ARTICULATED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CHANGING DIRECTION OF ITS MOVEMENT Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: cross-country vehicles. SUBSTANCE: articulated all-wheel drive vehicle has hinged frame with three pairs of wheels and power drive of forced relative turn of semiframes with regard to their coupling lateral joint and also control system. Wheels are provided with wide cross-section tires and are mounted on common wheel axles, with diameter of wheels decreasing in direction to vehicle longitudinal axis. Each semiframe is made of two parts coupled by longitudinal hinge for rolling of extreme axles with regard to middle one to both sides. Wheels are made hollow, and some parts of vehicle equipment are mounted in wheel spaces on wheel axles. Proposed method of changing direction of motion resides in that wheels of middle axle are first to be taken off ground and speed of rotation of wheels at one side is changed. As this takes place, extreme axles are brought closer due to bending articulated frame in lateral hinge, and direction of wheels rotation at above-mentioned side is changed for opposite one. EFFECT: enhanced reliability of turning. 5 cl, 8 dwg