WO2020027748A2

WO2020027748A2 - Apparatus for changing axle distance of the land vehicles comprising wheel axle

Info

Publication number: WO2020027748A2
Application number: PCT/TR2019/050100
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gizem EDEN
Original assignee: Eden Gizem
Priority date: 2018-02-15
Filing date: 2019-02-14
Publication date: 2020-02-06
Also published as: WO2020027748A3

Abstract

In general, the invention relates to a mechanism, which allows the user to change the wheel base of land vehicles having axle bars. More particularly, the mechanism allows instant adjustment of the wheel base by the user.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CHANGING AXLE DISTANCE OF THE LAND VEHICLES

COMPRISING WHEEL AXLE Technical Field

In general, the invention relates to a mechanism, which allows the user to change the wheel base of land vehicles having a wheel axle. More particularly, the system allows the instant adjustment of the wheel wheel base by the user.

Prior Art

Wheel base, axle gap, axle spacing, axle distance, or steer axle distance definitions are used to define the distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel. The wheel base is one of the main variables affecting the vehicle's active power transfer during acceleration and deceleration and braking with acceleration and the wheel base is selected depending on the body shape and structure of the vehicle. The large (long) wheel base positively affects the stability and driving characteristics of the vehicle. The large (long) wheel base ensures good driving comfort. The large (long) wheel base reduces the impact of the load falling on the axles due to the large passenger cabin.

In small (short) w wheel base, the vehicle has a low tendency to oscillate and is easier to apply with soft damping suspension. Vehicles with small turning diameters can turn corners easily.

In other words, when the vehicle's wheel base is increased, the vehicle's handling ability will increase and the impact of the load on the vehicle will decrease. Changing the wheel base will also affect the vehicle's center of gravity. For example, extending the vehicle's wheel base increases the power or torque transferred from the engine to the ground or to the road. On the other hand, the extension of the axle will increase the angle of rotation of the vehicle. For this reason, increasing the wheel base will increase the vehicle's handling and increase the vehicle's driving ability; however, it will decrease the ability of the vehicle's ability to navigate around road corners. As a result, increasing the wheel base provides an advantage to the vehicle on the one hand when in fact it constitutes a significant disadvantage on the other hand.

The w wheel base is more particularly important for tractors and wheeled vehicles used in agriculture. It is necessary to distribute the "center of gravity" much better in the field use of the vehicles used in agriculture. For example, tractors are shorter vehicles according to their total weight when compared to other land vehicles. Positioning the engine which has to be heavy as it has to be powerful, will cause the center of gravity to be concentrated on the front section of the vehicle.

In particular, the wheel base becomes even more important if the tractors operating in fields operate with additional attachments (e.g. plows) . During the processing of soil, the center of gravity of the tractor will vary following the attachment of an additional agricultural apparatus to the tractor. In this case, tractors with different axle lengths may be required for different operations.

The tractors to have a short wheel base such as other land vehicles increases the maneuvering of the tractors and when the wheel base of the tractor is longer then, the torque will be increased and the traction will also be increased. The larger the axle distance and the wheel base of a tractor, longer its turning radius. As a result, the maneuverability of the tractor will decrease .

For this reason, the user will require the axle of the tractor to be wider on the field or on the ground, but the wheel base is low while driving on the road. In fact, it is advantageous for the tractor to have a large wheel base while the tractors are being driven on roads. As the tractor has a large wheel base, road holding, and traction will increase. The user will prefer a vehicle, which can shorten its wheel base while turning around corners. By this means, the tractor will provide high traction on the ground and on the road and will have less difficulty during operation. The user will be able to perform better cornering at road corners and turns .

In the US patent application US2559935 and US3014734, tractor configurations having an adjustable wheel base are described. However, these mechanisms do not allow the wheel base to be adjusted instantly on the same tractor.

According to the mentioned mechanisms; the user must first stop the vehicle and then adjust the wheel base by means of a technician / specialist. After adjusting the wheel base of the vehicle, the vehicle must be used with this wheel base for a certain period of time.

When the wheel base of the vehicle is extended by using the mechanisms described in US2559935 and US3014734, the cornering of the vehicle decreases, and when the wheel base is shortened, the vehicle's grip and traction is reduced. In this case, when the user adjusts the wheel base as short / long, it also encounters handicaps due to the change of the wheel base.

