DE514219C - Steering device, especially for caterpillar vehicles - Google Patents

Description

GERMAN EMPIRE

ISSUED ON DECEMBER 11, 1930

REICH PATENT OFFICE

PATENT LETTERING

JVl 514219 CLASS 63c GROUP

Fried. Krupp Akt-Ges. in Essen, Ruhr *)

Steering device, in particular for caterpillar vehicles

Patented in the German Empire on June 21, 1929

The invention relates to steering devices, in particular for caterpillar vehicles, in which clutches to be set by means of a pressure medium are switched on between the drive shaft and the drive wheels of the crawler tracks. The invention consists primarily in the fact that valves switched on in the pressure medium lines are connected to control elements to be set by the steering handwheel in such a way that the rotation of the steering handwheel by a certain amount corresponds to a certain radius of curvature of the curve described by the vehicle.
In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown, namely shows

Fig. Ι a motor vehicle in side view and

Fig. 2 shows the associated top view, partly in section, and also shows a larger one Scale

Fig. 3 is a side view, kept in axial section, of an individual part of the steering device and

Fig. 4 the front view belonging to Fig. 3, while on an even larger scale Fig. 5 and 6 show sections according to 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4, respectively.

Fig. 7 and 8 are sections according to 7-7 and *. 8-8 of Fig. 2 to the scale of these figures.

Fig. 9 is a section along 9-9 of Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 10 and 11 show details of Fig. 9 with different positions of the parts. The drive motor A (Fig. 2) of a motor vehicle traveling on crawlers c ² transmits its torque by means of a shaft ß ¹ and a bevel gear a? on a drive shaft a ^s . On each end of the shaft a ^s a spur gear α ^{4 is} keyed, which meshes with four spur gears b ^{1 of} an epicyclic gear, which are rotatably mounted on a drum B by means of pins b * (Fig. 8). The wheels b ¹ engage the internal toothing of a gear wheel b ² , the hub b ^s of which is loosely rotatably mounted on the hub m ¹ (Fig. 2) of the housing M surrounding the wheels a ^2. Each of the drums B is firmly connected to a shaft c ¹ coaxial with the shaft ^{a s} , on which a drive wheel C of the crawler belt c ^{2 is} keyed. The outer surfaces of the internally toothed wheels l · ² and the drums B are designed as brake drums, around which a brake band b ^{B is} wrapped. Each of the brake bands b ^e is connected to a pressure cylinder D attached to the vehicle chassis (Figs. 7 and 8). At the bottom d ^{1 of} each cylinder D an arm d ^{2 is} provided, to which one end of the brake band & ^{6 is} attached and on which a lever dr is also mounted, on which-

*) The patent seeker stated as the inventor:

Dipl.-Ing. Erich Woelfert in Essen.

sen free end the other end of the brake band & ^{G is} hinged. In the middle of each of the levers? ³ , the free end of the piston rod cF of the associated piston d ° is guided in a slot α ^{74 (Fig. 7).} The cover d ^{7 of} each cylinder D has a bore ei ⁸ for the connection of a pressure medium line d ^s or d ¹⁰ . These lines lead to a valve housing E, which is arranged in the driver's cab of the vehicle and rests on a bracket e ¹ fastened to the vehicle underframe (Figs. 3 and 4). The housing E has four valve bores e ″, e ³ , e ⁱ and e ⁵ , each with a connecting piece e °. For connecting the lines d *, d ¹⁰ , d ¹⁰ , d °, and two connecting pieces e ⁷ and e ^s for connection of lines d ¹² and d ^is , which are connected to a pressure medium tank. Each of the nozzles e ⁷ and e ^s is connected to the adjacent valve bores e ² and e ³ or e ⁴ and e ^a by a channel ⁹ each (Fig. Finally, the housing E has an eye bearing e ¹⁰ for receiving a shaft f ¹ , to which the hub / ^{2 of} a steering handwheel F is rigidly connected. The hub f ² carries two cam disks / ³ and f which are coaxial with the shaft f ¹ *. The diameters of these disks are chosen so that the axes of the valve bores e ^s and e ^4, which are parallel to the axis of rotation of the disks, form the center cam circle of the inner disk / ⁴ and the axes of the bores e ² and e ^{5 form} the center cam circle of the outer disk / ^{Cut 3.} In each of the bores e ² and e ^{5 of} the valve housing E is below Interposition of cylinder sleeves N (Fig. 9) a control piston G and a second piston H are guided (Fig. 5). A compression spring k ¹ is connected between the two pistons, which is guided in axial bores h ² and g ¹ of pistons H and G and is dimensioned so that it no longer has any bias when the valve is completely closed (Fig. 5). The end face of each piston if has a hemispherical recess h ^s (Figs. 5 and 6) in which a ball & * is mounted. The balls h * ~ of the valves of the bores e ³ and e ⁴ are supported on the cam disk / * the balls of the valves of the bores e ² and e ^B on the other hand on the cam disk f ^s . Each of the valve pistons G is provided with a cylindrical recess g ² , one edge of which is denoted by g ^s. In the path of the

