Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Wheel suspension and retraction apparatus
- Patent Title (中): 车轮悬挂和收回装置
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Application No.: US12522417Application Date: 2008-01-15
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Publication No.: US09102389B2Publication Date: 2015-08-11
- Inventor: Jonathan Austin King , Neil Graham Jenkins
- Applicant: Jonathan Austin King , Neil Graham Jenkins
- Applicant Address: GB Warwickshire
- Assignee: Gibbs Technologies Ltd.
- Current Assignee: Gibbs Technologies Ltd.
- Current Assignee Address: GB Warwickshire
- Agency: Fulwider Patton LLP
- Priority: GB0700766.9 20070115
- International Application: PCT/GB2008/000127 WO 20080115
- International Announcement: WO2008/087393 WO 20080724
- Main IPC: B60F3/00
- IPC: B60F3/00 ; B63C13/00

Abstract:
A wheel suspension and retraction apparatus (2) for an amphibious vehicle comprises a suspension unit having transverse upper and lower suspension links (4, 8); spring and damper unit (12), and suspension upright (6) supporting wheel (10), and pivotally connected to outboard ends of links (4 and 8). The wheel retraction mechanism has a retraction linkage (14, 16, 18), pivotably connectable to the vehicle, and an actuator (38) for moving the wheel suspension between a protracted position for land use and a retracted position for use on water. The retraction mechanism supports the suspension unit spaced apart transversely from the vehicle. Tie bar (16) is connected to upper retraction arm (14) at an intermediate location (30) to ensure a large angle of tilt on retraction, to ensure that the wheel is retracted above hull line (156). The wheel suspension does not have to be compressed on retraction.
Public/Granted literature
- US20100136858A1 WHEEL SUSPENSION AND RETRACTION APPARATUS Public/Granted day:2010-06-03
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