Rear wheel suspension device for front and rear wheel steering vehicle
US4756546A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 13, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D17/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a rear wheel suspension device for a front and rear wheel steering vehicle wherein rear wheels are steered in an opposite phase relationship relative to the front wheels at least under a certain condition. The structure of the suspension for the rear wheels is so determined that a caster angle of each of the rear wheels relatively sharply increases as the distance between the vehicle body and the rear wheel is increased from a neutral state and maintains a smaller positive value as the distance between the vehicle body and the rear wheel is decreased from the neutral state. This can be accomplished by pivotably connecting the knuckle for each of the rear wheels by an upper arm and a lower arm to the vehicle body, respectively, and a rotational axial line of the upper arm inclines downward at its forward portion while the rotational axial line of the lower arm extends substantially parallel to the length of the vehicle. Preferably, the rotational axial line of the upper arm additionally inclines inward at its forward portion. Thus, the force required to maintain a certain steering angle changes smoothly as the steering angle is increased and at the same time the tendenc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.