Vehicle drive/suspension system

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is directed to a vehicle drive/suspension system including a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of sides; a drive axle having opposed end portions extending between said sides; an elongated rocker arm, having opposed end portions, connected to each of said opposed end portions of said drive axle and pivotally mounted to each of said sides substantially at said opposed end portions of said drive axle; a sprocket rotatably fixed to each of said opposed end portions of said rocker arms; a rotatable drive sprocket connected to each of said opposed end portions of said drive axle; and a drive link for each rocker arm connected to rotate said sprockets in conjunction with said drive sprockets.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle drive/suspension system comprising: 
 a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of sides;    a drive axle having opposed end portions extending between said sides;    an elongated rocker arm, having opposed end portions, connected to each of said opposed end portions of said drive axle and pivotally mounted to each of said sides substantially at said opposed end portions of said drive axle;    a sprocket rotatably fixed to each of said opposed end portions of said rocker arms;    a rotatable drive sprocket connected to each of said opposed end portions of said drive axle; and    a drive link for each rocker arm connected to rotate said sprockets in conjunction with said drive sprockets.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of    claim 1    further comprising a dampener connected between an opposed end portion of each of said rocker arms and said chassis.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of    claim 2    wherein said dampeners are shock absorbers.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of    claim 1    further comprising a brake associated with each of said drive sprockets.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of    claim 1    further comprising a tension sprocket mounted on each of said rocker arms and connected to said drive link.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of    claim 5    wherein said tension sprockets are slidably fixed to said rocker arms.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of    claim 1    further comprising a rubber stop member mounted on each side of said chassis and in alignment with corresponding ones of said rocker arms.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of    claim 1    further comprising i) a pivot plate extending from said chassis toward said drive axle, ii) a pivot mount associated with each of said rocker arms and iii) a pivot pin extending through each of said pivot mounts, corresponding ones of said pivot plates and into corresponding ones of said opposed end portions of said drive axle.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of    claim 8    wherein said pivot pins threadingly engage said opposed end portions of said drive axle.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of    claim 1    wherein each of said rocker arms has a middle point located equidistant from ends thereof and wherein said rocker arms are pivotally mounted to said opposed end portions of said drive axle at locations away from said middle points.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of    claim 10    wherein said rocker arms are pivotally mounted at locations that cause about 55-65% of the weight of said system to be biased toward said rear portion.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of    claim 1    wherein said drive axle is positioned below said sides.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of    claim 1    wherein said drive link is a chain or a belt.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle drive/suspension system comprising: 
 a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of sides;    a drive axle having opposed end portions extending between said sides;    an elongated rocker arm, having opposed end portions and a pivot point, pivotally mounted to each of said sides at said pivot points and connected to said opposed end portions of said drive axle, said pivot points being located at positions other than middle points along the length of said rocker arms;    a sprocket rotatably fixed to each of said opposed end portions of said rocker arms;    a rotatable drive sprocket connected to each of said opposed end portions of said drive axle; and    a drive link for each rocker arm connected to rotate said sprockets in conjunction with said drive sprockets.    
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of    claim 14    further comprising a dampener connected between an opposed end portion of each of said rocker arms and said chassis.  
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of    claim 15    wherein said dampeners are shock absorbers.  
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of    claim 14    further comprising a brake associated with each of said drive sprockets.  
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of    claim 14    further comprising a tension sprocket mounted on each of said rocker arms and connected to said drive link.  
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of    claim 18    wherein said tension sprockets are slidably fixed to said rocker arms.  
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of    claim 14    further comprising a rubber stop member mounted on each side of said chassis and in alignment with corresponding ones of said rocker arms.  
     
     
         21 . The vehicle of    claim 14    further comprising i) a pivot plate extending from said chassis toward said drive axle, ii) a pivot mount associated with each of said rocker arms and iii) a pivot pin extending through each of said pivot mounts, corresponding ones of said pivot plates and into corresponding ones of said opposed end portions of said drive axle.  
     
     
         22 . The vehicle of    claim 21    wherein said pivot pins threadingly engage said opposed end portions of said drive axle.  
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of    claim 14    wherein said rocker arms are pivotally mounted at locations that cause about 55-65% of the weight of said system to be biased toward said rear portion.  
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of    claim 14    wherein said drive axle is positioned below said sides.  
     
     
         25 . The vehicle of    claim 14    wherein said drive link is a chain or a belt.