Land vehicles – Step or abutment ascending type vehicle – With spider-type engaging means
Patent
1986-04-28
1987-08-18
Pekar, John A.
Land vehicles
Step or abutment ascending type vehicle
With spider-type engaging means
B62B 502, B62D 6100
Patent
active
046872132
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wheel assembly of the type comprising at least two contact members which are rotatable along a contact surface and equally spaced on a carrier which is movably connected to a frame, e.g. a portion of a wagon body, a vehicle chassis, a container or a conveyor for the purpose of moving the frame relatively the contact surface.
The problem solved by prior art assemblies of the type above defined has been to make it possible to pass upwards or downwards on stair steps. In other words, the prior art devices have been designed to "climb" up or down the stairs and, more specifically by rotation of the carrier relative to the frame in such a way that two of the wheels mounted on the carrier are in simultaneous contact with the horizontal surfaces of at least two of the stair steps. The technical problem solved by such devices was consequently a conversion of the discontinuous, jerky movement into a smoother and more continuous movement, the ideal aimed for being a trajectory parallel to the tangent through the outer corners of the steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves a problem which could be stated to be diametrically opposed to the one just mentioned. The object of the invention is not to make possible or facilitate a movement in a direction having vertical components. Instead, it is to make it feasible to move, normally horizontally, the frame of the wheel assembly along a contact surface without any change of the level of the frame above the contact surface in spite of the fact that the latter is not planar but has upwardly directed projections or similar obstacles.
The above object has, according to the main feature of the invention, been realized in that the carrier member is continuously movable in a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the contact surface. Further, circular, preferably rotatable, support members are concentric with the contact members and are arranged to cooperate with support surfaces on the frame such that the distance of the latter from the contact surface is maintained at least essentially constant independently of the possible presence of projections therefrom which may be accomodated in the space between the support surface and those of the contact members which, in any given instant, are in contact with the contact surface. Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying, diagrammatic drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a, partly broken, perspective view showing a wheel undercarriage consisting of two wheel assemblies according to a first embodiment.
FIGS. 2A-2F are lateral views illustrating the principle of operation of the undercarriage in FIG. 1. The foremost wheel assembly, as seen in the direction of movement, is shown partly in section.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a wheel assembly, mainly according to FIGS. 1 and 2, which is steerable in relation to a wagon chassis or the like.
FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate three different ways of stabilizing the rotational position of the carrier member during intervals when the assembly does not pass over any obstacles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a bogie 1 constitutes a portion of e.g. a wagon body or a vehicle chassis which in FIG. 1 has been indicated with dash-dot lines and which shall move along a horizontal contact surface 2 shown in FIG. 2. The bogie consists of two wheel assemblies 3 and 4 interconnected by a bar 5 which at both ends has a fork 6. To each of the two fork legs there is fastened a plate 7 which, according to the embodiment illustrated, is an irregular hexagon. Its upper and lower sides are horizontal whereas the other four sides are substantially inclined in relation to the horizontal plane. The operational significance of that layout will be explained below.
Each pair of opposite plates 7 forms the frame of t
REFERENCES:
patent: 1887427 (1932-11-01), Porcello
patent: 2786540 (1957-03-01), Sfreeda
patent: 2928501 (1960-03-01), Ramirez
patent: 3058754 (1962-10-01), Whitaker
patent: 3269741 (1966-08-01), Porcello
patent: 3638745 (1972-02-01), Floyd
patent: 4457526 (1984-07-01), Persson
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