Self-steering tandem axle bogie

• US 4,120,509 A
• Filed: 04/22/1977
• Issued: 10/17/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis Raymond Shirley, Richard James Reeve
• Original Assignee: Dennis Raymond Shirley, Richard James Reeve
• Inventors: Reeve, Richard James, Shirley, Dennis Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/789,883
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 280/81 A, 280/81 B, 280/81 R, 280/677, 280/678, 280/679, 280/680, 280/681, 280/426, 280/442
• US Class Current: 280/81.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/315 at least one of the arms having an A or V shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/318 two or more axles being mounted on a longitudinal rocking or walking beam
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/445 Self-steered wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/148 on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/124 the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/06 the arms turning on a common pivot , e.g. being rigid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/00 Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof means for maintaining substantially constant wheel camber during suspension movement B60G3/26; articulations for wheels B60G5/00; leaf spring attaching means B60G11/10, B60G11/12; trailing arm twist beam axle attaching means B60G21/052; articulations in general F16C
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/003 the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/02 for centrally-pivoted axles

Abstract

A self-steering tandem bogie for the rear of an articulated vehicle. The bogie comprises a front and a rear axle which are universally attached to a pair of longitudinally extending walking beams for sliding motion thereon, affording angular variation of the axles during vehicle turning. The load of the vehicle is transferred to the bogie by a steering unit which is universally attached to the walking beams between the two axles. As the vehicle executes a turn, the steering unit rotates in the direction of vehicle turn, while the walking beams tend to maintain the straight-drive orientation. This relative movement between the steering unit and the walking beams is transmitted to the front axle by a pair of steering arms, causing the front axle to rotate in the direction of turn, and thereby facilitating vehicle turning.

Claims

1. A self-steering tandem axle bogie for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending frame supporting members;

b. front and rear transversely extending wheel axles, opposite end regions of which are universally attached to end regions of the frame supporting members for sliding movement thereon, permitting relative angular movement between the two wheel axles in a common plane and independent tilt of each wheel axle out of said plane;

c. a transversely extending steering unit for transmitting vehicle load to the frame supporting members, said unit being universally attached at opposite ends to the frame supporting members and longitudinally spaced between said front and rear axles; and

d. a pair of steering arms, each arm coupling one of the end regions of said front axle to the corresponding transverse side of said steering unit by pivotal joining means at each end of said arm, for transmitting, upon vehicle turning occurring, angular movement between said steering unit and said frame supporting members to said front axle to effect angular movement of said front axle, relative to said rear axle, in the direction of vehicle turn.

2. A self-steering tandem axle bogie for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending walking beams;

b. front and rear transversely extending wheel axles, opposite end regions of which are universally attached to said walking beams for sliding movement thereon, permitting relative angular movement between the two wheel axles in a common plane and independent tilt of each wheel axle out of said plane;

c. a transversely extending steering unit for transmitting vehicle load to the two walking beams, said steering unit being universally attached at opposite ends to said beams and longitudinally spaced between said front and rear axles;

d. a pair of steering arms, each arm coupling one of the end regions of said front axle to the corresponding transverse side of said steering unit by universal joining means at each end of said arm, for transmitting, upon vehicle turning occurring, angular movement between said steering unit and said walking beams to said front axle to effect angular movement of said front axle, relative to said rear axle, in the direction of vehicle turn; and

e. rear coupling means universally coupling said steering unit to said rear axle.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein each walking beam carries by rigid attachment a longitudinally extending rod at each beam end, and each end region of said front and rear axles carries by rigid attachment at each axle end region a universal joint assembly having a cylindrical cavity extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving slidably therein an associated beam rod, slidably and pivotally attaching said axle end regions to associated beam rods.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rear coupling means is a trailing yoke having a pair of radial arms universally attached to the two end regions of the rear wheel axle, and a pivot arm universally attached to the center of the steering unit.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 2 further comprising locking means for locking the bogie in a straight-drive position.

6. A self-steering tandem axle bogie for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending walking beams, each beam carrying by rigid attachment a longitudinally extending rod at each beam end;

b. front and rear transversely extending wheel axles, each end region of each said axle carrying by rigid attachment a universal joint assembly having a cylindrical cavity extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving slidably therein an associated beam rod, slidably and pivotally attaching said axle end regions to associated walking beam rods, permitting angular movement between the two wheel axles in a common plane and independent tilt of each wheel axle out of said plane;

c. a transversely extending steering unit for transmitting vehicle load to said walking beams, said unit being universally attached to the walking beams and longitudinally spaced between said front and rear axles;

d. a pair of steering arms, each arm coupling one of the end regions of said front axle to the corresponding transverse side of the steering unit by universal joining means at each end of said arm, for transmitting, upon vehicle turning occuring, angular movement between said steering unit and said walking beams to said front axle to effect angular movement of said front axle, relative to the rear axle, in the direction of vehicle turn;

e. a rear yoke universally coupling said steering unit to said rear axle; and

f. means for locking the bogie in a straight drive position.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 in which each steering arm is universally attached to the corresponding transverse side of the steering unit at a position approximately midway between the center and the outer transverse edge of said unit.