Support system for a steerable vehicle wheel which may also be a driving wheel, and its application, in particular, to an amphibious vehicle

摘要

A support system in accordance with the invention comprises: an oscillating arm (1) having a first end fitted with means (2) for mounting the oscillating arm to pivot relative to the body (6) of a vehicle in a direction which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and having a second end with a wheel bearing support (21) mounted thereon, said wheel bearing support being mounted to swivel about a swivel axis (19) mounted on the oscillating arm; oscillating arm positioning means (46) for maintaining the oscillating arm in a predetermined average position; and means (36) for controlling the orientation of the wheel bearing support (21) about the swivel axis (19). The system is characterized in that the swivel axis (19) is connected to the oscillating arm (1) via a member (15) for compensating the inclination of the oscillating arm, said member being mounted to pivot about a shaft which is fixed perpendicularly to the oscillating arm; and in that a link member (30) is hinged both to the inclination compensating member (15) and to the vehicle body (6) in order to constitute together with the oscillating arm (1) a hinged parallelogram.