AU2011201066A1

AU2011201066A1 - An improved power dolly and multicombination vehicle incorporating the same

Info

Publication number: AU2011201066A1
Application number: AU2011201066A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Scott Mcfarlane
Original assignee: POWER PATENTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: POWER PATENTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-10
Filing date: 2011-03-10
Publication date: 2011-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-10
Also published as: AU2011201066B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved power dolly and a multicombination vehicle incorporating such a dolly. In particular the power dolly is the type that includes a source of motive power and a coupling enabling trailers and the like to be coupled to the power dolly which itself is typically 5 coupled to a vehicle such as a truck or trailer. The dolly is configured such that its engine and transmission is mounted higher and further rearwards on the dolly chassis when compared to other known dollies of this type, which allows for the overall wheelbase to be shortened and for increased ground clearance.

Description

1 An improved power dolly and multicombination vehicle incorporating the same The present invention is directed to an improved power dolly and a multicombination vehicle incorporating such a dolly. In particular the power dolly is the type that includes a source of motive power and a coupling enabling trailers and the like to be coupled to the power dolly which itself is typically 5 coupled to a vehicle such as a truck or trailer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Operators of mines are constantly searching for ways to reduce the costs associated with mined products. One of the most significant costs in operating a mine is transporting the mined material from the ore face to a processing plant. This is exacerbated when the mined payload is of low grade, that is, the 0 desired mineral or metal is only a small percentage by weight and/or volume of the mined ore so that substantial amounts of ore have to be handled to extract a small percentage of desired material. A further problem that occurs is where the ore has to be handled several times. There are several ways that ore can be transported from the ore face to the processing plant, depending on the type and configuration of the mine. 5 One of the ways that this may be accomplished is by using conventional off-highway dump trucks than can either be a single rigid, pivot steer unit, or an articulated vehicle consisting of a earthmoving type or tractor unit coupled to a single hauled or carrying unit, and is virtually job specific. These units are designed to be a link in the chain of the actual mining, digging or producing of the/any product. Their main function is to move product literally from the ore face to a receival point through the 20 shortest possible distance, not route-specific. The shorter the route the more economical they are, and conversely, their tonne of ore transported per distance costs increase dramatically over longer routes. They are therefore not suitable for hauling ore great distances, thereby limiting the distance that ore can be transported at a reasonable cost. As such, these trucks are not suitable when there may be satellite mines, that is, mines that are some distance away from the processing plant. 25 An alternate way of transporting the ore to a central processing plant includes conventional type transportation system such as conveyor belts and rail systems, both routes being captive. There are however problems associated with these methods also. Yet another way of transporting the ore is using highway type road vehicle combinations or multi-combination vehicles. These vehicles are limited by their horsepower, tractive or braking efforts/capacities, manufacturer componentry ratings, directional 30 stability behaviour, swept path characteristics, gradability and startability.

