Vehicles, systems for vehicles, and methods for vehicles all to improve cornering capability

摘要

A land vehicle, according to various aspects of the present invention allows the driver to lean with a frame that supports the driver and that pivots on a base. Motion of the frame is coupled to the wheels to adjust a camber of the wheels. The wheels are coupled to the base that provides a reference for independent wheel suspension mechanisms. As a result, banking of the vehicle does not affect the suspension of the wheels. Hydraulic assistance to counteract the forces of the suspension systems is unnecessary.

主权项

1. A vehicle for following a curve in a path on a way, the vehicle comprising:
a. a frame for supporting a driver; b. a base that supports the frame and permits movement of the frame with respect to the base; c. a plurality of vehicle supports that each contribute to supporting the base, each vehicle support biasing the base against the way; and d. a camber controller that adjusts a camber of at least one vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports in accordance with a position of the frame with respect to the base, movement toward the position being promoted by a shifting of the driver's mass by the driver toward a center of curvature of the curve in the path; wherein e. on a level way with movement of the frame with respect to the base, biasing is a function of frame mass, driver mass, and frame-driver center of mass; and is otherwise independent of position of the frame; and f. the base supports a first vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports via a first pivot having a first axis of rotation for biased movement of the first vehicle support toward the way; g. the base supports a second vehicle support of the plurality of vehicle supports via a second pivot having a second axis of rotation for biased movement of the second vehicle support toward the way; h. the base supports the frame on a third pivot having a third axis of rotation of the frame with respect to the base; and i. the base maintains the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis in a fixed spatial relationship that is independent of position of the frame.