Motor vehicles – Having at least one wheel both driven and steerable
Patent
1993-06-15
1995-12-05
Focarino, Margaret A.
Motor vehicles
Having at least one wheel both driven and steerable
180255, 180264, 180308, B60K 1730
Patent
active
054720621
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system employing a hydraulic motor for driving a steerable wheel of a dump truck.
2. Description of the Related Art
A system for driving a steerable wheel of a traveling vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 48-42136.
In this system, a hollow drum-shaped housing is pivotally supported on a yoke. A vehicular wheel is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the housing. An output side of a hydraulic motor which is provided within the housing is connected to the vehicular wheel via a reduction mechanism so that the wheel can be rotated by the hydraulic motor, and in conjunction therewith, the wheel can be rocked about the yoke together with the hydraulic motor.
In such a drive system for the steerable wheel, since the hydraulic motor is disposed within the hollow drum-shaped housing supported on the yoke, the yoke may impede the removal and mounting of the hydraulic motor. Once assembled, the hydraulic motor cannot be mounted and removed. Also, the hydraulic motor must be small.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic drive system for a steerable wheel of a dump truck, in which a hydraulic motor can be easily mounted and removed and in which a comparatively larger, i.e. higher capacity, hydraulic motor can be employed.
To achieve this object, a hydraulic drive system of the present invention comprises a yoke supported on a vehicle body so as to be substantially horizontal and so as to be pivotable relative to the vehicle body, a receptacle seat mounted on the yoke so as to be pivotable, a suspension cylinder and a knuckle arm mounted to the receptacle seat, a drive axle rotatably supported within a support shaft portion of the receptacle seat, the steerable wheel rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the support shaft portion, and one end of the drive axle being connected to the steerable wheel through a reduction mechanism, and a hydraulic motor detachably mounted to the receptacle seat at an end thereof remote from the steerable wheel, the hydraulic motor having a rotary shaft that is connected to the other end of the drive axle.
A main hydraulic pump driven by the engine of the vehicle is connected to a steering circuit, whereas an auxiliary hydraulic pump driven by an output of a power transmission of the vehicle is selectively connected by a valve to the steering circuit and a drive circuit. The valve will connect the auxiliary pump to the drive circuit when the discharge of the main hydraulic pump is large and to the steering circuit when the discharge of the main hydraulic pump is small. The drive circuit is connected to the hydraulic motor.
The rotary shaft of the hydraulic motor may be connected to the end of the drive axle via a clutch.
In this case, the drive circuit is concurrently connected to both the hydraulic motor and the clutch or is connected to the hydraulic motor through a second valve. This second valve is adapted to connect the drive circuit to only the hydraulic motor when the flow rate in the drive circuit is large and to connect the drive circuit to both the hydraulic motor and the clutch when such a flow rate is small.
In an alternative form of the invention, the output of the reduction mechanism is connected to the steerable wheel through the clutch.
Because the hydraulic motor is mounted on the receptacle seat at a position remote from the steerable wheel, the hydraulic motor can be easily detached and attached. Also, a larger hydraulic motor can be employed.
Also, since the auxiliary hydraulic pump is driven at a speed synchronous with the drive wheel, the steerable wheel can be driven in synchronism with the drive wheel. Also, since steering can be performed by supplying the discharged pressurized fluid of the auxiliary hydraulic pump to the steering circuit when the discharge of the main hydraulic pump is small, the auxiliary hydraulic pump may function as an emergency steerin
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patent: 3780820 (1973-12-01), Schwab et al.
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patent: 4081049 (1978-03-01), Youmans
patent: 4282949 (1981-08-01), Kopich et al.
patent: 4546844 (1985-10-01), Stauffer
patent: 5150763 (1992-09-01), Yameshita et al.
Hasegawa Nobuki
Kinosita Yoichi
Mori Masaki
Nagai Takao
Sugano Yukio
Focarino Margaret A.
Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
Mattix Carla
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