2 As a result, currently known systems for the extraction of ore from mines set limits on the commercial usefulness of mines simply due to the cost of transporting the ore. Multi-combination vehicles, such as over-the-road vehicles are known and include a truck coupled to a plurality of trailers and converter dollies. Until recently these vehicles have included a single 5 power source, generally a diesel engine, with the vehicles being limited to a payload of some 170 tonnes, and a gradient not exceeding 5%. These multicombination vehicles, commonly referred to as "road trains" have been in use for some time, particularly in Australia, for the purpose of hauling mined products, or the commodities of other industries, over aboveground roadways. Conventional aboveground road-trains are typically designed for use at relatively high speed and on relatively flat ground. They are 0 subject to the abovementioned limitations and accordingly have limited uses for operation in mines. There is a practical limit to the payload of the multi-combination vehicle with a single truck. Since the cost of haulage is determined mainly on weight, if one can increase the total haulage that can be moved by a single vehicle that does not require additional operators, the cost benefit is substantial. This is especially so if ore can be hauled directly from within a mine to a processing plant without needing to be 5 reloaded onto another transport system. In order to improve multi-combination vehicles and provide even greater advantages to the operators using these vehicles, multi-combination vehicles have been developed by the applicant which utilise a truck and an additional motive power source advantageously located within the chassis of a trailer, and including a unique cooling system that enables operation of the multi-combination vehicle at 0 low speeds, on steeper gradients, and with a greater payload than previously known. International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2001/01154, discloses a multi-combination vehicle including a power trailer having an engine that overcomes the foregoing problems of traction and cooling of such multi combination vehicles. Whilst the above inventions have greatly improved upon the current systems of hauling ore, there 25 are still limitations in some circumstances. Firstly, it may be desirable to have additional sources of motive power to pull a load up steeper gradients. In addition it is important that in a multi-trailer type road-train the stability of the trailers is maximised. Further in some cases it is necessary for the trailer to be a bottom dumping one, that is, where instead of side-tipping the trailer one opens bottom flaps on the trailer that therefore release their cargo, typically onto a conveyor belt. This is usually the method of 30 dumping when the material is fairly loose and free flowing. The applicant sought to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties by providing for a powered dolly that can support a separate source of motive power, provide sufficient cooling therefor and be able to be controlled whilst coupled to a trailer, whether that trailer is powered or un-powered. Such powered 3 dollies also enable the use of existing trailers that only have a rear axle group and require a converter dolly to be able to be used. The powered dolly of the prior art is illustrated in Figure 1 and has a twin drive, tri-axle configuration with a lazy rear axle, meaning that only the two forward axles are driven. A problem which has been encountered with this type of dolly is that the interaxle driveshaft 5 restricts the angle of the forwards axle, causing the engine and transmission to be positioned forward and low. The result is a powered dolly having a long wheel base and a low ground clearance. Those skilled in the art would realise that in having a long wheel base, roadtrain offtracking is a problem because it does not allow for operation on narrow, windy roads, and in having a low ground clearance, traversing across difficult terrain becomes more difficult. 0 It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a powered dolly including a wheelbase that is shorter than hitherto known powered dollies. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a powered dolly having a higher 5 ground clearance than hitherto known powered dollies. It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a multicombination vehicle including a powered dolly which is configured to reduce the likelihood of roadtrain offtracking, allowing for operation on narrower, more windy roads, and which has sufficient ground clearance to enable the vehicle to operate over difficult terrain. 20 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a dolly for use in a multicombination vehicle including at least one driven wheeled axle disposed rearwards of at least one non-driven wheeled axle whereby a longitudinally extending drive shaft extending from a source of motive power to the driven wheeled axle extends over the non-driven wheeled axle. 25 In driving a rearward axle as opposed to the front axle, the length of the dolly can be reduced. One benefit to reducing the length of the dolly and reducing the wheelbase is that when the dolly forms part of a multicombination vehicle, and that vehicle is negotiating a tight corner on a narrow, the chance of the vehicle off-tracking is greatly reduced. Preferably said non-driven wheeled axle includes a dip along its transverse length to allow 30 clearance for the longitudinally extending drive shaft.