In the application number CN203419173; a vehicle is described which could be used for agricultural purposes, with a tractor like purpose by reducing the wheel base and which can be used for transportation by increasing the wheel base. Likewise, the mentioned vehicle does not allow instant adjusting of the wheel base .

Problems Aimed to be solved by the Invention

By using the mechanism according to the invention, wheel bases of land vehicles having axle bars can be changed in a different way from the determined method, when being designed, by the user.

The user can adjust the wheel base of the vehicle on his own without the need of any technician / specialist. By this means, the user can extend and shorten the wheel base if desired.

Using the mechanism according to the invention allows changing the wheel base instantly while driving. When the user turns the steering wheel in order to rotate the vehicle, the wheel base of the vehicle is shortened to provide a more stable rotation.

Depending on the steering, the mechanism, which can change the wheel base during the turning of a corner, can slightly change the wheel base. This eliminates the imbalances that may occur because of a large change in the vehicle's wheel base during cornering. The wheel base can be changed in a limited manner via the steering wheel and the wheel base can be regulated using an external mechanism while cornering.

res

Figure 1 Front perspective view of the land vehicle,

Figure 2 Bottom perspective view of main chassis having the primary and secondary mobile component in an open position,

Figure 3 Bottom view of the main chassis having the primary and secondary mobile component in an open position,

Figure 4 Top perspective view of the main chassis having the primary and secondary mobile component in an open position,

Figure 5 Side view of land vehicle,

Figure 6 View of the main chassis with the primary and secondary mobile component visible with drive actuators,

Figure 7 Detailed view of the shafting component,

Description of References in the

res

1. Main chassis

2. Primary mobile component

3. Secondary mobile component

4. Primary mobile body

5. Secondary mobile body

6. Main body

7. Motion paths

8. Axle mounting component

9. Shafting component

9.1. Shaft

9.2. Pump drive gear

9.3. Cushioning bearing

9.4. Cushioning component

9.5. Fixing component

9.6. Plate backlash

9.7. Plate

10. Drive component

11. Control unit 12. Steering wheel

13. Drive gear

14. Secondary drive component

Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a mechanism which allows the user to change the wheel base of land vehicles having axle bars.

The mentioned mechanism allows increasing the wheel base of the vehicle by means of the motion of the primary mobile body (4) inside the main body (6) . The movement of the primary mobile body (4) inside the main body (1) is provided telescopically.

The movement of the primary mobile body (4) inside the main body (6) is established by means of the primary mobile component (2) . The movement of the primary mobile component (2) is provided inside the main chassis (1) in a telescopic manner similar to the movement of the primary mobile body (4) . The telescopic movement of the primary mobile component (2) inside the main chassis (1) will change the total length of the main chassis (1) and therefore the length of the main body (6) .

The elongation of the length of the main chassis (1) due to the telescopic movement described above will cause the length of the main body (6) to be increased, and the shortening of the length of the main chassis (1) will shorten the length of the main body (6) . Changing the length of the main chassis (1) and hence the main body (6) will allow to change the wheel base.

The control unit (11) according to Figure 5 controls the movement of the primary mobile component (2) inside the main chassis (1) . The control unit (11) allows the primary mobile component (2) to be able to be controlled instantaneously.

According to Figure 6, the primary mobile component (2) is driven by the drive component (10) . The drive component is operated depending on the drive gear (13) . The drive component (10) is in the form of a hydraulic pump according to an embodiment of the invention .

The primary mobile component (2) described according to the invention is intended to adjust the wheel base of the vehicle when the vehicle is not moving.

On the other hand, the invention also aims to change the wheel base of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. In this case, the vehicle's wheel base will be extended when the vehicle is being driven or operated, and the wheel base of the vehicle can be shortened when the vehicle requires turning or cornering.

In order to achieve this purpose, a mechanism that can change the wheel base of the vehicle is associated with the steering wheel (12) of the vehicle. The wheel base of the vehicle remains longer when the operator holds the steering wheel (12) in the driving position straight or in approximation to a straight direction; the wheel base of the vehicle is reduced when the user turns the steering wheel (12) into turning position or in approximation to a turning position.

