Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-29
2003-02-25
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124116, C280S124156, C180S378000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06523844
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a suspended axle of the articulated-connection type for industrial vehicles.
The axle according to the present invention is in particular designed to be mounted on industrial vehicles, such as telescopic lifting trucks, mechanical shovels, combined earth movers or bachoe-loaders, graders, tractors and the like.
For the purpose of rendering the technical problems dealt with in the present invention evident, a typical example of a traditional suspended axle for industrial vehicles will be briefly described in what follows, with particular reference to FIG.
1
.
The traditional axle
11
is made by means of a central casing
12
, from which two arms
14
extend. Each arm
14
carries, at one of its ends, a support
16
for a wheel (not shown). In various embodiments, this support
16
may have a steering function, a traction function, a steering-and-traction function, or else may be idle. The axle
11
is connected to a chassis of an industrial vehicle (not shown) by means of four longitudinal bars
18
which are hinged—set two by two one above the other—on one side, to the casing
12
and, on the other side, to the vehicle chassis. In addition, hinged to the casing
12
is one end of a Panhard rod
20
, which is set transversely with respect to the vehicle and has its opposite end hinged to the chassis.
Finally, between the arms
14
of the axle
11
and the chassis of the industrial vehicle are set two hydraulic elements
22
which function as shock absorbers. Usually, the elements
22
are made up of hydraulic cylinders connected to pneumatic gas-charged accumulators and are connected to a hydraulic power unit (not shown in
FIG. 1
for reasons of simplicity).
Of course, all the bars
18
,
20
are hinged using ball-and-socket joints in order to allow transverse and vertical oscillations of the axle
11
with respect to the chassis of the industrial vehicle.
The traditional axles described above are notoriously complex and, furthermore, are built using a very large number of elements. In particular, the connection of the axle to the chassis requires in all five bars, each of which carries two ball-and-socket joints.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the technical problems referred to above by providing a suspended axle of the articulated-connection type for industrial vehicles, which is built using a limited number of elements as compared to traditional embodiments, in particular as regards its connection to the vehicle chassis.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an axle that may be installed underneath the vehicle chassis in a basically simple manner.
Not the least important purpose of the present invention is to provide a suspended axle of the articulated-connection type for industrial vehicles that is basically simple, safe and reliable.
These and other purposes according to the present invention are achieved by providing a suspended axle of the articulated-connection type for industrial vehicles comprising a central casing (
32
) from which two arms (
34
) extend, each of which carries, at one of its ends, a support (
36
) for a wheel, said axle (
31
) being connected to a chassis (
52
) of said industrial vehicle by means of a first transverse bar set transversely with respect to said vehicle and a second bar set longitudinally with respect to said vehicle, where said transverse bars comprise at least one Panhard rod (
54
) and where, in addition, interposed between said axle (
31
) and said chassis (
52
) are hydraulic elements (
84
), wherein said suspended axle (
31
) comprises a longitudinal connection between said chassis (
52
) and said longitudinal bar (
64
), wherein the connection end of said longitudinal bar (
64
) to said chassis (
52
) comprises an articulated joint.
Further characteristics of the present invention are moreover defined in the subsequent claims.
Advantageously, the axle according to the invention makes it possible to increase productivity and to achieve an amplification of the operating possibilities of the industrial vehicle. In fact, the axle according to the invention enables the vehicle to move about faster and with greater safety on the road when it has to be transferred to a construction site or when it travels from one construction site to another. This makes possible a reduction in idle time, thus obtaining a considerable economic return.
In addition, the vehicles that mount the axles according to the present invention prove safer and easier to drive as compared to those equipped with traditional axles. This makes possible greater driving comfort and an overall reduction in stress and fatigue for the operator of the industrial vehicle.
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Dana Italia S.p.A.
Dickson Paul N.
Dunn David R.
Hedman & Costigan ,P.C.
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