4 In preference said dolly further includes a means of transmitting torque from an output of the source of motive power to the drive shaft. Preferably said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission integrated into a transfer case. 5 Preferably said rotatable drive shaft is disposed rearwards and at least partially below the source of motive power. In preference said dolly includes a chassis and torque rods are used to connect opposed ends of the forwardly disposed, transverse non-driven axle to a part of the chassis. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a dolly for use in a multicombination vehicle, 0 said dolly including a chassis, a source of motive power, a longitudinally extending drive shaft disposed rearwards and at least partially below the source of motive power, and a means of transmitting torque from an output of the source of motive power to the drive shaft. In having a transmission that allows for a drive shaft positioned rearwards and at least partially below the source of motive power to be driven, the source of motive power and the transmission itself can 5 be mounted higher up on the dolly chassis. One benefit to the increased ground clearance is that the dolly is able to traverse across more difficult terrain. Preferably said means for transmitting torque includes a transmission integrated into a transfer case. Preferably said dolly includes at least one driven wheeled axle disposed rearwards of at least one 20 non-driven wheel axle whereby the drive shaft extends from the means of transmitting torque to the driven wheeled axle over the non-driven wheeled axle. In preference said non-driven wheeled axle includes a dip along its transverse length to allow clearance for the longitudinally extending drive shaft. Preferably torque rods are used to connect opposed ends of the forwardly disposed, transverse 25 non-driven axle to a part of the chassis. Preferably said source of motive power is an internal combustion engine. Preferably said dolly is adapted to be towed by a towing unit including its own source of motive power.

