Motor vehicles – Steering gear – With fluid power assist
Patent
1998-06-15
1999-11-23
Hurley, Kevin
Motor vehicles
Steering gear
With fluid power assist
180311, B60D 101, B62D 1120
Patent
active
059883090
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a frame assembly and more particularly to the mounting arrangement for the steering cylinders that extend between the front and rear frame assemblies of an articulated construction machine.
BACKGROUND ART
In the operation of construction machines, it has been found desirable to steer the machine by rotating the front portion of the machine with respect to the rear portion. In order to do this, it is necessary to provide two separate frames that are pinned together about a vertical axis and extend hydraulic cylinders therebetween to obtain the desired rotation or articulation. Typically, the engine and drive train components are mounted on the rear portion of the machine and the work implement is mounted on the front portion of the machine.
In the case of some machines, the articulated wheel loader, for example, the front frame portion is subject to extremely high loads from several different sources. One primary source occurs during the steering function of the vehicle. Since the front axle is mounted to the front frame, there must be substantial support for it as it steered over all kinds of terrain. The forces applied by the steering cylinder to rotate the front frame with respect to the rear frame to steer the axle are also quite large. The support brackets for the steering cylinders are normally positioned on the sides of the front frame assembly at locations that are spaced from the axle centerline, through which the forces are transferred. As this spacing increases, so to do the forces passing therethrough, which ultimately requires exceptionally large support brackets for mounting structures.
These factors inherently result in a structure that is quite large in both height and width. With the increase in size however, come several disadvantages. The overall complexity and weight are exceptionally costly in terms of the numbers of components that must be welded together and the expense of material. Additionally, the operation of the machine is hampered because the large size of the structure can reduce the operators visibility to the work implement. This especially true with respect to the line of sight to the base and the corners of the implement.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a frame assembly is provided for an articulated machine. The articulated machine includes a front frame that has a pair of side plates that have a first and second end portions and are positioned in spaced parallel relation to one another. A first support plate having a generally planar configuration is secured to the first and second side plates at the respective first end portions thereof. The first support plate has a pair of bores defined therethrough on opposing side portions thereof. A rear frame portion is pivotally mounted to the front frame portion for relative movement with respect thereto about a pivot axis. A pair of steering cylinders are include that have a first end portion mounted to the rear frame on opposing sides thereof and a second end portion mounted to the first support plate. The cylinders are positioned substantially in line with the support plate.
With a frame assembly as set forth above, the axle housing is mounted in very close proximity to the support plate. Since the steering cylinders are mounted in line with the support plate, the forces are directly transferred into the support plate and thereby substantially directly into the axle housing as well. This design results in a very direct and efficient transfer of forces between the steering cylinders and the axle housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side view of a portion of a construction machine that embodies the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the front frame portion of the construction machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of the frame member shown in FIG. 2
REFERENCES:
patent: 3773129 (1973-11-01), Anderson
patent: 3896894 (1975-07-01), Vinton
patent: 4146109 (1979-03-01), Barth
patent: 4273353 (1981-06-01), Holmes
patent: 5568841 (1996-10-01), Weissbach
patent: 5632350 (1997-05-01), Gauvin
Chong Yon C.
Conroy Timothy S.
Mathieu James K.
Neitzel Daniel R.
Riediger Craig W.
Caterpillar Inc.
Hurley Kevin
Perry William C.
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