APPLICATION FIELD

The present invention refers to a highly maneuverable transport vehicle steering system which combines great turning ability, as well as security, agility and comfort, necessary conditions for quick and comfortable mobility in the big cities of the world.

PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES THEREOF

The present steering system originated as a response to a more complicated mobility in great cities. It is known that the increasing population of automobiles that circulate in the great world urbanizations, wherein the traffic is becoming more chaotic and where free spaces to circulate as becoming more reduced. In some cities this problem is made worse by excess parked vehicles, which reduces the circulation surface and mobility of the vehicle itself even more: from the above, the need of having a mechanism with turning abilities which are superior to those already known. For example, very small turning angles that allow a vehicle to enter a garage facing forward, turning therein and exiting forward again, without the need of using reverse. This possibility is unthought-of in conventional vehicles, notwithstanding state of the art that tried to deal with this problem.

One prior art is PCT publication WO 03/059799 (McVicar et al.) of

July 24, 2003, which discloses a cargo storage vehicle comprising three wheels located equidistantly, having a connection to an independent hydraulic motor actuated by a hydraulic pump. In said vehicle there is no coupling mechanism for steering the wheels, but in fact each of the wheels are steered independently.

Additionally, the vehicle of PCT publication WO 03/059799 describes an steering actuation hydraulic mechanism in each of the wheels, without any of them being fixed, also, does not have aligning between two wheels thereof, parallel to the vehicle advance direction, but an equidistant positioning of the three wheels is compulsory, to allow correct movement for the vehicle disclosed.

The present steering system, aims at providing a vehicle with greater turning or maneuver ability, e.g., in vehicles for company and industry logistic with reduced physical space and wherein highly maneuverable vehicles are required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Novelty of the present invention is based on a steering system of three wheels but with a different approach as to arrangement and functionality thereof; comprising two wheels on one side, aligned on the same track, providing direction and traction and the third in a second track equidistant from both the others to provide support. Unlike known prior art, the proposed steering system achieves a mirror movement of the two wheels, which are in a direction parallel to that of advancing, allowing to do without the equidistant positioning of the vehicle of state of the art and only requiring that that two wheels located of the conductors side (or that of companion) are at the same distance from the free turning wheel (support wheel).

The steering system of this invention has a particular configuration, which can be applied to vehicles comprising three wheels, two of which are on one side on the same track (one in front of the other) known as traction directional wheels and the third on another parallel track to the before mentioned "support wheel" equidistant from the other two.

The steering of the vehicle of the present invention is provided by the two steering wheels, which are aligned and move mirror-like relative to an imaginary line created between the mid-point of the distance between said steering wheels and the center of the support wheel; said support wheel always being fixed. This arrangement and way of operating steering, provides the option of creating extremely small turning radius both ways, being able to turn an angle of 360° (degrees) without having to move.

The present steering system, aims at providing the vehicle with greater turning and maneuver ability. Hence, proposes a triangular arrangement of the wheels, which upon performing the distinctive movement of the steering system (360°) can rotate on an imaginary circle with the vehicle rotation center wherein the steering system was implemented, in the center of the circle the wheels describe and thereby identified the easiest way to achieve it was with a triangular arrangement of the wheels, triangle inscribed in the above mentioned circle.

Next to be able to turn as outlined, the arrangement of the wheels has the particular configuration of having two wheels on one side following the same track and a counter lateral one following the second track as a support wheel,

The functioning principle consists in a steering system wherein the two traction directional wheels are equidistantly located to the support one, maintaining two tracks, such that the traction directional ones follow one track and the support one another, in this way achieving that the vehicle has a greater turning ability.

Another important advantage is that the distance between the traction directional wheels can be different (greater or less) than the distance between each of them to the support wheel (hence generating when performing a distinctive turning, two concentric circumferences) and turn equally correctly.

The steering system functions such that the two traction directional wheels (D-T) rotate mirror-like.

To be able to turn right, the front wheel D-T rotates clockwise relative to its rotating center, while the back wheel D-T performs it in the same magnitude but anti-clockwise, achieving its maximum expression when both wheels are tangential to the imaginary circle wherein the triangle formed by the wheels is inscribed. In said point the characteristic turning of the steering system is achieved, i.e., turning without associated displacement, to 360° of the vehicle having this steering system.

To turn left the opposite of what was described occurs, the front wheel D-T rotates anti-clockwise relative to its rotation center, while the back wheel D-T performs it in the same magnitude but clockwise. In this case turning can be achieved with very small angles compared to those of conventional steering systems, but not of the same magnitude as that achieved to turn right, in the left turning it is not possible to turn without a minimum associated displacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that this invention is clearly understood and easily put into practice, has been presented illustrated in one of its preferred embodiments in the Figures and not as a limitation that accompanies this description, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the steering system of this invention applied in a vehicle, wherein the same performs a straight movement;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the steering system of Figure 1 with the least width gauge;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the steering system of Figure 1 performing a turn to the right;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the steering system of Figure 1 performing a turn to the left;

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, illustrate basic schemes of positioning the traction directional wheels and fixes according to movement to be performed with the steering system thereof, according to the preferred embodiment.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the steering and actuating mechanism that allows movement of the vehicle's wheels wherein the present invention would be installed.

