GB748581A - Improvements in or relating to multi-wheeled vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

748,581. Spring suspensions; preventing overturning. ZAPELLONI, F. Nov. 24, 1953 [Nov. 24, 1952; Nov. 28, 1952], No. 32502/53. Class 108 (2). [Also in Group XXXI] In a balancing and safety device for mechanically-propelled vehicles, the propeller shaft of the vehicle entrains into rotation, a disc, upon which a friction roller, mounted non-rotatably, but longitudinally displaceable on a threaded shaft can upon axial shifting of the latter, make a given number of revolutions and return to the centre of the disc, while a toothed cylinder, fastened to the roller, transmits the rotation of the latter to a gear which, through a mechanical or electrical linkage of known type, actuates either of two couplings, adapted to operate in either sense, balancing members which cause on the vehicle a shift in masses in opposition to centrifugal force, which shift is proportional to the speed of the vehicle and to the radius of the curve described by the latter. As applied to a four-wheeled vehicle, Fig. 1, a body 1 is mounted slidably upon arcuate slides 2 which are mounted on the vehicle frame with the interposition of suspension springs 3. The pistons of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 4, 4<SP>1</SP> are interconnected at a common pivot point 5 on the body 1, the cylinders being pivoted on the slides 2. The arrangement is such that fluid under pressure is forced into one cylinder and out of the other to tilt the body 1. As applied to a vehicle having two wheels 8 in line, Fig. 3, the wheels are connected by a frame 9 having brackets carrying pairs of rollers 11, 11<SP>1</SP> and 12, 12<SP>1</SP> between which slides a yoke 13 carrying a pair of auxiliary road wheels 14, 14<SP>1</SP>. The yoke 13 is driven to one side or the other through a rack and pinion 17, 18 by a pair of wheels 20, 20<SP>1</SP> whenever the vehicle assumes a leaning position on negotiating a curve. The movements of the body 1 of Fig. 1 and of the yoke 13 of Fig. 3 are obtained by means of a device Fig. 4, in which a shaft 22 driven by the vehicle engine, drives through bevel gearing 24 and 27, a disc 29 having in the centre of its lower face a cavity 31 which is frictionally engaged by a wheel 32. The latter is carried on a toothed sleeve 33 which is threaded on an axially movable but non-rotatable shaft 34 carried in bearings 35, 35<SP>1</SP>. A drum 37 driven from the sleeve 33 through a gear 36, drives through gearing 43, 45 and 42, 44 and 47, 48 a sleeve 49 which is rotatable on a screw-threaded shaft 50 connected to pistons 52 and 53, in cylinders 54 and 56 operatively connected with the cylinders 4 and 4<SP>1</SP> shown in Fig. 1. The drum is also engageable by means of a suitable relay, not shown, with either of gears 39 or 40 geared to a wheel 26 driven through gearing 23<SP>1</SP> from shaft 22. In operation, displacement of shaft 34 and hence wheel 32, causes the latter to be rotated by disc 29 until the wheel 32 returns to the position shown. At the same time drum 37 engages by means of the relay, either gear 39 or 40 which is driven by wheel 26 to connect gear 42 or 43 with gear 44 or 45, thus to move the shaft 50 in one or the other direction. The shaft 34 may be displaced automatically in dependence upon vehicle speed by means of governors 66, 66<SP>1</SP> driven through gearing 63-65 from gearing 23 and controlling a pair of legs 69, 69<SP>1</SP> having a pivot point 68 which is slidable on a lever 71. The pivot 68 also slides in a fixed slot (not shown) so that lever 71 is movable around the pivot 68. A belt 73 connected to opposite sides of lever 71 carries wedge blocks 76, 76<SP>1</SP> which engage the ends of shaft 34. The lever 71 is also connected to the vehicle steering gear through elastic linkage 78, 78<SP>1</SP> which may be adjustable to maintain the vehicle in a vertical position on surfaces having appreciable lateral slope. In the arrangement according to Fig. 5 (not shown), side frame members terminate in bell-crank levers and are adjustable about a pivot point by a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the device of Fig. 4. In a modification, Fig. 6 (not shown), the lever is adjustable by a screw and nut device connected directly to the shaft 50 of the device of Fig. 4. In the Fig. 3 arrangement, the shaft 16 is driven directly by the shaft 50, which in this case is not threaded. Gears 26-39 and 40 may be dispensed with.