Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1998-09-02
2000-07-11
Swann, J. J.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280124114, B60G 500, B60G 902
Patent
active
06086088&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to axle constructions for commercial vehicles, in particular lorries, trailers and mining vehicles. Axle constructions of this kind are known from Finnish Patents 84,895 and 89,570, for example.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Rigid steerable axles are used in especially heavy transports, in which it is necessary that one or some of the axles are steerable, as there are typically more than two such axles and as the turning radius of the vehicle is inadequate without steering. Rigid axles are used because of the heavy load and simple construction. It is also crucial that the load is evenly distributed on all axles in uneven terrain.
It is customary to use twin wheels with independent suspension, in which case the construction fulfils both the turning and load distribution requirements.
When turning axles according to the Finnish Patents cited above, in which support means or springs of the axle are supported to the frame of the vehicle or to equalizer levers secured thereto by means of suspension means extending downwards from the support means, the suspension means have to assume a slanted position, which will cause the frame of the vehicle to rise with great turning angles, in particular. This is because when turning axles, the support means or the springs move in the direction of the road surface, at the same time as the upper ends of the suspension means secured to their ends also move essentially only in the direction of road surface. When the suspension means move thus into a slanted position, their lower ends should be able to rise upwards. As the lower ends of the suspension means are secured to the frame or to equalizer levers attached to the frame, the frame will also have to rise. The suspension means has a tactile force in a direction from which a vertical force component bears the portion of the vehicle mass on the suspension rod, and a horizontal force component that resists turning. This property can sometimes be utilized as a torque that restores steering. However, when the turning angles of axle loads and axles are large, too much force is needed for turning, the force being directed to the support means or the springs horizontally, which causes extra strain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of the axle construction of the invention.
In accordance with the invention, by securing in a single-axle solution suspension means on one side of the axle upwards and the suspension means only on the other side downwards, that is, unsymmetrically, and in a solution of several axles at least at one axle in a similar way, the raising effect of the downwardly extending suspension means can be compensated by the lowering effect of the upwardly extending suspension means as desired by changing the measurements of the portions and the number of the upwardly extending suspension means. When turning an axle where suspension means are positioned unsymmetrically, the support means or the spring of the axle turns against the axle in the perpendicular plane, as when the upper end of the upwardly extending suspension means goes aslant, it attempts to raise the end of the support means or the spring and the lower end of the downwardly extending suspension means attempts to lower the opposite end of the support means or the spring. The force needed for turning the axle will diminish considerably as when the upwardly extending suspension means goes aslant, it causes a horizontal force component on the support means or the spring which affects in the opposite direction to the horizontal force component caused by the downwardly extending suspension means.
In the case that the support means or the springs are secured to the axle by means of joints that allow the axle to turn essentially in the horizontal plane with respect to the support means or the spring and the support means or the spring to rock with respect to the axle, as in the solution of Finnish Paten
REFERENCES:
patent: 1952400 (1934-03-01), White
patent: 3471166 (1969-10-01), Clark
patent: 4995634 (1991-02-01), Evans
patent: 5255754 (1993-10-01), Lauronen
patent: 5492351 (1996-02-01), Salo
Bottorff Christopher
Swann J. J.
Tamrock Oy
LandOfFree
Axle construction for a vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Axle construction for a vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Axle construction for a vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-534016