Vehicle with improved integrated steering and suspension system

Abstract

A three wheeled vehicle that has an improved dual front wheel integrated steering and suspension system that allows the vehicle to be maneuvered by a combination of arm and leg steering movements coupled with front end leaning that shifts the center of mass of the vehicle down and toward the inside wheel. This transfer of mass counteracts a conventional cornering vehicle's tendency to fling its mass to the outside wheel and lift the inner wheel off the ground as well as changing the angle of the line of force exerted through the tires, and enhancing the vehicles's grip on the ground. The vehicle has a reduced amount of sliding and potential of flipping when turning sharply. The steering system is compatible with traditional ACKERMAN steering geometry wherein the inner wheel turns in a smaller diameter circle than the outer wheel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. An dual front wheel steering and suspension system adapted for operation with a three or four wheeled vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame; 
 a front stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame; 
 a rear stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame and residing parallel to said front stanchion; 
 a manual steering member; 
 a steering post extending from said front stanchion and rotationally supporting said manual steering member; 
 a rotatable, telescopic steering column comprised of an upper steering column and an extendable lower steering column; 
 a main steering arm; 
 a first universal joint connecting said upper steering column to said manual steering member; 
 a second universal joint connecting said extendable lower steering column to said main steering arm; 
 a main steering arm support extending from a lower A frame arm and rotationally supporting said main steering arm; 
 an upper A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to an upper end of a first or a second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a first midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said upper A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions; 
 said lower A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to a lower end of a said first or said second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a second midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said lower A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions; 
 two suspension members each rigidly connected to, and residing parallel to one of said A frame arm outboard spacer members; 
 two wheel axles each connected to a different one of said suspension members; 
 two front wheels each rotationally mounted on a different one of said axles; 
 two secondary steering arms, each rigidly mounted onto one of said suspension members; 
 a tierod having a first end and a second end each pivotally connected to one of said different secondary steering arms; 
 a steering linkage rod having a first end pivotally connected to said main steering arm and a second end pivotally connected to one of said secondary steering arms; and 
 two foot steering pegs wherein each one is rigidly mounted to one of said A frame outboard spacer members. 
 
     
     
       2. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said upper A frame arm and said lower A frame arm reside parallel to each other. 
     
     
       3. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said suspension members have an upper housing that partially constrains a suspension means and an extendable lower shock arm having a J shaped extension formed on a lower end thereof said shock arm to which said secondary steering arms are affixed. 
     
     
       4. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said lower and upper A frame arm's outboard ends each have a U shaped bracket thereon that partially houses and is configured for pivotal connection to said A frame arm outboard spacer member by a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
       5. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said manual steering device is a set of handlebars. 
     
     
       6. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said first midpoint spacer member's pivotal connections to said stanchions reside in a common plane with the pivotal connections on the outboard ends of said lower A frame arm to the A frame arm outboard spacer member. 
     
     
       7. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 6  wherein said upper A frame arm and said lower A frame arm reside parallel to each other. 
     
     
       8. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 7  wherein said upper A frame arm and said lower A frame arm reside parallel to each other. 
     
     
       9. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 8  wherein said suspension members have an upper housing that partially constrains a suspension means and an extendable lower shock arm having a J shaped extension formed on a lower end thereof said shock arm to which said secondary steering arms are affixed. 
     
     
       10. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 9  wherein said lower and upper A frame arm's outboard ends each have a U shaped bracket thereon that partially houses and is configured for pivotal connection to said A frame arm outboard spacer member by a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
       11. The improved dual front wheel vehicular steering and suspension system of  claim 10  wherein said manual steering device is a set of handlebars. 
     
     
       12. An improved dual front wheel steering and suspension system adapted for operation with a three or four wheeled vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame; 
 a front stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame; 
 a rear stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame and residing parallel to said front stanchion; 
 a manual steering member rotationally supported by said frame; 
 a rotatable, telescopic steering column connected at an upper end to said manual steering member; 
 a main steering arm connected to a lower end of said steering column; 
 a main steering arm support extending from a lower A frame arm and rotationally supporting said main steering arm; 
 an upper A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to an upper end of a first or second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a first midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said upper A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions; 
 a lower A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to a lower end of said first or said second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a second midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said lower A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions; 
 two suspension members each rigidly connected to, and residing parallel to one of said A frame arm outboard spacer members; 
 two front wheels each rotationally mounted on separate axles each connected to and supported by one of said suspension members; 
 two secondary steering arms, each rigidly mounted onto one of said suspension members; 
 a tierod having a first end and a second end each pivotally connected to one of said secondary steering arms; 
 a steering linkage rod having a first end pivotally connected to said main steering arm and a second end pivotally connected to one of said secondary steering arms; and 
 two foot steering pegs each one rigidly mounted to one of said A frame outboard spacer members. 
 
     
     
       13. A dual front wheel steering and suspension system adapted for operation with a three or four wheeled vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a front stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame;   a rear stanchion extending substantially vertically from said vehicle frame and residing parallel to said front stanchion;   a manual steering member;   a steering post extending from said vehicle frame and rotationally supporting said manual steering member;   a rotatable steering shaft assembly;   a main steering arm;   a first universal joint connecting a top of said steering shaft assembly to said manual steering member;   a second universal joint connecting a bottom end of said steering shaft assembly to said main steering arm;   a main steering arm support extending from a lower A frame arm and rotationally supporting said main steering arm;   an upper A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to an upper end of a first or a second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a first midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said upper A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions;   said lower A frame arm having two outboard ends each one pivotally connected to a lower end of a said first or said second A frame arm outboard spacer member, and having a second midpoint spacer member pivotally connecting said lower A frame arm between said front and rear stanchions;   two suspension members each rigidly connected to, and residing parallel to one of said A frame arm outboard spacer members;   two wheel axles each connected to a different one of said suspension members;   two front wheels each rotationally mounted on a different one of said axles;   two secondary steering arms, each rigidly mounted onto one of said suspension members;   a tierod having a first end and a second end each pivotally connected to one of said different secondary steering arms;   a steering linkage rod having a first end pivotally connected to said main steering arm and a second end pivotally connected to one of said secondary steering arms; and   two foot steering pegs wherein each one is connected to one of said A frame outboard spacer members.