Truck

• US 5,632,509 A
• Filed: 08/13/1993
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZEPPELIN MOBILE SYSTEME GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Zeppelin-Systemtechnik GmbH
• Inventors: Reichert, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/106,339
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 280/79.11, 280/784, 280/789, 280/790, 280/795, 280/797, 280/798, 280/800, 280/107, 280/DIG. 8, 280/786, 296/204, 296/205, 296/183, 296/181, 296/182, 296/203
• US Class Current: 280/795
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/14 of adjustable length or width
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/04 Vehicle body mounted on resilient suspension for movement relative to the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/08 comprising adjustable means B62D33/10 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, such as a truck, comprising a chassis having flexural strength but being torsionable, on which a non-torsionable assembly is arranged above an intermediate frame, the assembly comprising a central tube at its lower side extending in the center of the vehicle, the tube being connected to the intermediate frame at several locations by means of bearings. Such a truck is especially characterized in that the intermediate frame is formed having flexural strength but being torsionable and in that a single three-point bearing is provided between it and the central tube, which comprises a rear, in axial direction fixed, pivot bearing as well as two lateral slide bearings at a transverse beam of the central tube, said pivot bearings having spherical bearing surfaces to which horizontal supports are associated at the intermediate frame.

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising a chassis having flexural strength but being torsionable on which a non-torsionable assembly is arranged above an intermediate frame having horizontal supports, said assembly comprising a central tube having a transverse beam, the central tube being connected to the intermediate frame, wherein the intermediate frame has flexural strength and is torsionable and one single three-point bearing is provided between the intermediate frame and the central tube, said single three-point bearing comprising a rear pivot bearing coupled to the central tube and fixed with respect to axial movement relative to said intermediate frame, as well as two lateral slide bearings at the transverse beam of the central tube, said lateral slide bearings having spherical bearing surfaces that support said central tube.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate frame is movable in a longitudinal direction but non-movable in a vertical direction on the chassis.

3. Vehicle according to claims 1 or 2, wherein each lateral slide bearing has a support of a T-shaped cross-section with a vertical bar and a horizontal bar of the T-shaped support, said vertical bar being laterally connected to the intermediate frame and a section of the horizontal bar closer to the central tube being supported on an upper side of the intermediate frame and forming the support for the spherical bearing surface.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the horizontal bar has first and second sections, said first section being closer to the central tube than said second section is to the central tube, said first section being distal to said second section, said second section being located lower than said first section and said second section is adapted to receive a fastening element being subjected to the force of a spring.

5. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a console is associated with each support of the slide bearing on the sides of the transverse beam, said console comprising said spherical bearing surface at its lower side.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the console has a U-shaped cross-section and both U-legs are extending downwardly and laterally project over the respective support of the slide bearing with clearance.

7. Vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the console is connected to the lateral slide bearing with a fastening element, the fastening element being formed as screw bolts guided through bores of the console and the respective support of the slide bearing, said fastening element being supported by means of a rectangular spiral spring.

8. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each lateral slide bearing has a support of a T-shaped cross section and the pivot bearing consists of cast steel and comprises a bearing bush with semi-annular cross-section for receiving the central tube, said bearing bush being flanged on both sides for axial fixation of T-shaped support ribs arranged at an outer surface of the central tube.

9. Vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the console is connected to the lateral slide bearing with a fastening element, the fastening element being formed as screw bolts guided through bores of the console and the respective support of the slide bearing, said fastening element being supported by means of a rectangular spiral spring.

10. Vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the pivot bearing consists of cast steel and comprises a bearing bush with semi-annular cross-section for receiving the central tube, said bearing bush being flanged on both sides for axial fixation of T-shaped support ribs arranged at an outer surface of the central tube.

11. Vehicle according to claim 6 wherein the pivot bearing consists of cast steel and comprises a bearing bush with semi-annular cross-section for receiving the central tube, said bearing bush being flanged on both sides for axial fixation of T-shaped support ribs arranged at an outer surface of the central tube.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis having an intermediate frame, said intermediate frame having flexural strength and being torsionable; and

a non-torsionable assembly positioned above said intermediate frame, said non-torsionable assembly including a central tube connected to said intermediate frame, and a three-point bearing coupling said intermediate frame to said central tube, said central tube having a transverse beam, and said three-point bearing including a rear pivot bearing coupled to said central tube and fixed with respect to axial movement relative to said intermediate frame, and two lateral slide bearings connected to said transverse beam of said central tube and coupled to the intermediate frame, said lateral slide bearings having spherical bearing surfaces supporting said central tube.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate frame is movable in a longitudinal direction but non-movable in a vertical direction on the chassis.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein each lateral slide bearing has a support of a T-shaped cross-section with a vertical bar and a horizontal bar, said vertical bar being laterally connected to said intermediate frame and a section of said horizontal bar that is closer to said central tube being supported on an upper side of said intermediate frame and supporting said spherical bearing surface.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein each lateral slide bearing has a support of a T-shaped cross-section and said pivot bearing includes a bearing bush with a semi-annular cross-section, said central tube extending through said bearing bush, said bearing bush being flanged on both sides for axial fixation of T-shaped support ribs adjacent to an outer surface of said central tube.