- rotations g ² is provided in the associated sleeve N hole n ¹ (Fig. 5 and 6), which is in connection with the adjacent channel e °. The end face of each piston G facing away from the spring h ¹ has an axial bore g ⁷ , the outer edge of which is denoted by g ^s. Each of the valve bores e ² , e ³ , e ⁴ and e ⁵ is hermetically sealed by a screw cap P on the side facing away from the balls Tj. In the valve housing E , a bore e ¹¹ is also provided perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the bores e ² to e ⁵ , which opens into the associated nozzle e ^e and through the intermediary of a nipple K ^{provided with a bore / e 1} with one of the four lines d °, d ¹⁰ , d ¹⁰ , d ° is in connection. A recess e ¹ * in the housing E provided between each of the covers P and the adjacent piston G is connected to the associated bore e ¹¹ by a channel ¹² . Finally, the valve housing £ has four bores e ¹³ , to each of which a line d ¹¹ connected to the outside air is connected.

The cam disks / ⁴ and / ³ (Fig. 10 and Fig. 11) each have a surface / ⁵ or / ° perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the disks, one cam f or / ^s and two cams with the surfaces / ⁵ and f connecting inclined surfaces f and / ¹⁰ or / ^u and f ¹² . The arrangement of the steering device is such that the valves of the bores e ^s and e ' ^{1 of} the housing E ^{controlled by the inner cam disk / 4 are} connected to the cylinders D through the two pressure medium lines d ¹⁰ , with their piston rods Φ the inside toothed wheels δ ^{2 of} the gear train ß ⁴ , b ¹ , b ^s , B looping brake bands b ° are connected, while the valves of the bores e ² and e ⁼ controlled by the outer cam disc / ° through the two lines d ⁹ with the brake cylinders D are connected, which work together with the two braking bands b ^G looping around the drums B (Fig. 2).

When driving straight ahead, the cam disks f ^s and / ⁴ assume a position in which the balls h * of the valves e ", H, G and e-, H, G under the action of the springs h ¹ on the cams f of the cam disk / ⁴ , while the balls fe ^{4 of} the valves e ² , H, G and e ^s , H, G rest on the surface / ^{0 of} the cam disk / ^3. As a result, the valves e ² , H, G and e ⁵ , H, G by means of their pistons G close the bores e ¹¹ leading to the lines d ^a , while the pistons G of the valves e ^s , H, G and e \ H, G supply the pressure medium (e.g. compressed air) clear the path via the channels d ¹² , e ″, g ² , e ¹¹ or d ¹³ , e °, g ² , e ¹¹ to the lines d ¹⁰ . The pressure medium then flows through the lines d ^iü into the associated cylinder D and pulls the brake bands b ^e by means of the rods d ^a , d ^a , d ^s (Fig. 8), so that the "internally toothed wheels b ^{2" are} fixed. The planet gears b ¹ driven by means of the spur gears α * are then forced to move

to roll on the wheel rims of the wheels b ² ; they set the drums B and thus the wheels C in rotation by means of their bearing journals ö " ^4.

If, for example, the vehicle is to pivot to the left in the direction of travel determined by the arrow y (Fig. 2), the steering wheel F Ίνα is turned to the left as indicated by the arrow x (Fig. 4). Here, the ball h \ belonging to the valve e ^s , H, G , which is pressed by the spring h ¹ against the cam disk / ⁴ (Fig. 2, 9 and 11), ^{moves up from the cam / 7} over the inclined surface / ° downwards the area / ^{= of} the cam disk f ⁴ , while the ball / z · ⁴ belonging to the valve e ² , FI, G initially remains in contact with the area / ^{β of} the cam disk / ^3. With the further rotation of the steering handwheel F , the ball ä ^{4 of} the valve e ² , H, G then rolls from the surface / ^G over the inclined surface f ¹¹ upwards onto the cam / ^{3 of} the cam disk / ³ . During this movement of the cam disks / ³ and / ⁴ , the positions of the valves G and H guided in the bores e ' ¹ and e ^{5 are} not influenced; their positions remain the same as when driving straight ahead. At the beginning of the mentioned control movement, the action of the compressed spring h ¹ causes the piston H of the valve e ^a , H, G, whose associated ball h ^l rolls down on the inclined surface / ^{D of} the cam disk / ⁴ , a small amount out of the valve bore e "out. the control piston g follows under the pressure of the pressure means of this movement, and its outer edge g ^s the hole e ^iz begins to open. the d in the consumption line ¹⁰ pressure medium located flow now through the in the direction of travel left line k ^1, e ¹¹ , e ¹² , e ¹³ , d ¹¹ into the open.