5 In preference said dolly motive source of power and said towing unit motive source of power each include a control means. In preference the towing unit control means and the dolly control means are synchronised so that when the torque of the towing unit source of motive power is increased, so is proportionally the torque of 5 the dolly source of motive power. Preferably said dolly further includes a cooling means mounted on said chassis and in fluid communication with said motive power source. Preferably said cooling means is located above a forward end of the chassis. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a dolly for incorporation into a 0 multicombination vehicle, said dolly including: a longitudinal chassis; at least one driven wheeled axle associated with a longitudinal drive shaft; a non-driven wheeled axle communicating with said at least one driven wheeled axle such that rotation of said driven axle causes corresponding rotation of said non-driven axle; 5 a source of motive power mounted to said chassis; means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said longitudinal drive shaft; wherein said non-driven wheeled axle is disposed forwardly of said at least one driven wheeled axle to enable mounting of source of motive power and said means for transmitting torque rearwardly to thereby reduce the wheelbase of said dolly; and 0 wherein said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission which enables said drive shaft to be coupled to the transmission in a configuration which allows the transmission to be mounted higher on said chassis to thereby reduce ground clearance. In a yet further form of the invention there is proposed a multicombination vehicle including a powered dolly as defined above. 25 In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a multicombination vehicle including: at least one powered towing unit; at least one dolly being towed by said powered towing unit, said dolly including its own source of motive power, a longitudinal chassis to which said source of motive power is mounted, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, a means of transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said drive 30 shaft, said means of transmitting torque also mounted to said chassis rearwardly of said source of motive power, and a wheel axle assembly; wherein said wheel axle assembly includes at least one transversely extending driven wheel associated with said longitudinal drive shaft and a transversely extending non-driven wheel which communicates 6 with said driven axle such that rotation of said driven axle causes corresponding rotation of said non driven axle, said non-driven axle being disposed forwards of said driven axle to thereby enable said motive source of power and said means of transmitting torque rearwardly on said chassis to thereby reduce the wheelbase of said dolly; and 5 wherein said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission which enables said transmission to be mounted higher on said chassis and thereby reduce ground clearance. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a multicombination vehicle including: a powered towing unit said powered towing unit includes a chassis, a wheeled steering axle suspended from a front of said chassis and an axle assembly including at least one wheeled axle suspended from a 0 rear of said chassis, wherein at least one of said rear wheeled axles is associated with a drive axle, said powered towing unit further including a source of motive power mounted on said chassis and means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said at least one drive axle; at least one further vehicle coupled to said towing unit, including a powered dolly which is mechanically coupled to said towing unit and includes a chassis having at least one forward mounted non-driven wheel 5 axle and at least one driven axle suspended from said rear end rearward from said non-driven wheel axle, whereby said dolly includes its own source of motive power and means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to a drive shaft of said dolly which drives said driven axle; and wherein said forward mounted non-driven wheel axle includes a dip located centrally along its transverse length for accommodating said drive shaft thereabove. 0 Preferably said further vehicles are removably connected to one another by way of engagement of said king pins and turntables. Preferably said towing unit is a prime mover, said prime mover and dolly including respective control means which are synchronised so that when the torque of the prime mover engine is increased, so is proportionally the torque of the dolly engine. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a cutaway side view of a prior art power dolly; 30 Figure 2 illustrates a cutaway side view of a power dolly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates a cutaway rear perspective view of the power dolly of Figure 2; 7 Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the forward mounted lazy drop axle of the power dolly of Figure 2; Figure 5 illustrates a cutaway side view of a multicombination vehicle incorporating the power dolly of Figure 2; and 5 Figure 6 illustrates a schematic top view of the multicombination vehicle of Figure 5 negotiating a tight corner on a narrow road. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes 0 may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. The present invention relates to an improved powered dolly 10, and to a multicombination vehicle 12 incorporating one or more such dollies. The powered dolly 10 includes a chassis 13 having a 5 forward positioned, lazy drop axle 14 configured to allow drive to be delivered to the rear axles 16 and 18 while maintaining satisfactory interaxle driveshaft angles. This allows both the engine 20 and the transmission 22, which is integrated into a transmission transfer case 23, to be mounted higher and further rearward than in hitherto known dollies of this type, resulting in a shortened wheelbase and increased ground clearance, the benefits of which are outlined in the preamble of the invention and further in the .0 description below. Illustrated in Figure 1 is a prior art dolly 24 including a dolly chassis 26, an engine 28 suspended beneath and towards the front of the chassis 26, and a transmission 30 disposed between the engine and the three wheel axles 32, 34 and 36. The dolly 24 is a twin drive, tri-axle dolly meaning that only two of the axles are driven by the interaxle drive shaft 38. In particular, the two forward axles 32 and 34 are 25 driven, and the rear axle 36 is the lazy axle. In this configuration, the interaxle drive shaft 38 restricts the angle of the forward axle 32 and this angle together with the engine and transmission mounting angle result in the engine and transmission having to be located forward and low on the chassis as shown. The result is a dolly 24 having a long wheelbase and a low ground clearance which has a number of drawbacks. 30 Other features of the dolly 24 include a radiator 40 located at the front and above the chassis to cool the engine, a king pin 42 also at the front end but suspended below the chassis adapted to engage a turntable or fifth wheel (not shown) associated with either a prime mover 44 or trailer 46 as shown in 8 Figure 5, and a turntable 48 at the top rear end of the chassis for receiving a king pin 50 of a further trailer 52 or like vehicle as also shown in Figure 5. These known features are referred to in Figures 2-6, which illustrate the dolly 10 embodying the present invention, using like reference numerals. With reference now to the present invention there is provided a twin drive, tri-axle dolly 10 5 whereby the two rear axles 16 and 18 are driven, and the forward positioned axle 14 is a lazy drop axle. This allows drive via the interaxle drive shaft 54 to be delivered to the rear wheel axles 16 and 18. Rear axle drive also allows for mounting of the engine and transmission further rearward on the chassis 13. The transmission integrated transfer case or drop box 23 allows for the interaxle drive shaft to be operatively coupled to the transmission at a lower position, and this in turn allows the engine and 0 transmission to be mounted higher up on the chasssis. Thus, the end result is a dolly 10 having a an engine and transmission which is mounted higher and further rearwards on the chassis when compared to other known dollies of this type, which allows for the overall wheelbase to be shortened and for increased ground clearance. Satisfactory drive shaft angles can still be maintained because of the configuration of the forward 5 lazy drop axle 14, which is shown more clearly in Figure 4, and the arrangement of the associated pair of torque rods 56. The axle 14 includes a curved dip 58 at the centre of the axle allowing clearance for the interaxle drive shaft 54 disposed thereabove, whilst each torque rod 56 extends from a torque rod receiving lug 60 positioned above and on a corresponding side of the axle 14 to a similar lug 62 suspended from beneath the transmission on either side thereof. The skilled addressee would realise that 0 all of the wheel axles have associated torque rod pairs, and their purpose is to interconnect the axles to the frame of the dolly to control or maintain the desired positioning or alignment thereof as the axles move vertically within the limits defined by the suspension system (not shown). There are various other components of the dolly which are illustrated but which will not be described herein for the purpose of brevity and because those components are considered well known in 25 the art, for example, the means of coupling between respective wheel axles, the components of the engine which will typically be a diesel engine, and the frame components including the supporting means for the radiator. The present invention also relates to a multicombination vehicle 12 incorporating the power dolly 10 as shown in one embodiment in Figure 5. The reader will be able to visualise the benefits of the 30 present invention in Figure 6 which illustrates in plan view how a multicombination vehicle incorporating the dolly of the invention is able to navigate a tight corner of a narrow road 64 (or narrow mine, whatever the case may be). Because the powered dolly 10 has a shorter wheelbase, the overall length of the multicombination vehicle 12 is reduced, and thus the likelihood of offtracking on tight corners of narrow roads such as these is reduced.

