Patent GB-1412704-A (GB)
Title: Lightweight high performance high security vehicle
IPC: B62D35/00
Filed: 1973-11-20
Abstract: 1412704 High speed cars; Safety vehicles J J M J GERIN 20 Nov 1973 53743/73 Heading B7B [Also in Division F2] A high speed vehicle has, a tapered cockpit whose forward portion 1A is well rounded, a transverse horizontal stabilizer 2D, 2G, extending on either side of the cockpit and housing two rear wheels 1BD, 1BG, three vertical stabilizer fins 3C, 3D, 3G disposed above the cockpit and at the two extremities of the transverse stabilizer respectively, two tandem seats 5A, 5B, and an aerodynamic brake constituted by flaps 26, Fig. 10, capable of pivoting on a transverse pin 27 at the rear of the stabilizer under control of the driver. As seen in Fig. 6 a pivoting hatch 9 is disposed on the cockpit roof. The vehicle advantageously has an adjustable suspension and provision may be made to cause the vehicle to lean into bends by providing pressure actuated control buttons on the steering wheel rim, wherein resetting is obtained automatically by the return of the steering wheel to neutral position. The vehicle is constructed generally by a wooden truss girder P 1  a truss of light alloy T anchored to the girder, and a light alloy or plastics bodywork C, cladding the girder and the truss. The girder P has a front shield 11 in which is anchored a housing 12 receiving impact-deflecting spare wheel 7. A resistant sheet metal shield 18 is articulated at 18A and affords protection to the cockpit. The batch 9 and the portion of the cockpit under central fin 3C may have bulbs 19A, 19B resspectively to allow greater ease of movement. The girder P includes lateral shields 6G, 6D, Fig. 7, which may be formed from a number of low density wood strips (20 A -20 B ) Fig. 8 (not shown) with a soft rubber cushion (22) provided in a recess (21) on outer strip (20 E ). The aerodynamic brake flaps 26 are cut out of the upper surface wall of rear stabilizer 2G, 2D and articulated on a rear transverse pivot 27, Fig. 10. A locking system is provided wherein depression of the driver brake pedal 61, Fig. 13, causes a lever 59 to rotate and pull on cable 57 so that lever assembly 56 pivots about pin 53 and when spring 54 arrives at the level of pin 53 it biasses the lever assembly to slightly open flap 26 which is then open to its maximum position by wind pressure. The flaps are closed by a control rod, 30, Fig. 9, having a yoke 31 slidable on a guide rod 33 anchored to the box girder P. An electric drive motor 38 rotates a reel drum 37 which is connected by a cable to slide 32 to return it to its forward position and hence return the brake flap 26 to its closed position. An electric limit switch 40 stops motor 39 when slide 32 reaches its forward end position. Also, drum 37 has an internal breaking system which brakes the movement of slide 32 during the opening phase of flap 36. Use can be made of the opening of flaps 26 to act automatically on the conventional drum brakes (41G, 41D), Fig. 12 (not shown). As each main flap 26G, 26D pivots an additional flap 63, Fig. 16, moves from a retracted position inside the main flap to a fully extended position by means of a simple cable system 69, 70, 71. A spring return system including an elastic cable 73 is used to return additional flap 63 to its retracted position inside flap 26.