle 10 includes an engine 78 dispose~ forward of the longitudinal mid-point o~ the hull 12 and to one side of the lonyitudinal center line of the hull 12, betwe~n ~he front wheel assemblies 96. Engine 78 has an output shaft coupled through a conventional ~ransmission to a transfer case 30 80 . Transfer case 8 0 is coupled via an enclosed dri~e shaf~ 136 to a ~id-axle differential 134 of the "drive-~hrough" ~ype, which in turn is coupled by a drive shaft 130 surr~unded by a housing 132 to another dif-ferential 128. Each of ~he ~ifferentials 128 and 134 ~Z~

have a drive output connected by U-joints 129 to drive axles (not shown) enclosed-within protectiYe sleeves 118. Transfer case 80 also has an output shaft connected with a forward differential 116 for driving front wheel assemblies 96. Means for selec-tively disengaging the-front axle drive and the rear ~xle drive may be provided as desired.
Engine 78 is substantially totally within the low, sloping nose area, leaving the large volume of the hull for other uses. The engine area may be partitioned from the driver's st~tion g6 and other interior areas of .he hull 12, if desired, to form a segregated engine compar~ment. A system for cooling the engine 12 in~ludes a heat exchanging radiator 76 of the conventional design and an air cir~ula~ion sys~em which comprises a fresh air inlet opening 60 in the top 20 of the hull 12, a warm air exhaust opening 62 in ~he ~op 20 lateral~y adjacent opening 60 and conduit 70 which communicates with warm air exhaust opening 62 and extends longitudina71y forward to, ~nd communicates with, an exhaust air reversing chamber ~4 de~ined within the front end 15. Chamber 94 is disposed immediately forward o engine 78.
Radiator 76 is mounted in an attitude inclined from : 25 the horizontal and immediately beneath fresh air in-let opening 60 and behind engine 12. Thus, cool out- . .
side air flowing through inlet opening 60 passes through radiator 76 and forwardly past the engine 78 into chamber 94 as a result of a partial vacuum ~negative pressure) created in ~he engine compartment by ~an 93. Chamber g4 allows ~he warm exhaust air to turn 180 fox delivery rearwardly ~hrough exhaust air conduit 70 ko the exhaust opening 62.

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Exhaust air conduit 70 is formed integral with one lateral side 14 of the hull 12. More particularly, exhaust air conduit 70 is formed by the interior surface of the upper sloping surface 24, an inner wall 72 spaced from sloping surface 24, a longitudinally extending bottom wall 74 and the upper sloping surface 36 of the front end 16. A
rectangularly shaped, louvered grill 64 having a longitudinally extending partition 65 is secured to the top 20 in overlaying relationship to the openings 60 and 62. Grill 64 includes a first plurality of longitudinally extending, generally L-shaped, spaced deflection members 66 disposed over the exhaust opening 62 in order to direct warm exhaust air laterally away from inlet opening 60 as such air emanates from the top ~0 of the hull 12. The grill 64 further includes another set of transversely extending, parallel, L-shaped deflection members 68 on the inward side of partition 65 which are disposed in overlying relationship to the fresh air opening 60. Deflection members 68 are oriented in a manner to act as scoops for drawing fresh air flowing over the top 20 of the hull 12 into the fresh air opening 60 for delivery past the radiator 76 and engine 78. Both sets of deflection : members 66 and 68 are constructed of ballistic resistant material and are appropriately spaced apart so as to deflect ballistic projectiles directed toward the corresponding inlet and outlet openings 60 and 62 respectively, thereby preventing ballistic penetration.
The above-described cooling arrangement is also described and is claimed in above-identified parent application serial number 382,648.
Assuming that the engine compartment is partitioned o~f from the remaining interior of the vehicle, a hatch (not shown) may be installed in a partition wall of the engine compartment to place the engine compartment in air flow communicatlon with the sb/~