9 It is to be understood that the control of the engine 28 of the power dolly 20 when incorporated into the multicombination vehicle 12 may be achieved by several different means depending on whether the transmission system of the truck is an automatic or manual one, and only one example will be provided herein. 5 Control may be achieved using a synchronisation control that synchronises the power output of the power dolly 10 to the prime mover 44. This is most appropriate when the prime mover 44 and the power dolly 10 have automatic transmissions. The horsepower of an engine is calculated as the torque multiplied by the revolutions per minute (rpm) divided by a constant. Torque is simply a function of the total fuel that the system is provided with. It is therefore possible to synchronise the engines by the torque 0 of the power dolly engine 28 following the torque produced by the primary engine. The reader is urged to refer to the applicant's other relevant patent applications for more information about other types of control systems including a dual-pot accelerator pedal or by manual control in the truck cab. Communication between the prime mover engine and the engine associated with a powered dolly requires the use of hard wiring between components along the road train. However, it may also be that the 5 control is wireless eliminating the need for wiring along the length of the road-train. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is 0 to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention. 25

Claims

1. A dolly for use in a multicombination vehicle including at least one driven wheeled axle disposed rearwards of at least one non-driven wheeled axle whereby a longitudinally extending drive shaft extending from a source of motive power to the driven wheeled axle extends over the non-driven 5 wheeled axle.

2. A dolly according to claim 1 wherein said non-driven wheeled axle includes a dip along its transverse length to allow clearance for the longitudinally extending drive shaft.

3. A dolly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said dolly further includes a means of transmitting torque from an output of the source of motive power to the drive shaft. 0

4. A dolly according to claim 3 wherein said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission integrated into a transfer case.

5. A dolly according to any one of the above claims wherein said rotatable drive shaft is disposed rearwards and at least partially below the source of motive power.

6. A dolly according to any one of the above claims wherein said dolly includes a chassis and torque 5 rods are used to connect opposed ends of the forwardly disposed, transverse non-driven axle to a part of the chassis.

7. A dolly for use in a multicombination vehicle, said dolly including a chassis, a source of motive power, a longitudinally extending drive shaft disposed rearwards and at least partially below the source of motive power, and a means of transmitting torque from an output of the source of 20 motive power to the drive shaft.

8. A dolly according to claim 7 wherein said means for transmitting torque includes a transmission integrated into a transfer case.

9. A dolly according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said dolly includes at least one driven wheeled axle disposed rearwards of at least one non-driven wheel axle whereby the drive shaft extends 25 from the means of transmitting torque to the driven wheeled axle over the non-driven wheeled axle.

10. A dolly according to claim 9 wherein said non-driven wheeled axle includes a dip along its transverse length to allow clearance for the longitudinally extending drive shaft.

