TH376A - Small four wheel vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

This invented mini-four-wheeled vehicle is easy to assemble, maintain, and repair because the engine is housed in a compartment perpendicular to the rear axle axis. The engine is enclosed in a single housing, with the final drive mechanism located deep within the compartment. Furthermore, the final drive utilizes a spring-loaded flexible clutch, and the gear lever and selector stick are connected by a coiled spring. This arrangement prevents excessive force and protects the engine compartment from damage.

Claims (12)

1. A small four-wheeled vehicle consisting of a body, a chassis to which the front wheels are suspended, and a U-shaped swing arm. The two arms of the "U" are attached to the chassis in a way that allows for swinging. An engine assembly is mounted on this swing arm. This engine assembly is a single unit that includes the power transmission system from the engine to the rear axle, which are the driving wheels. 2. A small four-wheeled vehicle as per claim 1, with the aforementioned engine mounted on a swing arm supported by rubber bushings. 3. A small four-wheeled vehicle as per claim 1, with the chassis bent diagonally upwards toward the rear at the middle, and then cut back to a horizontal position. 4. A small four-wheeled vehicle as per claim 1, which has a single shock absorber mounted in the center of the rear section of the chassis and in the center of the aforementioned swing arm. 5. A small four-wheeled vehicle as per claim 1, in which the chassis and swing arm are constructed from tubing. 6. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle under claim 1 where the rear wheelbase is narrower than the front wheelbase. 7. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle under claim 1 in which the length of the swing arm at the pivot point at which it is attached to the frame is equal to or greater than the width of the rear wheelbase. 8. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle according to claim 1, whose engine block is separable in a direction perpendicular to the rear axle, and whose engine assembly is housed in this block. 9. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle as per claim 1, which uses ball bearings as a locking mechanism for the transmission gears. 10. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle as per claim 1, where the final speed control device is located at the deepest point of the engine block of the said engine assembly. 11. A small four-wheeled automobile according to claim 10, in which the final drive for the rear axle is loosely mounted on the rear axle to limit its axial movement, and has a toothed clutch engaged on this said final drive and another on the said rear axle, allowing for axial movement. This latter clutch is spring-loaded to always engage the first clutch. 12. A small four-wheeled motor vehicle pursuant to claim 9, where the lever for operating the gear selector in the transmission system is connected to the force transmission lever by a spring link and is on the same pivot point (Clause 12, page 2, figure 13).