Steerable chassis for work vehicle

• US 7,451,993 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.S.E. SRL, MultiOne Srl
• Original Assignee: CSF S.r.l.
• Inventors: Zanini, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US10/549,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6.154, 280/124.11, 280/492, 180/41, 180/235, 180/418
• US Class Current: 280/124.111
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/005 Suspension locking arrangements for retractable wheels B62D61/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/324 with a single pivot point and a triangular "T" or "U"-shaped axle, e.g. DeDion arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/09 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 12/00 Steering specially adapted for vehicles operating in tandem or having pivotally connected frames steering endless tracks or the like B62D11/00; steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/021 comprising a universal coupling joint

Abstract

A steerable chassis for work vehicle, having a coupling with a hinge that has a vertical axis in order to act as a steering system and an articulation that has a horizontal axis in order to ensure greater freedom of torsional oscillation of that chassis. The chassis has a device for locking the articulation, as selected by the operator, in order to increase the torsional rigidity of the chassis when required.

Claims

1. A steerable chassis for a work vehicle, comprising two chassis portions, respectively a front portion and a rear portion, which are mutually connected and can rotate with respect to each other about a substantially vertical axis and about a substantially horizontal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the working vehicle, said steerable chassis further comprising a device for locking the relative rotation of said chassis portions about said substantially horizontal rotation axis, said device comprising a rocker member and an actuation means for limiting rocking motion of said rocker member, said actuation means being an hydraulic actuation means comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder associated with a piston, said two chassis portions, respectively the front portion and the rear portion, being connected by virtue of a complex coupling that comprises a hinge, whose rotation axis coincides with said substantially vertical axis, and an articulation, whose rotation axis coincides with said substantially horizontal axis, said articulation being comprised of a shaft that is rigidly coupled to the front chassis portion and is pivoted in a bush that is rigidly coupled to the rear chassis portion, said rocker member being rigidly coupled to said shaft and being provided with two substantially horizontal arms, each of which can be abutted against a movable end of a respective hydraulic piston that has a substantially vertical axis, each said piston having a respective hydraulic cylinder that is rigidly coupled to said rear chassis portion.

2. The chassis according to claim 1, further comprising a means for coupling said rocker member to said shaft, said means consisting of stud bolts that are screwed with an axis that is parallel to the axis of said shaft.

3. The chassis according to claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a hexagonal protruding member, which abuts in a corresponding hexagonal recess that is formed axially in said rocker.

4. The chassis according to claim 1, wherein said rocker member is symmetrical, said horizontal arms extending symmetrically and at right angles with respect to the axis of said shaft.

5. The chassis according to claim 1, wherein each one of said substantially horizontal arms comprises an end portion that is provided with a substantially horizontal supporting surface for making contact with the movable end of said corresponding hydraulic piston when said piston is in the raised position.

6. The chassis according to claim 1, wherein said pair of hydraulic cylinders, one for each of the two arms of said rocker member, are fixed to the base of said rear chassis portion by means of screws.

7. The chassis according to claim 1, wherein the movable end of each one of said pistons has the same elongation.