Mortar buggy

• US 20040040761A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Stone Construction Equipment Incorporated (Toro)
• Inventors: Boor, Guy W., Burt, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/69.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/00 Units comprising multiple wheels arranged side by side; Wheels having more than one rim or capable of carrying more than one tyre

Abstract

A quick release hub for the outer tires and wheels of dual wheel assemblies on a vehicle such as a mortar buggy to enable the vehicle to move through a narrow doorway or other passageway having a width less than the total distance between the outermost surfaces of the outer tires. The quick release hub includes a two component hub secured together by a single fastening device which enables quick and easy removal and replacement of the outer tires and wheels. A combination engine electrical control switch for the mortar buggy engine automatically controls a fuel supply valve to open and close the fuel valve in response to the engine control switch. An operator'"'"'s platform and brake actuator are mounted at the rear of the mortar buggy with the brake actuator extending transversely at the forward portion of the platform to enable an operator to use either foot to operate the brake actuator.

Claims

1. A quick release hub for outer wheels of a vehicle dual wheel assembly comprising an axle extension between an inner wheel and an outer wheel of a dual wheel assembly, said axle extension including an inner hub component secured to an inner wheel and an outer hub component secured to an outer wheel, the inner ends of said hub components including telescopically engaged surfaces to maintain the hub components in alignment and a single retaining member interconnecting said hub components to enable separation of the outer wheel and outer hub component from the inner wheel and inner hub component and reassembly of the outer hub component onto the inner hub component by manipulating said single retaining member.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner hub component and outer hub component includes a driving connection engaged when the hub components are telescopically engaged.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein said driving connection includes a plurality of axially extending pins on one hub component and a plurality of axially extending recesses in the other hub component closely telescopically receiving said pins to form a positive drive connection between the hub components.

4. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member is an elongated rod member having a threaded end and a transverse member at an opposite end, said retaining member extending through a bore in the outer hub component and threadedly engaged with the inner hub component with the transverse member engaging the outer hub component and retaining it in assembled relation on the inner hub component.

5. The device as defined in claim 4, wherein said transverse member includes a pair of projections extending laterally from the transverse member in spaced relation to the rotational axis of the retaining member to enable a rigid rod-like tool to engage with the projections for enabling the retaining member to be threaded and unthreaded in relation to the inner hub component.

6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a mortar buggy powered by an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, a fuel supply valve between the engine and fuel supply and a combination electrical engine and fuel shut off associated with the engine and fuel supply valve to automatically close the fuel supply valve when the electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a stop position and automatically open the fuel supply valve when the engine control switch is moved to a run position.

7. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle having dual wheel assemblies is a mortar buggy with the dual wheel assemblies being located at the forward end thereof to enable the overall width of the mortar buggies to be reduced by removing the single retaining member, the outer hub component and outer wheel of each dual wheel assembly to enable the mortar buggy to pass through a restricted width opening.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein an operator'"'"'s platform is mounted at the rear of the mortar buggy to support an operator of the mortar buggy and a brake actuator mounted at the forward end portion of the platform and extending substantially throughout the width thereof to enable an operator occupying said platform to utilize either foot to manipulate the brake actuator.

9. A vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, a fuel supply valve between the engine and fuel supply and a combination electrical engine and fuel shut off associated with the engine and fuel supply valve to automatically close the fuel supply valve when the electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a stop position and automatically open the fuel supply valve when the combination electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a run position.

10. A mortar buggy including dual wheel assemblies located on each side at the forward end thereof and a quick release hub for each outer wheel to enable the overall width of the mortar buggy to be reduced by removing a single outer wheel retaining member to enable the outer wheel of each dual wheel assembly to be removed and remounted to enable the mortar buggy to pass through a restricted width opening.

11. The mortar buggy as defined in claim 10, wherein said retaining member is an elongated rod member having a threaded end engaging an inner wheel, said retaining member extending through a bore in an outer wheel and threadedly engaged with the inner wheel, a retaining device on said retaining member remote from said threaded end and engaging the outer wheel for retaining the outer wheel assembled in relation on the inner wheel.

12. The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said retaining device includes a washer and shoulder on an outer end engaging the outer wheel, a transverse member rigidly mounted on said retaining member at its outer end, a pair of projections extending laterally from said transverse member in spaced relation to the rotational axis of the retaining member to enable a rigid rod-like tool to engage the projections for enabling the retaining member to be threaded and unthreaded in relation to the inner wheel.

13. A mortar buggy comprising a frame, an operator'"'"'s platform mounted at the rear of the mortar buggy frame to support an operator of the mortar buggy and a brake actuator mounted at the forward end portion of the platform and extending substantially throughout the width thereof to enable an operator occupying said platform to utilize either foot to manipulate the brake actuator.