Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 2164(~78
MODULAR MOTOR VE8ICLE
R~ ROUND OF T8E INVENTION
The field of the invention is automotive, specifically small
front wheel drive motor vehicles.
5Motor vehicle front wheel drive has become increasingly
popular and many of such vehicles have been getting smaller and
lighter, mainly to attain fuel conservation and lower levels of
pollution. However, their complexity has made their manufacture
and repair expensive while the safety of smaller vehicles is of
continuous concern to both manufacturers and consumers. In
addition, fiberglass and special composite materials have been
increasingly used to reduce motor vehicle weight which leads to
increasing concerns as to the ease with which a motor vehicle
comprised of disparate materials can be recycled.
15The related prior art includes electric conversions as seen
in U.S. Patent 3,902,565 and torque converters or continuously
variable transmissions as disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,939,732.
Although the basic running gear in U.S. Patent 747,909 and the
front wheel drive in U.S. Patent 761,657 have been substantially
improved, their basic principals of operation still prevail today
in their improved state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide an inexpensive,
economical, low polluting and safe front wheel drive motor
2164078
vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle
which i8 suitable for efficient utilization of small engine power
sources, utilizing mechanical torque converters or continuously
variable transmission driving means.
The disclosed vehicle comprises front wheels which are
driven through a bevel gear drive in an arrangement which
provides a narrow front wheel track and drives both front wheels
~imultaneously. Suspension and steering along with drive support
is through a pair of special U-shaped springs mounted to a sleeve
which is on a pivot shaft secured to the front of the vehicle.
The special U-shaped springs provide a semi-independent front
suspension and a wider rear wheel track for the vehicle provides
good vehicle stability.
The generally A-shaped wheel track is complimented with an
arrow-like body which is aerodynamically advantageous while
affording considerable occupant impact crash protection.
The vehicle's body and frame is constructed with steel
square tubing welded together at compound angles and uses
detachable plastic panels, generally screw mounted inserts, to
complete the body. With steel and plastic being used in such
manner, both strength and lightness of weight are achieved and
the separation of desperate materials is made easy.
The result is an attractive, fuel efficient motor vehicle
which can utilize alternate power trains and/or power sources.
'~- 216~78
BRIEF n~PTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood by
reference to the following detailed description when read in
conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the lower frame, power train and
steering assembly of the vehicle of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the lower frame, power train and
suspension of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view, partially showing the plastic
panel inserts and top with glass of a vehicle of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional, detailed view of a steering pitman
arm with shaft of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a front suspension and steering
mechanism of the invention.
DE~ATT~n n~DTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The motor vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is primarily
constructed with generally square tubing members 1-14. The main
members 1, 2 are generally parallel to each other, span about the
length of the vehicle and generally comprise the outermost sides
of the vehicle. The upper members 11, 12 and lower members 3,4
are arranged at an angle toward the rear of the vehicle and are
]oined to the main members 1,2, preferably at compound angles, a
~ 216407~
distance from the front of the main members 1,2 to form an arrow-
like body and frame and leaving the front section under the main
members 1,2 vacant for arrangement of front wheels, steering and
suspension .
The preferred compound angle attachment of the upper and
lower members to the main members, together with the utilization
of square tubing, creates a very strong structure. The square
tubing cross members 18-26 complete the body and frame and serve
as a mounting frame for the engine 49, transmission 57, seats 30,
pivot shaft 72 and steering extension plate 80.
Tubing members 1-14 and cross members 18-26 are preferably
of steel construction and comprise square tubing which is cut to
appropriate size and angles and welded together. Two thick steel
strips 15,16 are illustrated as welded to the upper members 11,12
to complete the windshield frame. Generally, flat safety glass
29 is used where indicated on the drawings.
A steel strip 17 is mounted between the main members 1,2
serving as a light bar for mounting front lights 44. The rear
lights 45 are mounted to rear cross tubing member 10. The
bumpers 39 are connected to brackets 40 which are mounted on the
vehicle with bolts 41.
The panel inserts include side panel insert 31 and rear
panel insert 32 are generally made of plastic or the like
material and are arranged to enclose the vehicle. The panels are
mounted by screws 33 to enable easy removal and/or replacement.
~ 216~078
The top 28 is held in the closed position by a latch 34. A
reference line 27 shows the position of the top 28 in the closed
position. The top 28 is opened for vehicle entry by a handle 42
while disengaging latch release 35. The top 28 can be entirely
removed, making it a convertible-type vehicle. The rear fenders
43 are made of generally thick plastic and are generally mounted
on the inside of the main members 1,2. The rear axle 46
comprises brake drums with hubs 47 and slipper leaf springs 48.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the wheels 36, wheel caps 38 and lug bolts
37 have been removed to provide clarity in viewing the power
train and front wheel drive steering and suspension. The engine
49 is equipped with a front drive extension 50 as well as the
conventional crankshaft extension 51. Extension 51 could be used
as a power take off to provide power to some other accessory such
as an air conditioning unit. The engine 49 also has a hot air
exhaust duct 52 to expel heat through the vehicle's rear screen
53.
A short drive shaft 54 connects the front drive extension 50
to the input shaft 56 of the transmission 57 by two shaft
couplings 55, which are st~n~rd couplings for keyed shafts.