All the Figures, equal numbers and reference letters correspond to identical features of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to what can be appreciated in Figures 1 to 4, the steering system in the preferred embodiment comprises an asymmetric arrangement of three wheels, composed of two lateral wheels located on the same side of the vehicle, wheels, left 1 (front wheel) and right 2 (back wheel), both on the same track; while a third wheel 3 is located on the other side of wheels 1 and 2, on a track parallel to the former.

The two lateral wheels 1 and 2 are also referred to as traction directional wheels; will be as the name indicates the ones in charge of providing the vehicle with direction and traction.

The third wheel 3, which is located alone on the opposite side to the traction directional wheels 1 and 2 is also referred to as the support wheel; is fixed, i.e., neither providing torque nor direction.

The traction directional wheels 1 and 2 will move symmetrically relative to an imaginary axis formed by the center of the third wheel (3) and mid distance between wheels 1 and 2, providing the vehicle with the ability to generate very small turning radius on both sides.

Supposing that the traction directional wheels 1 and 2 are on the left and wheel 3 on the right side, we will notice in this case, that on turn to the right (Figure 3) the turning radius can be reduced up to the point of turning without displacement, i.e., rotating on a point located inside the vehicle (point c). This rotation makes a difference between the steering system of this invention of the steering systems of prior art, as it is not necessary to stop the vehicle to achieve this, i.e., a 360° rotation can be performed with the vehicle in movement. But, the turn to the left (Figure 4) provides an inferior rotation radius to that of conventional vehicles, but its rotation center is outside the vehicle, hence will not be able to be turned in this direction without associated displacement.

The imaginary triangle (a) that wheels 1 , 2 and 3 form in the steering system, can be equilateral or isosceles depending of the width to be provided to the vehicle. When it is an isosceles, wheel 3 will be equidistant to the other two wheels 1 and 2 (Figure 2). If the triangle is equilateral (Figure 1), this will inscribed in the only circumference (b) described by the step of the three wheels up on performing a distinctive turn of the present steering system.

If an isosceles triangle, the traction directional wheels 1 and 2 will describe a different radius circumference to that described by wheel 3 (up on performing the distinctive turn), but both circumferences will be concentric (b, d) for which reason the rotation center (c) of the vehicle will not vary.

The vehicle with the present system applied, can be actuated by an internal combustion motor, an electric motor, a hydrogen one, or by any other type of motor. Transmission can be performed by the two directional wheels or by only one of them, either the back or the front one, optionally traction can be placed in the support wheel with uncoupling traction system when performing the distinctive turning; owing to that when the vehicle stops translation of the vehicle and only rotates in place (360° rotation), the support wheel inverts its rotation direction.

The actuating mechanism of the present steering system can be any of the conventional ones (hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanic, etc.) which allow for mirror-like movement of the directional wheels 1 and 2 of the steering system of the present invention.

In Figure 5a can be seen a scheme of the vehicle with the present steering system included, going forward straight as indicated by arrow (c). In Figure 5b the traction and directional wheels 1 and 2 are placed the front one 1 rotates clockwise and the back one 2 rotates anticlockwise, generating a movement of the vehicle to the right as indicated by arrow (E).

In Figure 5c the traction and directional wheels 1 and 2 are placed inversely to those of Figure 5b, the steering system achieving to make the vehicle turn to the left, according to arrow (F), the vehicle always being in movement or stopped.

In Figure 5d, can be seen how the steering system claimed acts when the traction and directional wheels 1 and 2 rotate extremely to the right the vehicle achieving that is moving in a straight line, can perform a change in direction of up to 180° or continue up to 360° without stopping its movement or motion, according to the direction of arrow (G).

In Figure 6, it is possible to clearly see an illustrative structure containing the invention, comprising a framework "H" on which are mounted the directional and actuating wheels 1 , 2 and 3 fixed, a steering mechanism 4, comprised by a rack 4a, being able to move according to arrow (I), rack on which acts a command toothed wheel 4b (coming from the steering wheel), that rack being connected to an arm 4c' of a torque tube 4g, by a connecting rod 4c; arm 4c' transmits movement to the rack towards the torque tube and this transmits rotation or torque movement to a similar arm located in the back part of the vehicle, providing a mirror-like movement to the traction directional wheels. Both torque tube arms are attached to the wheels by direction ends 4f (moving according to arrow "J") attachment achieved by ball joints 4e and bushings 4d. The wheels will then pivot on point (L) and in the direction according to arrow (K).

Additionally motor 7 provides torque to the gearbox 6 coupled to the torque distribution central box 8 that takes movement through the CV joints (5) or spreaders, or triceta and rotary axis to respective front and back traction boxes 9 and 10, that provide transmission to front and back wheels 1 and 2.

In a first embodiment, the three wheels of the steering system are placed equidistantly, equal distance between the traction and direction ones with the support one and from each other.

In the second embodiment, the traction wheels are at an equal distance thereof with the support one, but less than that existing between them.

The end of this is that the gauge (distance between each of the wheel lines) be shorter than that of the three totally equidistant system.

What is described and illustrated is only a preferred embodiment of the invention and will consider comprised therein, any other embodiment that does fall within the claims which follow.