remaining area of ~he vehicle interior. In the event that the ~ehicle interior becomes filled with smoke or gas, opening of the hatch will result in smoke or gas being drawn out of the ~ehicle by the negative pressure effect of the engine ventilation system.
As shown in FIÇURE 5, a driver 90 positioned at the driver's s~ation 86 may ~iew ~he terrain ~orward and to the im~ediate sides of ~he vehicle 10 from a protective posi~ion within the hull 12 using any of the periscope viewing de~ices 82 which are positioned to provide peripheral as well as forward ~iewing. ~s indirated preYiously, the dri~er may also gain a view of the terrai~ immediately ahead by raising his head through the hatch opening 84 aft~r opening the hatch door 86 which is pi~otally connected to the upper slopi~g surface 3Ç. A two-position ~high-low~ seat mounted is used for ~his purpose.
The vehicle 10 includes ~wo pairs of spaced rear wheel assem~lies 98 each positioned ~o the rear of the engine 78 and driver's station 8~o ~ach of ~he wheel assemblies 98 includes a self-cleaning, run-flat tire 99 carried on a hub 100 driven by axles (not sh~wn) c~nnected to the preYiously men~ioned U-joints 129. Each of the axle sleeves 118 is carried by one end o a trailing swing arm 120, the opposite end of swing arm 120 being pivotally connected to the hull 12 at a lo~ation forward of the corresponding axie~
A stabilizer 122 has the opposite extremeties thereof pi~otally connected to a swing arm 120 and the hull 12. A shock absorber 124 has a suspension spring 126 sleeved ~herearound and has the opposite extremities th~reof respeçti~ely pivotally connected to the hull 12 and swing arm 120. As best seen in FIG~ES 8 and 9, the hull 12 includes a trans~ersely extending clearance _ 9 _ area 127 therein to allow pivotal motion of the wheel axles on the corresponding wheel assemblies 98 within the wheel wel ls 42, as is diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 6.
The vehicle 10 is fur~her provided with a pair of driven, stef~rable fr~nt wheel assemblies 96, each comprising a self-cleaning, run-flat ~ype tire 101 removably secured to a rotatable wheel hub 100.
Wheel hub 100 is mounted on a conventional steering knuckle (no~ shown), with the steering knuckles ~f each wheel assembly 96 being co~nected by a tie rod 102 which is controlled by st ering wheel 90 at ~he driverls station 86. Each of ~he wheel hubs 100 is further connec~ed by universal joint~ (not shown~
and dr~-e axles (not sho~n) to the differential 116.
The front wheel assem~lies 96 are ro~atably mounted on one end of swing arms 104, ~he opposite end of swing arms 104 being connected for swinging moveme~t to the hull 12 by piYotal connec~ion 106. A stabilizer me~er 108 has the opposite ends thereo respecti~ely pi~otally connected to a wheel assembly 96 and the hull 12. An extensible txpe shock absorber 110 and suspen-sion spring 112 each extend perpendicularly bet~ee~
the hull 12 and wheel assembly 96 and have the oppo-25 site ends thereof respecti~ely co~nected bo hull 12and wheel assem~ly 96. Tn contrast, shock absor~ers 124 and ~uspension springs 126 associa~ed with rear wheel assemblies 9 B extend obliquely from the cor responding wheel assemblies in a direction toward the 30 front end 16 of the vehicle 10.
The hull design of the vehicle 10 provides highly efficient u~ilization of i:nterior spat:e . and is therefore well adapted for use in many ~ tary and law enforcement applications~ I?or exasnple, tha broad ., ,. -- 10 --expanses of uninterrupted space within the hull 12 permits the vehicle to be used as a command station or for transporting troops. In c~ntrast to many prior types of armo~ed vehicles in which cool air intakes are disposed in the front of the Yehicle, similar to con~entional automobiles, the cool air i~take, as well as the warm air exhaust for the engi~e cooling system, is disposed to the rear of the front end and i~ a hori-zontal top surface of the vehicle; in ~his manner, 10 debris ~ mud, water, etc . directed toward the frorlt of the vehicle are not apt t~ enter either of the cooli~g system openi~gs. Moreover, openings are not pres~nt i~
the front or si~e of the vehicle which make the hull highly vulnerable to ballistic pe~etration. The fuel s.orage c lls formed integral with the double~walled hull at the rear end of ~he vehicle not only pro~ide for effecti~e space utilization but isolate ~h~ uel from the engine and ~rom the front of the Yehicle which is most apt to receive ballistic fire.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that the six-wheel armored vehicle described above not only provides for the reliable accomplishment of the objects of the in~ention, but aOeS SO i~ a particularly effec-tive and reliable manner. It is re ognized, of course, that thosP skilled in the art may make various modifi-cations or additions to the pref~rred emb~dIment chosen to illus ~rate the in~ention with~ut departing f~rom the spirit and scopP of the present contribution to the art.
Accordingly, it is ~o be understood that the protection sought and to be affordPd hereby should b~ deemed t~ ex-tend to the subject mat~er claimed and all equivalents thereof fairly wi~hin ~he scope of the inven~ion.
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Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A multi-axle armored vehicle comprising: a unitized hull constructed from armor plate and exhibiting ballistically-resistant, oblique surfaces over substantially the entirety thereof, said hull comprising a box-like personnel-carrying body portion and an integral, forwardly, inwardly tapering wedge-shape nose portion;
front axle means in the area of the nose portion and first and second parallel rear axle means in the area of the body portion;
suspension means mounting said front axle means to said hull;
each of said first and second parallel rear axle means having a power transfer differential, a drive shaft, and a pair of drive axles, housing means for said differentials, said drive shafts and said drive axles including first and second pairs of axle sleeves, said first and second pairs of axle sleeves each having a pair of outboard ends, suspension means including a pair of trailing swing arms on each side of the hull, each of said trailing swing arms connected at one end to one of the outboard ends of one of said axle sleeves, means for pivotally connecting the opposite end of each of said trailing swing arms to said hull for swinging movement in a vertical plane, spring means for suspending the hull on each of said trailing swing arms, vehicle wheels connected to each of said trailing swing arms for concurrent vertical planar movement whereby wheel suspension movements are maintained in a limited transverse space outboard of the vehicle hull;
said spring means including a first pair of telescoping shock absorbers and a coil spring surrounding each of said shock absorbers having its opposite ends supported by opposite ends of said shock absorbers, said opposite ends of said shock absorbers being connected at axially offset and vertically spaced points on said hull and said trailing arm whereby said shock absorbers and coil springs extend obliquely from said wheel assemblies toward said front end to reduce the vertical height of the wheel well occupied by said spring means;
an engine selectively drivingly connected to said drive shafts for powering said vehicle, said engine being disposed substantially within the nose of said hull and laterally from a longitudinal center line of said hull; and, a driver's station spaced laterally from said engine and within the nose of said hull, said hull is provided with a plurality of wheel wells therein above said vehicle wheels having a transverse width slightly wider than the tread width of each vehicle wheel, and (1) each of said trailing swing arms being transversely spaced and having the opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to said hull at a location forward of the hull position of the axle sleeve connected thereto, (2) a second pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the front axle means, the opposite end thereof being pivotally connected to said hull at a location substantially vertically aligned above said one end thereof such that the longitudinal axis of each of said second pair of shock absorbers extends substantially vertically, (3) each of said first pair of telescoping shock absorbers each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the axle sleeves associated with said rear set of vehicle wheel means, the opposite end of each of said last named shock absorbers being pivotally connected to said hull at a location above the associated axle sleeves and forward of the hull position of the axle sleeve connected thereto, (4) and a stabilizer member associated with each of said first pair of shock absorbers having opposite ends thereof pivotally connected to said hull at a location below said last mentioned pivotally connected hull location whereby said stabilizer member has its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shock absorber to efficiently utilize wheel well space occupied by the spring means at the rear set of vehicle wheel means.

