Self-steering axle for vehicles
First Claim
1. A self steering axle assembly for a vehicle having a frame and a back-up system for effecting a caster angle change from positive to negative upon the vehicle being shifted from forward travel to reverse travel, said axle comprising:
- (a) a suspension truss member extending transversely of the vehicle and being secured thereto;
(b) an axle beam extending transversely of said vehicle and being hinged to said truss member for rocking movement relative thereto between a positive and a negative caster angle, said axle beam having opposite ends for receiving a king pin assembly and associated wheel assemblies;
(c) arm means extending from said axle beam at a central location; and
(d) actuator means operably connected to said arm means at connector means for selectively rocking said axle beam to effect a predetermined change of caster angle.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self steering axle system for motor coaches and similar commercial vehicles having a truss which hingedly supports an axle beam for pivotal movement between a normal positive caster angle and a negative caster angle when the vehicle is driven in reverse. The pivotal or rocking movement is achieved by a centrally positioned shift actuator acting through a yoke arm assembly and a latch which absorbs brake reaction forces. The system includes a caster lock for rendering the axle non-steerable in the event of a system failure or above predetermined operational speeds.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A self steering axle assembly for a vehicle having a frame and a back-up system for effecting a caster angle change from positive to negative upon the vehicle being shifted from forward travel to reverse travel, said axle comprising:
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(a) a suspension truss member extending transversely of the vehicle and being secured thereto; (b) an axle beam extending transversely of said vehicle and being hinged to said truss member for rocking movement relative thereto between a positive and a negative caster angle, said axle beam having opposite ends for receiving a king pin assembly and associated wheel assemblies; (c) arm means extending from said axle beam at a central location; and (d) actuator means operably connected to said arm means at connector means for selectively rocking said axle beam to effect a predetermined change of caster angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14)
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10. A self steering axle assembly for a vehicle having a frame and a back-up system for effecting a caster angle change from positive to negative upon the vehicle being shifted from forward travel to reverse travel, said axle comprising:
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(a) a suspension truss member extending transversely of the vehicle and being secured thereto; (b) an axle beam extending transversely of said vehicle and being hinged to said truss member for rocking movement relative thereto between a positive and a negative caster angle, said axle beam having opposite ends for receiving a king pin assembly and associated wheel assemblies; (c) arm means extending from said axle beam at a central location; (d) actuator means operably connected to said arm means at connector means for selectively rocking said axle beam to effect a predetermined change of caster angle; and (e) a latch member interposed between said actuator means and said arm means, said latch member having means to absorb brake reaction forces when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 15)
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16. A vehicle operable in forward and reverse directions of travel and having a control system indicating travel direction, said vehicle including:
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(a) a superstructure extending transversely of the vehicle having fixed length suspension members attached thereto, said superstructure comprising a suspension truss; (b) an axle beam extending transversely of said vehicle generally subjacent said superstructure and being hingedly connected to the superstructure for pivotal movement between a normal positive caster angle for forward travel and a negative caster angle for reverse travel, said axle beam having wheel assembles at opposite ends thereof and having a tie rod extending therebetween; (c) shift arm means extending at an intermediate location along said axle beam; (d) power means for selectively moving said shift arm means to effect a caster angle change; (e) latch means associated with said shift arm means having means to absorb reaction forces in forward travel; and (f) locking means for selectively locking said tie rod to render said axle operable as a non-steering axle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A self steering axle assembly for a vehicle having a frame and a back-up system for effecting a caster angle change from positive to negative upon the vehicle being shifted from forward travel to reverse travel, said axle comprising:
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(a) a suspension truss member extending transversely of the vehicle and being secured thereto; (b) an axle beam extending transversely of said vehicle and being hinged to said truss member for rocking movement relative thereto between a positive and a negative caster angle, said axle beam having opposite ends for receiving a king pin assembly and associated wheel assemblies; (c) arm means extending from said axle beam at a central location; (d) actuator means operably connected to said arm means at connector means for selectively rocking said axle beam to effect a predetermined change of caster angle; (e) a tie rod extending between the vehicle wheel assemblies; and (f) locking means for selectively locking said tie rod including control means for selectively actuating said locking means, said locking means further including a clamp associated with said tie rod secured to a slidable locking plate defining an aperture and fixed second actuator means having a locking pin normally out of registry with said aperture and being selectively operable to move said locking pin into registry with said aperture to lock said tie rod.
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Specification