Patent ID: 8397854
Filing Date: 2013-03-19
Classification: B62K

Abstract:
1. A drive wheel and suspension for a vehicle comprising: a cross member; a support fastened to the cross member; a motor mounted on the support for driving a motor shaft about a first axis; a pair of spaced apart, downward and backward projecting parallel struts fastened to the cross member, backward being opposite the forward direction of motion of the vehicle; a pair of swing arms, each swing arm being supported about a second axis parallel to the first axis and adjacent a lower end of a respective one of the struts and projecting forward; a wheel mounted on an axle extending between a forward part of the swing arms to support a wheel between the swing arms for rotation about a third axis parallel to the first and second axes; a pair of coil spring, shock absorber units, each coupled between the cross member and a respective forward end of a respective swing arm; a first pulley on the motor shaft; a second pulley aligned with the first pulley and disposed for rotation about the second axis; a third pulley mechanically coupled to the second pulley so as to driven in rotation by the second pulley; a fourth pulley aligned with the third pulley and mechanically coupled to the wheel to drive the wheel in rotation about the third axis; a first belt coupling the first and second pulleys; and a second belt coupling the third and fourth pulleys.