2. A multi-axle armored vehicle comprising:
a unitized hull constructed from armor plate and exhibiting ballistically-resistant, oblique surfaces over substantially the entirety thereof, said hull comprising a larger box-like personnel-carrying body portion and an integral, forwardly, inwardly tapering wedge-shape nose portion;
a front axle in the area of the nose portion and first and second parallel rear axles in the area of the body portion;
each of said front and rear axles further includes a pair of transversely spaced wheels;
suspension means mounting each of said axles to said hull;
an engine drivingly connected to at least one of said axles for powering said vehicle, said engine being disposed substantially within the nose of said hull and laterally from a longitudinal center line of said hull; and a driver's station spaced laterally from said engine and within the nose of said hull;
said hull being provided with a plurality of wheel wells therein above said wheels, and said suspension means including:
(1) a pair of transversely spaced supporting arms respectively associated with each of said axles and having one end thereof secured to the corresponding axle, the opposite end of each of said supporting arms being pivotally connected to said hull at a location forward of the corresponding axle, (2) a first pair of telescoping shock absorbing assemblies each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the axle associated with said front set of wheel assemblies, the opposite end thereof being pivotally connected to said hull at a location substantially verti-cally aligned above said one end thereof such that the longitudinal axis of each of said pair of shock absorbing assemblies

Claim 2 cont'd.

extends substantially vertical.
(3) a second pair of telescoping shock absorbing assemblies each having one end thereof pivotally connected to the axle associated with said rear set of wheel assemblies, the opposite end of each of said last named shock absorbing assemblies being pivotally connected to said hull at a location above the associated axle and forward of said associated axle.