By this means during driving and operation, the wheel base, the road holding and the traction / torque will be at a maximum state, but the maneuverability can be increased as the wheel base is reduced during cornering and turning. Therefore, vehicles having both the high road holding/traction power and high maneuvering abilities of vehicles that utilize long axles can be obtained by means of the invention.

In order to change the wheel base when the vehicle is in motion, at least one secondary mobile component (3) has been formed which can be operated telescopically inside the main chassis (1) .

The mentioned mechanism allows adjusting the wheel base of the vehicle when the vehicle is being driven. For this reason, the secondary mobile component (3) can change the wheel base of the vehicle limitedly in comparison to the primary mobile component (2) . By this means, the possibility of the vehicle being exposed to imbalances based on the change of wheel base is eliminated.

According to Figure 2, the secondary mobile component (3) is movable telescopically inside the primary mobile component (2), which defines the movable component that can change the wheel base or in other words the length of the main chassis (1) . The secondary mobile component (3) defines the mobile component providing the movement of the secondary mobile body (5) .

By means of the motion of the secondary mobile component (3) inside the primary mobile component (2) the secondary mobile body (5) moves inside the primary mobile body (4) telescopically.

The secondary mobile component (3) is associated with the steering wheel (12) . The secondary mobile component (3) is stationary when the user drives the vehicle by keeping the steering wheel (12) straight or in approximation to a straight direction. This identifies the longest wheel base provided by the vehicle's secondary mobile component (3) . In order to achieve maximum maneuverability when the user starts to turn the steering wheel (12), the secondary mobile component (3) decreases the wheel base by shortening inside the main chassis (1) .

In the different embodiments of the invention, the secondary mobile component (3) can be moved inside the main chassis (1) or in the primary mobile component (2) in order to adjust the wheel base. This movement, which is formed on the secondary mobile component (3), is provided inside the main chassis (1) or telescopically inside the primary mobile component (2) .

According to Figure 2, the position of the secondary mobile component (3) is fixed to provide the fixed wheel base in the steady state of the steering wheel (12) . The secondary mobile component (3) can be moved by means of a secondary drive component (14) together with the motion of the steering wheel (12) . The telescopic motion of the secondary mobile component (3) inside the main chassis (1) or inside the primary mobile component (2) is achieved by means of motion paths (7) .

According to Figure 2, the secondary drive component (14) acts on the shafting component (9), thereby allowing the secondary mobile component (3) to move along the motion paths (7) .

The secondary drive component (14) is in the form of a hydraulic pump according to an embodiment of the invention. By changing the position of the steering wheel (12) by the user, the secondary drive component (14) can be activated by transferring the steering fluid.

According to Figure 3, the shafting component (9) comprises a plate (9.7) which is connected to the secondary mobile body (5) and is movable on the shafts (9.1) with the drive of the secondary drive component (14) . When the secondary drive component (14) moves the plate (9.7) to a certain position, it will change the position of the secondary mobile component (3) and thus the secondary mobile body (5) and by this means the wheel base can be changed.

The different embodiments of the invention allow at least one shaft (9.1) to be operated with at least one plate (9.7) .

Figure 7 shows in more detail the parts of each shaft (9.1) . At one end of the shaft (9.1), the shaft (9.1) has a fixing component (9.5), which is used to mount the shaft to the main chassis (1) or to the primary mobile body (4) .

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pump drive gear

(9.2), the cushioning bearings (9.3) and the cushioning components (9.4) are formed integrally. These integrally formed bottom pieces move the plate (9.7) through the plate backlash (9.6). For the motion of the plate (9.7), the cushioning component (9.4) has threads in the section which is located on the shaft (9.1) . These threads provide the movement of the cushioning component (9.4) and the associated parts on the grooves formed on the shaft (9.1) .

The shaft (9.1) is provided with at least one pump drive gear

(9.2) for transferring the motion generated by the secondary drive component (14) . The motion generated by the secondary drive component (14) is transferred to the pump drive gear (9.2) by means of the drive gear (13) . The pump drive gear (9.2) can change the position of the plate (9.7) by creating a circular motion on the shaft (9.1) to which it is connected to. According to Figure 3, the secondary mobile body (5) is provided with an axle mounting (8) for the axle to be mounted. Since the axle is mounted to the secondary mobile body (5) by means of the axle mounting (8), the movement of the secondary mobile component (3) can change the wheel base.

