Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1981-01-26
1983-10-11
Bertsch, Richard A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280112R, B60G 1102
Patent
active
044087756
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to vehicle suspension systems and more particularly to trunnion mounted axles.
2. Background Art
Farm tractors, fork lift trucks, golf carts, and earth moving vehicles such as front end loaders utilize trunnion or journal mounted axles. Normally, a trunnion mounted axle is mounted by pillow blocks to the frame of the vehicle. The common axis of rotation of the trunnions is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and its direction of motion.
Between the trunnions and the pillow blocks are resilient elastomeric bushings that are loaded both in compression and shear. The compression forces are due to the weight of the vehicle and the forces on the axle transmitted from the roadway. In particular, the weight of the vehicle bears down on the pillow blocks and compresses the bushings which, in turn, transmits this force to the trunnions, the axle and the wheels. The bushings are loaded in shear to resist rotation of the axle about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
Examples of trunnion mounted axles are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,507 entitled "Axle Mounting For A Vehicle," issued to Davies on May 20, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,175 entitled "Industrial Truck and Rocking Wheel Assemblage Therefor," issued to De Marco on Mar. 5, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,175 entitled "Industrial Truck and Rocking Wheel Assemblage Therefor," issued to De Marco on Mar. 5, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,791 entitled "Industrial Truck Steering," issued to Ulinski on Apr. 23, 1963; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,528,677 entitled "Suspension Assembly for Industrial Trucks," issued to Evans et al. on Sept. 15, 1970 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
The elastomeric bushings used around the trunnion shafts in these prior suspension systems generally have not provided as long a service life as desired. These bushings are designed to resist rotation of the axle of the vehicle by clamping around the trunnion shafts and acting like torsion springs. Rotation of the trunnion shafts causes the bushings to lose their resilience and to wear away. This wearing away causes the bushings to become loose and as a consequence to induce looseness in the axle suspension system. These prior systems also have no provisions for adjustably tightening the bushings as wear proceeds and thus when such looseness occurs, the bushings must be replaced.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention an axle assembly for a vehicle frame having an axle and a trunnion suspended from the frame is contemplated. The improvement comprises a member attached to the trunnion and located transversely relative to the axis of rotation of the trunnion and means for resiliently resisting rotation of the member and the trunnion with respect to the frame.
The present invention solves the problem of frequent replacement of the elastomeric bushings by providing means for adjustably securing the resilient resisting means. The apparatus disclosed herein permits the resilient resisting means to be tightened down as necessary as wear occurs so that the axle does not become loose.
The present invention also solves the problem of reducing wear in the suspension system by no longer having elastomeric bushings support the weight of the vehicle and no longer having the bushings loaded in shear. In the present invention when the trunnion shaft is rotated, the shaft turns the member which loads the resisting means in compression.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be found from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line II--II of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the illustrated parts shown in their assembled form.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken alon
REFERENCES:
patent: 2835507 (1958-05-01), Davies
patent: 3080175 (1963-03-01), DeMarco
patent: 3086791 (1963-04-01), Ulinski
patent: 3243198 (1966-03-01), Simovich
patent: 3528677 (1970-09-01), Evans et al.
patent: 3773348 (1973-11-01), Davis
Bertsch Richard A.
Hickman Alan J.
Tewmotor Corporation
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