Power is delivered to the input shaft 59 of the bevel gear drive
60 through a drive shaft 62. Standard universal joints 61 for
keyed shafts are used at the ends of the drive shaft 62 allowing
straight and angular velocity to be transmitted to the bevel gear
drive 60. Linear movement compensation is solved by the one end
2164078
of the universal joint 61 left free to slide on the transmission
57 output shaft 58.
Two front drive hubs 64, which are st~n~rd all-terrain
vehicle hubs for keyed shafts, are mounted on the ends of the
cross shaft 63 of the bevel gear drive 60. The hubs 64 are held
in place by threaded studs 65, which are threaded in the ends of
the cross shaft 63, with ret~ining nuts 66. Wheel track distance
from the centers of the front wheels is only about 12 inches,
thereby minimizing tire scrub while turning.
The two special U-shaped springs 67 have mounting holes at
each of their ends. One end of each spring 67 is mounted to the
bevel gear drive 60 with bolts 68 while the other two ends are
mounted to a plate 96 by bolts 69 and nuts 70. The plate 96 is
welded to a round sleeve 71. The front cross members 18,19,20
are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 broken away for clarity, but the upper
end of a pivot shaft 72 is welded between the two front cross
members 18,19. The round sleeve 71 is rotatably mounted on the
lower end of the pivot shaft 72. A lever 74 is welded on the
round sleeve 71.
A steering bar 79 is mounted on a pitman arm with shaft 81.
An extension plate 80 is welded to a central cross member 22 and
supports the pitman arm with shaft 81. Steering is actuated by
the steering bar 79 through a tie rod 76 whose ends 77 are
mounted on the lever 74 and the pitman arm with shaft 81 by bolts
25 78 and nuts 82. A shoulder bolt 73 threads into the end of the
~' ' 2l64n7s
pivot shaft 72 and retains the plate 96 with the round sleeve 71
on the pivot shaft 72 while still allowing the round sleeve 71 to
rotate freely on the pivot shaft 72. In the illustrated vehicle,
there is a steering mechanical advantage ratio between the lever
74 and the pitman arm with shaft 81 of approximately 2 to 1 so
that less than 1/2 of a turn in either direction of the steering
bar 79 fully turns the front wheels.
The U-shaped springs 67 are thinner on the ends which mount
to the bevel gear drive 60 and are thicker on the opposite ends
which mount to the plate 96. This increases strength and
rigidity for steering and drive support while still allowing
suspension and flex for the front wheels. Also, the mounting of
the plate 96 and the bevel gear drive 60 to the U-shaped springs
67 is so that, in a forward and most normally traveled direction
of the motor vehicle, the centers of the cross shaft 63 are
lagging from the center of the pivot shaft 72. This creates a
negative caster angle for the front wheels and improves the
tracking and stability of the vehicle.
In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the square tubing, as shown
by the main tubing member 1, has rounded corners so that when the
plastic panels are installed in a slightly recessed manner, as in
the side panel insert 31, the appearance is stylish. Angle
brackets 84 are mounted as needed so that panel screws 33 thread
into them.
The top 28 has bearings 85 mounted along its bottom by bolts
~ 216407~
86 so that it can roll easily along on the main tubing members
1,2. Ret~ining rails 87 are secured to both inner sides of the
main tubing members 1,2 by bolts 88 and serve as a guide and hold
down the top 28. Glass braces 89 are mounted as needed and
together with adhesive rubber molding 90 secure all vehicle
safety glass 29.
FIG. 6 illustrates the pitman arm with shaft 81 and how it
is mounted to the extension plate 80. The pitman arm with shaft
81 is a one-piece, heat-treated forging and is mounted in flange
bearings 95 for easy rotational movement. The flange bearings 95
are mounted to the extension plate 80 by bolts 91 and nuts 92.
The steering bar 79 is mounted through a hole at the end of the
pitman arm with shaft 81 and is secured by a pin 93. A spacer 94
is used to increase distance from the steering bar 79 to the
extension plate 80 so that a cushioned cover 83, removed for
detailed viewing, can be mounted around the steering bar 79.
FIG. 7 illustrates the pivot shaft 72 mounted between the
two front cross members 18,19. The shoulder bolt 73 includes a
brass washer 75 and a brass bushing 97 pressed into the round
sleeve 71 along with a grease fitting 100 for extended wear
resistance and easy rotational movement of the steering
mechanism. In addition, hardened thrust washers 98 along with a
thrust bearing 99 are placed on the pivot shaft 72, between the
front cross members 18,19 and the round sleeve 71, to reduce
thrust force friction.
-- 2164078
This attractive motor vehicle as illustrated, has a weight
of about 1,000 lb. and has been suitably powered by 20-25
horsepower air-cooled 4-stroke cycle engines. Of course, the
choice of power source and/or drive train is an option and is
dependent on many factors, such as the vehicle's size and weight.
The vehicle's primary braking effort is through the rear brakes
and wheels. However, a secondary brake, not shown, is also
provided through the transmission to slow or stop the front
wheels via a drive shaft brake.
Although the motor vehicle has been described in detail,
various additions or modifications are possible. For example,
the suspension system could have small shocks added to it, the
steering could include a gear reduction and the top could be
opened and closed by an electric motor. Many possibilities exist
within the scope of the following claims.