The description document describes a mechanism for changing the wheel base by moving the primary mobile body (4) and secondary mobile body (5) of the primary mobile component (2) and the secondary mobile component (3) that is located at the front section of the vehicle, inside the main body (6) and/or inside each other. However, embodiments, which will be formed by positioning the mechanism at the rear of the vehicle, will also fall within the scope of the invention.

By operating the primary mobile component (2) and the secondary mobile component (3), it may be possible to arrange the wheel base in two stages by moving the primary mobile body (4) and the secondary mobile body (5) inside the main body (6) and/or inside one another.

For example, the secondary mobile component (3) may change the wheel base limitedly depending on the steering wheel (12), while the primary mobile component (2) may further modify the wheel base when the vehicle is stationary.

The methods of operation of the mechanism according to the invention comprise the following steps:

• in order to change the chassis distance when the vehicle is stationary; with the command of a control unit (11), at least one primary movable body (4) positioned within a main body (6) must be telescopically moved by telescopically moving the at least one primary mobile component (2) inside the main chassis (1) ,

• in order to change the chassis distance of the vehicle while driving; the secondary mobile body (5), which is positioned inside the main body (6) or inside the primary mobile body (4), must be telescopically moved by the telescopic movement of the at least one secondary mobile component (3) inside the main chassis (1) or in the primary mobile body (4) by the command of the same control unit (11) or another unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the primary mobile body (4) is moved telescopically inside the main body (6), while the second mobile body (5) is moved telescopically inside the primary mobile body (4) . In order to achieve this purpose, the primary mobile component (2) is operated telescopically in the main chassis (1), while the secondary mobile component (3) is operated telescopically in the primary mobile component (2) .

The other control equipment mentioned above is the vehicle's own steering wheel (12) according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. If the steering wheel (12) is rotated to maneuver the vehicle, the secondary mobile component (3) can be moved to change the wheel base of the vehicle by changing the position of the secondary mobile body (5) inside the primary mobile body (4) .

The outward movement of the primary mobile component (2) through the main chassis (1) increases the wheel base of the vehicle, while the movement while the movement of the primary mobile component (2) in the opposite direction decreases the wheel base. On the other hand, the movement of the secondary mobile component (3) in the direction of the front of the vehicle in the primary mobile component (2) increases the wheel base, while the movement of the secondary mobile component (3) in the opposite direction decreases the wheel base. In this case, the movement of the primary mobile body (4) in the main body (6) as far as the telescopic movement is allowed, will allow the wheel base to be increased in an amount. On the other hand, the movement of the secondary mobile body (5) in the primary mobile body (4) may allow the wheel base to be increased at the rate of which the telescopic movement is allowed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is intended to provide both the movement of the secondary mobile component (3) and thus the secondary mobile body (5), as well as the movement of the primary mobile component (2) and thus the primary mobile body (4) in the same vehicle. In this way, both the wheel base can be adjusted in two stages and the wheel base of the vehicle can be changed both in the park position and during travelling.

Claims

1. A mechanism for changing wheel bases of land vehicles having axle bars by the user, characterized by comprising;

• a primary mobile component (2) which can be moved inside the main chassis (1) telescopically by means of the command of the control unit (11), in order for at least one primary mobile body (4) positioned inside the main body (6) to move telescopically in the main body (6),

• a secondary mobile component (3) which can be moved telescopically inside the main chassis (1) or inside the primary mobile component (2), by the command of the same control unit (11) or another control equipment in order for the secondary mobile body (5), which is positioned within a main body (6) or in the primary mobile body (4), to be able to move telescopically in the main body (6) or the primary mobile body (4) .

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 characterized by said other control equipment being the steering wheel (12) .

3. A mechanism according to Claim 1 characterized by comprising;

• motion paths (7) allowing the telescopic movement of primary mobile component (2) inside the main chassis (1) and/or,

• motion paths (7) allowing the telescopic movement of the secondary mobile component (3) inside the primary mobile component (2) or the main chassis (1) .

4. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a secondary mobile component (3) which is able to change the wheel base of the vehicle relative to the primary mobile component (2) more limitedly.

5. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a secondary mobile body (5) disposed inside the primary mobile body (4) to have a secondary mobile component (3) that can be moved telescopically inside the primary mobile body (4) .

6. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a primary mobile component (2) which is driven by at least one drive component (10) .

7. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a secondary mobile component (14) which is driven by at least one secondary mobile component (3) .

8. A mechanism according to Claim 6, characterized by comprising a drive component (10) operated in connection with the drive gear

(13) .

9. A mechanism according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized by comprising a drive component (10) and a secondary drive component

(14) in the form of a hydraulic pump.

10. A mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized by comprising a secondary drive component (14) which is activated by sensing the change in pressure in the steering fluid of the steering wheel (12) as a result of changing the position of the steering wheel ( 12 ) .

11. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising;

• a primary mobile component (2) which can be moved telescopically inside the main chassis (1) by the command of the control unit (11) for at least the primary mobile body (4) positioned in the main body (6) to move telescopically inside the main body (6) in order to change the chassis distance of the vehicle which is not moving,

• a secondary mobile component (3) which can be moved telescopically inside the primary mobile component (2) or the main chassis (1) by the command of the same control unit (11) or other control equipment, in order for the secondary mobile body (5) positioned in the primary mobile body (4) or the main body (6) to be moved telescopically inside the main body (6) or the primary mobile body (4) .

12. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a shafting component (9) connected to the secondary mobile component (3) and having a plate (9.7) that is movable on the shafts (9.1) by being driven by the secondary mobile component (14) .

13. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a shafting component (9) having a fixing component (9.5) for mounting the shaft (9.1) onto the main body (6) or the primary mobile body (4) .

14. A mechanism according to Claim 13, characterized by comprising a shafting component (9) having a plate backlash (9.6) formed by the cushioning bearing (9.3) which forms the slot in which the plate (9.7) is to be placed.

15. A mechanism according to Claim 13, characterized by comprising a shaft (9.1) equipped with at least one pump drive gear (9.2) for transferring the motion received from the secondary drive component (14) .

16. A mechanism according to Claim 13, characterized by comprising an integrally formed pump drive gear (9.2), a cushioning bearing (9.3) and a cushioning component (9.4) .

17. A mechanism according to Claim 16, characterized by comprising a cushioning component (9.4) configured with threads at the section located on the shaft (9.1) .

18. A mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a secondary mobile body (5) equipped with axle mounting (8) in order to mount the axle.

19. A method related to the operation of the mechanism which allows the wheel bases of land vehicles having axle bars to be changed by the user, characterized by comprising the following process steps;

• telescopically moving at least primary mobile body (4) positioned inside the main body (6) by moving the at least primary mobile component (2) inside the main chassis (1) telescopically following the command of a control unit (11) in order to change the chassis distance when the vehicle is stationary;

• telescopically moving the secondary mobile body (5) positioned inside the main body (6) or the primary mobile body (4) by telescopically moving the secondary mobile component (3) inside the main chassis (1) or the primary mobile body (4) telescopically following the command of the same control unit (11) or another control equipment in order to change the chassis distance when the vehicle is in motion.

20. Method according to Claim 13, characterized by the primary mobile body (4) being moved telescopically inside the main body (6) and the second mobile body (5) being moved telescopically inside the primary mobile body (4) .

21. A method according to Claim 19, characterized by the followings ;

• the secondary mobile component (3) is stationary to provide the longest wheel base provided by the vehicle's secondary travel element (3), when the user drives the vehicle by keeping the steering wheel (12) straight or in approximation to a straight direction,

• in order to achieve maximum maneuverability when the user starts to turn the steering wheel (12), the secondary mobile component (3) is retracted telescopically in the main chassis (1) and/or the primary mobile component (2), thereby reducing the wheel base,

• the second mobile component (3) extends telescopically in the main chassis (1) and/or in the primary mobile component (2), extending the wheel base, when the user rotates the steering wheel (12) into turning position or in approximation to a turning position .

22. A method according to Claim 20, characterized by;

• the position of the secondary mobile component (3) to be fixed in order to maintain a constant wheel base in the steady state of the steering wheel (12),

• the secondary mobile component (3) is moved by means of the secondary drive element (14) together with the movement of the steering wheel (12),

• the secondary mobile component (3) is moved telescopically by means of the motion paths (7) in the main chassis (1) or in the primary mobile component (2) .