The piston d ^{e of} the cylinder D belonging to this line then loosens the brake band b ° wrapping around the gear wheel b. This has the consequence that the gear wheel b ² begins to rotate and thus the clutch b \ b ² , b ° stops transmitting the torque of the drive motor A to the left drive wheel C. The angular speed of this wheel is reduced compared to the constant speed of the right drive wheel, so that the vehicle begins to make a left turn. With further rotation of the steering handwheel F , the piston H of the valve e ² , H, G ₁ whose associated ball h ⁴ · now ^{begins to roll up the inclined surface / u of} the cam disk / ³ , is pressed by a small amount into the valve bore e ″ The controlling edge g ^{3 of} the control piston G following this movement enters the area of the associated bore e ^1% (Fig. 6)

Thus pressure medium now flows through line d ¹² , e °, g ² , e ¹¹ into line d ^a . The piston d ^{a of} the cylinder D belonging to this line then pulls the brake band b ^u lying on the left drum B on. As a result, "the left drum B of the vehicle is braked and the angular speed of the left drive wheel C is further reduced, so that the vehicle begins to make a stronger left turn.

As soon as the valve e ² , H, G has opened the channel e ¹¹ during the described switching movement of the steering handwheel F , the pressure medium also flows through the line e ¹² via the recess e ^u into the bore g ^{7 of} the piston G and seeks the piston in its closed position (see Fig. 5). If the respective tension of the spring h ^{1 is} equal to the pressure of the pressure medium exerted on the end face of the piston G , the controlling edge g ^{s of} the piston G rests against the associated edge of the bore e ¹¹ and closes it off (Fig. 5). The piston G is then in the equilibrium position and the pressure in the consumption line d ¹⁰ remains constant. However, if the tension of the spring h ^{1 is} greater than the pressure of the pressure medium acting on the end face of the piston, the controlling edge g ^s opens the channel e ¹¹ , and pressure medium flows into the consumption line d ¹⁰ , whereby the pressure prevailing in it is increased. On the other hand, if the pressure prevailing at the end face outweighs the tension of the spring h ¹ , the pressure medium moves the piston G until its outer edge g ^s releases the channel e ^is , so that the pressure medium flows out through the line e ^ls , d ¹¹ into the open can. The pressure in the consumption lines d ° and d ¹⁰ and in the brake cylinders D and thus also the braking effect of the brake bands b " and finally the degree of coupling of the clutches α ⁴ , b ¹ , b ² , b" ¹ , B, ¥ ' is of the Tension of the springs h ^{1 made} dependent, which in turn are under the action of the cam disks / ³ and / ⁴ provided on the steering wheel F of the vehicle. When the valve balls h * roll on the ^{inclined surfaces / 9} or / ¹⁰ and f ¹¹ or / ¹² , the brake pressure and the degree of coupling and thus the speed of the crawler belt in question change continuously.

How the device behaves when steering to the right requires the above no further explanation.

Claims (4)

Patent claims: i. Steering device, in particular for caterpillar vehicles, in which between the drive shaft and the drive wheels of the caterpillars by means of a pressure medium transmission The clutches to be set are switched on, thus marked net that in the pressure medium lines (d ^a , d ⁱ⁰ ) switched on valves (ζ. B. e ² , G, H) with control elements to be set by the steering handwheel (F) (z. B. / ^s , k ^l ) in connection stand that the rotation of the steering wheel (F) by a certain amount corresponds to a certain radius of curvature of the curve described by the vehicle. 2. Steering device according to claim i, characterized in that the valve bodies (G, H) of the valves (e.g. e ² , G, H) switched on in the pressure medium lines (d ⁹ , d ^ia ) are opposed to that of the steering handwheel ( F) place the nocking disks (f ⁸ , / ⁴ ) to be set. 3. Steering device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the valve bodies each consist of two parts (G, H) which are frictionally coupled to one another by an energy store (h ^% ). 4. Steering device according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the cams (f, f ^s ) of the cam disks (/ * or / ^a ) are arranged to each other in such a way that when the steering handwheel (F) is rotated in a direction of rotation only those Valve piston (G, H) can be influenced by the cams (f, f. *) , By means of which the pressure medium supply to the coupling members on one side of the vehicle is controlled. For this purpose ι sheet of drawings