11. A dolly according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein torque rods are used to connect opposed ends of 30 the forwardly disposed, transverse non-driven axle to a part of the chassis. 11

12. A dolly according to any one of the above claims wherein said source of motive power is an internal combustion engine.

13. A dolly according to any one of the above claims wherein said dolly is adapted to be towed by a towing unit including its own source of motive power. 5

14. A dolly according to any one of the above claims wherein said dolly motive source of power and said towing unit motive source of power each include a control means.

15. A dolly according to claim 14 wherein the towing unit control means and the dolly control means are synchronised so that when the torque of the towing unit source of motive power is increased, so is proportionally the torque of the dolly source of motive power. 0

16. A dolly according to any one of claims 6-15 wherein said dolly further includes a cooling means mounted on said chassis and in fluid communication with said motive power source.

17. A dolly according to claim 16 wherein said cooling means is located above a forward end of the chassis.

18. A dolly for incorporation into a multicombination vehicle, said dolly including: 5 a longitudinal chassis; at least one driven wheeled axle associated with a longitudinal drive shaft; a non-driven wheeled axle communicating with said at least one driven wheeled axle such that rotation of said driven axle causes corresponding rotation of said non-driven axle; a source of motive power mounted to said chassis; 20 means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said longitudinal drive shaft; wherein said non-driven wheeled axle is disposed forwardly of said at least one driven wheeled axle to enable mounting of source of motive power and said means for transmitting torque rearwardly to thereby reduce the wheelbase of said dolly; and wherein said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission which enables said drive shaft 25 to be coupled to the transmission in a configuration which allows the transmission to be mounted higher on said chassis to thereby reduce ground clearance.

19. A multicombination vehicle including a powered dolly as defined in any one of the above claims.

20. A multicombination vehicle including: at least one powered towing unit; 30 at least one dolly being towed by said powered towing unit, said dolly including its own source of motive power, a longitudinal chassis to which said source of motive power is mounted, a 12 longitudinally extending drive shaft, a means of transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said drive shaft, said means of transmitting torque also mounted to said chassis rearwardly of said source of motive power, and a wheel axle assembly; wherein said wheel axle assembly includes at least one transversely extending driven wheel 5 associated with said longitudinal drive shaft and a transversely extending non-driven wheel which communicates with said driven axle such that rotation of said driven axle causes corresponding rotation of said non-driven axle, said non-driven axle being disposed forwards of said driven axle to thereby enable said motive source of power and said means of transmitting torque rearwardly on said chassis to thereby reduce the wheelbase of said dolly; and 0 wherein said means of transmitting torque includes a transmission which enables said transmission to be mounted higher on said chassis and thereby reduce ground clearance.

21. A multicombination vehicle including: at least one powered towing unit wherein said powered towing unit includes a chassis, a wheeled steering axle suspended from a front of said chassis and an axle assembly including at least one 5 wheeled axle suspended from a rear of said chassis, wherein at least one of said rear wheeled axles is associated with a drive axle, said powered towing unit further including a source of motive power mounted on said chassis and means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to said at least one drive axle; at least one further vehicle coupled to said towing unit, including a powered dolly which is 0 mechanically coupled to said towing unit and includes a chassis having at least one forward mounted non-driven wheel axle and at least one driven axle suspended from said rear end rearward from said non-driven wheel axle, whereby said dolly includes its own source of motive power and means for transmitting torque from said source of motive power to a drive shaft of said dolly which drives said driven axle; and 25 wherein said forward mounted non-driven wheel axle includes a dip located centrally along its transverse length for accommodating said drive shaft thereabove.

22. A multicombination vehicle according to claim 21 wherein said further vehicles are removably connected to one another by way of engagement of said king pins and turntables.

23. A multicombination vehicle according to claim 21 or claim 22 wherein said towing unit is a 30 prime mover, said prime mover and dolly including respective control means which are synchronised so that when the torque of the prime mover engine is increased, so is proportionally the torque of the dolly engine.