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Parallel parking is a problem for many people. I think we've all had to wait behind someone whose had to make multiple passes or even been in the embarrassing situation ourselves as cars line up behind us. The spare wheel that comes in the trunk or on the back or under the rear of our cars go unused
until the rare case when we get a flat. What I propose is a hub mounted motor inside the wheel , possibly hydraulic, that pivots the "under the car" variety of spare to vertical perpendicular to the direction of travel. The driver spots a parking place, drives nose in first, and hits the switch the wheel drops into position then raises the rear of the car so the back wheels clear the ground, and finally pulls the back of the car up to the curb before stowing itself back to its fully horizontal and locked position. There would be so little wear on the wheel as to not be a concern and the mechanism would also assit greatly if one did have to change a tire. If you had a blowout in the back you could use this to jack up the rear, throw a couple jack stands underneath lower the car and now easily remove the spare.
Dymaxion Car
http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/car.html
Turn on a dime, literally [5th Earth, Oct 04 2004]
Thrust SSC
http://www.thrustssc.com/
World's fastest car also rear-steered [5th Earth, Oct 04 2004]
[link]
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It would be easier, I think, to just increase the prevalence of four-wheel turning systems in motor vehicles (which do exist, most well-known on GM pickup trucks). |
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I've seen this method used on some antique cars. It didn't sell very well. I'd call it baked, but I can't find a link at the moment. |
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I've always been a big proponent of rear-wheel drive and steering. Freefall, I've posted a link to probably the most famous personal vehicle to use this, as well as a link to a more famous but rather expensive rear-wheel steered vehicle. |
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Still, this are both exclusive control methods, not the "optional" system SP is describing. |
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I don't understand this, my spare wheel is buried somewhere beneath my bootfloor under a whole heap of stuff. |
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this horizontal type parking is baked though, no? |
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Baked. I think someone designed something like this in the '40s--I saw a B&W newsreel clip about it once. |
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po- Many pick-up trucks and larger car store the spare under the "boot". Typically there's a threaded rod that dangles down and the hub of the spare fits on it and an assembly screws on to secure it in place. My only point is that on vehicles with this type of spare storage the space is already set aside. It could even be an after market add on that would allow one to drive nose in to a parking space next to the curb, flip the switch, deploy the wheel and roll the back end next to the curb and out of traffic. To shapu - four wheel turning is lovely but without the room to manuever it does you little good. Now if the idea is to take a fully baked and sold idea like the new pickups (or any vehicle) with four wheel steering and modify the design to toe-out the rear wheels beyond the current limits to make the truck turn about the center of the front axle, then fire up the oven, 'cause I'm stayin' for dinner. As an aside, I like four wheel steering as an idea. It does complicate things a bit mechanically. I don't like the idea of rear wheel steering or drive alone. Things typically are loads easier to pull than to push and therefor front wheel drive cars can be lighter then rear wheel drive cars for the same power. |
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Think of it as picking up your shopping buggy from the back, and sliding it sideways. You've done that, right, to make tight corners or get out of someone else's way? |
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