UNITARY COUPLING FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLES

• US 3,773,129 A
• Filed: 06/14/1971
• Issued: 11/20/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rodney H. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Rodney H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/152,511
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 180/51,53R,79.2B,14B,49,50 308/189,27R 280/492
• US Class Current: 180/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/026 With all wheels powered
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00

Abstract

A compact unitary coupling for an articulated vehicle, including a generally annular coupling member having a cylindrical portion of relatively short length and large diameter which is trunnion mounted by means of stepped bearings in a longitudinal bore formed by one of the vehicle sections, the coupling member integrally forming bracket means to provide an articulated pivot joint with the other vehicle section and to pivotally support steering motor means coupled to the other vehicle section, a central drive shaft portion being mounted within the coupling member by bearings and connected with separate drive shafts in each of the vehicle sections by means of universal joints.

Claims

1. A compact, unitary coupling for an articulated vehicle having front and rear sections, the coupling permitting articulation of the vehicle sections about a central vertical axis comprising an annular coupling member having a cylindrical portion trunnion mounted in a longitudinal bore formed on one of the vehicle sections by means of a pair of longitudinally spaced apart bearings, to permit oscillation between the two vehicle sections, the bearings being of relatively large diameter and being arranged relatively close together to achieve a compact configuration for the coupling, one of the bearings arranged adjacent the articulated axis being of greater diameter than the other bearing to facilitate assembly of the unitary coupling with the one vehicle section, an outer surface of the cylindrical coupling member portion and the longitudinal bore in the one vehicle section being stepped to receive the bearings of different diameters for supporting the coupling member portion in the bore, the coupling member integrally including a first pair of diametrically opposed brackets which are pivotally coupled to respective portions of the other vehicle section, the coupling member also integrally including a second pair of diametrically opposed brackets offset relative to the first pair of brackets for pivotal connection with the other vehicle section by means of steering motor means, the coupling member also integrally including first stop surfaces arranged for interaction with stop means of the one vehicle section to limit relative oscillatory movement of the vehicle sections and second stop surfaces arranged for interaction with stop means on the other vehicle section, and a central drive shaft being mounted within the coupling member by bearing means and connected with separate drive shafts in the two vehicle sections by universal joints.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein an engine for driving the vehicle is arranged on the other vehicle section.

3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein an engine for driving the vehicle is arranged on the one vehicle section and an implement for receiving an external load is mounted on the other vehicle section.

4. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an engine on a first one of the vehicle sections and an implement on the second one of the sections adapted for mechanical operation by the engine through a drive train including a telescoping shaft and a pair of universal joints arranged between bearing blocks secured respectively to the first vehicle section, the drive train also including a telescoping shaft and a pair of universal joints adjacent the implement.